Whilst this information is given in good faith and every effort has been made to avoid errors, no responsibility is accepted regarding its complete accuracy and neither the author nor the DCA will accept responsibility for damage or loss from any mistake or omission arising from its use.

With the safe harbours of Blyth 14M to the south and Holy Island 17M to the north this harbour is useful for coasting dinghies or as a base for access to the beautiful Northumberland coastline. The river Coquet offers 1½M sheltered sailing when at HW it is possible to navigate to Warkworth. The town of Amble offers all the facilities the dinghy sailor could want i.e. pubs, restaurants, B&Bs, launderette, chandler, boat repair, public slipway, marina and friendly yacht club with slipway. Warkworth is a delightful little town with castle, pubs, restaurants, B&Bs. Coquet Island, a nature reserve 1M offshore, has a lighthouse with a sectored light. The island has large breeding populations of Puffins and Eider Ducks, with a small colony of Roseate Terns and landing is not allowed. Shallow draught boats can anchor close in on a sandy patch amongst numerous rocks and see all. In an onshore gale the lee of the island offers poor shelter. In normal conditions boats approaching from the south will cut inside the island using Coquet Channel. The approach from the north is more straightforward when only Pan Bush, a shallow patch 4 cables ENE of the entrance, should be avoided.

Two concrete piers with lights protect the dredged harbour entrance, enter at all states of the tide except when onshore swell can make it dangerous. If Pan Bush is bad then the entrance is usually the same. The deep water channel keeps to the south until the marina, thereafter the moorings will be your guide. A small, drying dock at the end of Broomhill Quay may be entered, use the steps for landing only, do not tie up as they are in constant use with fishermen or tripper boats. Go to the west wall where there are vertical ladders which are much less used. The marina has a LW sill, if going in be sure to check the height gauge. Coquet Yacht Club has a pontoon which you may temporarily use until you find an officer and make arrangements. The public slip is immediately downstream of the club.

Proceed up to Warkworth with the castle directly ahead about —1HW or when there is sufficient depth over the weir. The best place to moor is against the wall close to the church. Because of the weir the rise and fall is about 1m. Do not dry out here as the bottom is rocky.

The remote ‘natural’ north side of the river is in complete contrast to the busy, developed south. A good place for overnighting, picnics or snoozing is on the north shore opposite the marina where the upper third of the beach is clean and sandy. Close by, a shallow meandering creek works inside the sand dunes, this is navigable to light draught boats for ½M at HW but tricky. After half-tide the area inside the northern pier covers and gives more sheltered sailing. A gap in the wooden staithe allows shallow draught boat access at the upstream end. The town of Amble and the lower harbour were developed for the coal trade which ended in the 1960s. Fishing continues and a small fleet of attractive trawlers and inshore cobles occupy the quays, a couple of tripper boats work the bird watching trade to Coquet Is.

Contacts:- CYC Hon Sec. Neal Hill 01665 711179 or <jnhill@pontew.demon.co.uk> Harbour Commissioners 01665 710306. Myself, <edwingfield@ hotmail.com> 0191 258 1995