The coasts of northern Northumbria and eastern Scotland provide a vast and mostly unspoiled cruising ground with a continuous chain of lovely little harbours, a number of islands and several estuarine nature reserves. The area is exceptionally rich in maritime wildlife, often surprisingly unafraid of people. Visiting sailors are generally made very welcome by fishermen and by local yachtsmen, yet one can go for days without seeing another sail. Most of the coastal villages are tiny, but the fine cities of Edinburgh, Perth and St Andrews (and Dundee and Stirling) can all be visited by boat.

The major information source for this area is the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club’s excellent pilot book, but Ed and Len Wingfield can provide additional and up-to-date information on virtually all the recommendable havens, plus some that are only suitable for dinghies and not covered by the RNYC pilot. DCA Bulletin references are 111/19 and 112/15 — North Berwick, Anstruther and Isle of May, (Abrahams); 134/27 Port Edgar and Forth Bridge area (Curtis); 147/28 Boulmer to Berwick, 154/23 Amble to Lindisfarne, 157/35 Amble to Edinburgh (Wingfield L). Notes for Edinburgh to Stirling and to Perth are available.

However it has to be borne in mind that the North Sea coasts become dangerous in onshore winds of any strength because of the heavy swell breaking at harbour entrances, and passage-making is therefore only for really experienced skippers. Nevertheless easy family sailing holidays could be based on centres such as Amble and Alnmouth; Lindisfarne and Budle Bay; the Fife East Neuk havens; the havens around the Forth Bridge; and North Berwick (Lothian). It may be possible to meet up.