How to Spend The Perfect Day in Amble and Blyth
Two gems on the Northumberland coast you won't want to miss
If you follow the twists and turns of the River Coquet to where it meets the sea, you’ll reach the friendly fishing town of Amble, where you can eat award-winning food by the marina and seek out the perfect souvenir in its quirky independent shops. Hop on one of the regular boat trips from Amble Harbour to Coquet Island where 35,000 seabirds have their nesting ground. Head south, beyond the golden expanse of the magnificent Druridge Bay and tranquil Cresswell Beach, and you’ll reach the port town of Blyth, which has its own nearly three-mile stretch of sand backed by dunes reaching all the way to Seaton Sluice. Sit by the quayside with a coffee from King’s Head Café and enjoy the quiet water of the River Blyth, or head to the mouth of the river to watch the boats heading in and out.
Base Camp
For the best views, you’d be hard-pressed to beat The Penthouse on Amble Marina which has a stunning outlook over the Coquet estuary and Coquet Island. The duplex apartment is ideal for larger gatherings and can sleep up to eight, with an open-plan living space and two private balconies, and it’s only a short walk from some of the best restaurants around. In Blyth, The Commissioner’s Quay Inn is the best place to rest your head. Right on Blyth Quayside, the ground floor of this inn is a friendly and welcoming pub which serves delicious pub classics. There are 40 rooms here (with dog-friendly options available) and of course we’d recommend staying harbour-side of the hotel for the best views.
Perfect Day
To get a real feel for the area walk the Amble History Trail to discover the town’s hidden secrets and fascinating history, before stopping to relax and watch the colourful boats in the busy marina. A trip to the coast is never complete without getting wet so any watersports enthusiasts should head for the Coquet Shorebase Trust. This registered charity offers plenty of options including spectacular dawn canoe safaris along the estuary. Northside Surf School is another great option for paddle boarding or surf lessons at Druridge Bay and Cresswell Beach. Stop off at Spurreli: our go-to choice in Amble (and with good reason), this boutique ice cream parlour offers a great range of deliciously different flavours made from locally-sourced ingredients, as well as coffee, tea and homemade cake. If you’re seeking some retail therapy, wander over the road to Amble Harbour Village which is home to a collection of independent shops. Shop everything from sea glass jewellery at SeaWaves Jewellery to locally-brewed drinks from Lindisfarne Mead and cosmetics from Glamble. Salt & Co on the harbour front is another spot to find beautiful jewellery including handcrafted silver and gold pieces inspired by the Northumberland coastline, and also offers charms made by casting seashells from local beaches. Hungry? You’ll be spoiled for choice as Amble has an impressive range of restaurants to choose from. Oysters from Japer’s Bistro are hard to beat, and the famous seafood sharing platter at The Old Boat House is really something special (with everything from whole lobster, smoked salmon and mackerel to mussels, prawns and herring).
A cruise around Coquet Island can make your visit to the coast all the more special. An RSPB nature reserve, the island is a haven for local wildlife including puffins, terns and seals. Although boats are not permitted to land on the island, Dave Gray’s Puffin Cruises are a family-run business who have been running boat trips from Amble harbour to the seabird sanctuary for more than 40 years. Catch a glimpse of one of the UK’s rarest seabirds – the Roseate Tern – as you sail past the island’s lighthouse, whose first keeper was Grace Darling’s big brother.
Just three miles south of Amble, Druridge Bay is one of the most impressive beaches in Northumberland and a great place for racing down sand dunes and family picnics. For a quieter stretch of sand, head further south still to the smaller Cresswell Beach, with options for rockpooling at low-tide. On clear nights, this is also a wonderful place to stargaze.
Following the coastline down, you’ll come to the south east corner of Northumberland and the county’s largest town, Blyth. Known for its industrial heritage and great coastline, this town has transformed over the years into a significant centre for offshore renewable energy. Its coast, parks and cafés make it a poplar destination for families. Blyth Quayside is a fascinating if often overlooked area where you can regularly find impressive ships moored (like the Williams II which makes regular expeditions with local crews of volunteers), and explore the industrial history of the port town with the interactive information boards dotted around. Follow the Quayside south and the path leads naturally to Ridley Park. A must-visit for families it includes two great play parks (one designed for younger children, the other for older), as well as a rose garden, bowling green and a small waterpark which is always busy in the summer. Continue through the park south and the road will lead you to Blyth Beach, a 10-minute-walk away. The jewel in Blyth’s crown, the beach includes a busier area which has recently been refurbished and has all the amenities you could need. Despite newer stores cropping up around it in recent years, Ciccarelli’s remains the go-to for ice cream here and its vanilla regularly wins national awards. If you’re after peace and quiet, take a pleasant stroll through the sand dunes towards Seaton Sluice, and stop in for a pint at The Kings Arms which sits right above Seaton Sluice Harbour and has spectacular views back towards Blyth.
For shopping, The Curiosity Cabinet is a sweet little shop opposite the park that sells quirky and unique homeware. Frameworks is another lovely option closer to the town centre, which specialises in artwork but also sells cards, gifts and homeware across multiple floors. They have recently opened a smaller art store directly opposite which stocks more pieces from local artists and is well worth a visit. Around the corner, 14 Stanley Street is an independent deli where you can pack your picnic basket full of local food and drink and homemade sweet treats from their counter. Fish and chips are a must here, and there’s no better place to get it than Coastline (from the same geniuses behind Ciccarelli’s ice cream). The portions are generous and we’d recommend ordering it to go and taking a leisurely stroll along the promenade. For a coffee pit-stop during the day, Mister Ridley’s Parlour in Ridley Park offers a great range of hot and cold drinks, as well as light bites and cakes. Based next to an old bowling green, they’ve used the green space to set up outdoor seating so you can enjoy the sunshine and let the kids blow off some steam.
