Amble: Coast, Harbour and Coquet

Amble combines coastal scenery with activities on the water, cycling opportunities and regional markets. As the southern gateway to the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, the town offers different starting points for planning your trip. If you’re looking for a hotel in Amble, you could first consider whether you’d most like to enjoy beaches, watersports, cycling routes or the Puffin Festival.

Coast, Promenade and Beaches

Amble’s waterfront promenade lies on the Coquet River estuary. Little Shore is a small sandy beach between the pier and promenade. The larger beach at Amble Links is edged by dunes; from there, you can enjoy views of Coquet Island. The descriptions of the two beaches highlight different features: Little Shore is defined by its sand and location between the pier and promenade, while Amble Links is known for its dunes and views towards the island.

Harbour, Local Produce and Puffin Festival

Amble Harbour Village comprises 15 retail pods selling crafts, jewellery, accessories, food and drinks. The Northumberland Seafood Centre sources and sells local seafood. At Amble Market, you’ll find locally sourced fresh produce, handmade goods and unique gift ideas.

The Puffin Festival takes place every year at the end of May. The programme includes a craft market, guided nature walks and birdwatching, as well as talks on local history and nature, exhibitions, workshops, children’s entertainment and live music. If the festival is important to your trip, check the dates for the relevant year before planning your stay.

Watersports and Coquet Island

From its shorebase in Amble, the Coquet Shorebase Trust runs canoe trips in the estuary, as well as powerboat, sea kayaking and coastal sailing courses. Its activities range from estuary trips to courses in different watersports.

A boat trip from Amble takes you close to Coquet Island, just off the coast. Visitors can watch puffins there in spring; landing on the island is restricted. The island’s proximity and seasonal birdwatching set this experience apart from the Coquet Shorebase Trust’s trips and courses. Check that the boat trip is available before your journey.

Cycling, Coastal Path and Getting There

Pedal Power Cycle Hire is based in Amble and has more than 140 bikes. These include hybrid, road, gravel and mountain bikes, children’s bikes, tandems and e-bikes. The provider offers both self-guided and fully guided tours, including Coast to Coast, The Sandstone Way, The Tour of Northumberland and Hadrian’s Cycleway.

For a walk, there’s the approximately 3-mile route from Amble to Warkworth on the Northumberland Coastal Path. This gives you a specific walking route to compare with the cycling options, without specifying a walking time for the route.

Arriva buses run regularly to and from Amble, making a car-free stay possible. If you’re planning to travel by bus, check the operator’s latest information before your trip.

Find Hotels in Amble Based on Your Travel Plans

Your planned itinerary can be a good starting point when looking for a hotel in Amble: the beach and waterfront, watersports, cycling and the festival offer different ways to shape your stay. When planning, also consider the festival dates and the availability of the boat trip if these activities are part of your plans.

Explore more destinations: Blyth, Wark, Warkworth, Bellingham, Ponteland, Cramlington, Seaton Delaval, Greenhaugh.

For the wider travel overview: Northumberland.