Castles, coast and countryside - the three things that are an essential part of any trip to Northumberland.
The most stunning and iconic views in the county usually contain at least one of the three, just think of the magnificent Bamburgh Castle standing guard over a long stretch of golden sand one one side and rolling green fields on the other, or the faded glory of Dunstanburgh from Craster in the south and Embleton Bay in the north. But it's neither of these that have been named one of the nation's views in a recent study.
However, it has gone to one where you can see coast, castle and countryside, depending on where you position yourself. With a view of the imposing Warkworth Castle, Amble Harbour came fourth in a survey conducted by Park Leisure when it quizzed the UK public on their favourite views.
Read more: I visited the three Northumberland beaches among the best in the UK in one day - here's how to do it
Hosting a market every Sunday and the Harbour Village pods, it's a popular shopping spot where you can pick up gifts and memorabilia that you'd struggle to find elsewhere, and there's a very good selection of places to eat. The Quayside Chippy, Harbour Fish Bar and Queen's Plaice are all in the top 10 chippies by the sea in Northumberland according to Google Reviews, while those looking for a high-end sit down meal are catered to at the likes of the Old Boathouse, the Fish Shack and Jasper's Bistro.
Puffin Cruises has been operating from the harbour since 1969, taking tourists out to spot seabirds nesting on Coquet Island during the summer months and a grey seal colony which lives on the island all year round. Betty Gray, whose son David skippers the cruises, thinks there's more to Amble's popularity than just the view from the harbour, saying: "The town is extremely popular, and so are the Puffin cruises!
"People like the cruises because they're family friendly, it's not a fast whizz around the island, it's casual and laid-back and you get a running commentary from the crew. We're fully booked today and tomorrow, and recently we've had a few dolphins appearing now and again - though they're not there all the time."
Betty says that Amble's popularity and stunning views are coming at a cost for young people though, with many homes being purchased and converted into holiday lets - an issue which is affecting several villages on the Northumberland Coast. Betty added: "Any houses that are coming up for sale are becoming immediately grabbed and it's hard lines on the youngsters coming up to be able to buy a house because they're usually gazumped by someone from outside of the area."
Park Leisure wrote of Amble Harbour: "Amble located in Northumberland also proved to be a popular location with one in three (31%) having visited this picturesque location before. The harbour is filled with fish shacks, seafood eateries, and pastel-painted beach huts so it’s definitely not one to be missed."
A spokesperson for Park Leisure said: "The UK has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty and we want to be advocates for people getting out in nature during the summer months, to enjoy them. Our parks are located close to many of these stunning landscapes so that visitors can make the most of the scenery then come back and enjoy a cosy holiday home."
The top five favourite summer time views were:
- Pden Vounder Beach, Cornwall
- Glencoe, Scotland
- Summerleaze Beach, Bude, Cornwall
- Amble Harbour, Northumberland
- Llanddwyn Island, North Wales
What's your favourite view in Northumberland? Let us know!
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