GULL'S EYE :AMBLE MARINA

This charming Northumberland port is the ideal starting point to explore one of sailing’s best kept secrets as Sam Jefferson discovers

- Sam Jefferson

NORTHUMBERLAND 55:20’.4 N 001:34’.1 W

The North East of England is a cruising ground which is often overlooked by yachtsmen. This is a blessing for those in the know, as it has a great deal to offer the discerning cruiser: Golden beaches, miles of unspoilt coastline and best of all, a range of quaint, unspoilt harbours. Despite these assets, there is barely a sniff of the kind of overcrowding you experience in many other places around the UK; drop your anchor in a spectacular location and the chances are you will be untroubled by other yachts. Along the coast, ancient tumbledown castles provide a dramatic backdrop for cruising, while offshore, the Farne Islands provide a number of beautiful anchorages amid a riot of wildlife, including puffins and seals. Yet, even above this wealth of beauty, perhaps the greatest asset of this lovely stretch of coastline is the many miles of white sand beaches that fringe these shores, ensuring that any cruiser prepared to take a road less travelled is amply rewarded.