View along the River Coquet from the harbour at Amble towards Warkworth Castle
Besides the craft and music opportunities we offer, there are plenty of other attractions and activities within walking distance of Cast Off. Click on the links below to find out more
Canoeing, windsurfing and sailing, surfing, rambling and hiking, cycling and jogging, photography and exploring Warkworth Castle are just a few nearby activities our guests come here to enjoy.
Amble is a popular destination for bird watching. The most southerly nesting place for eider, locally known as the cuddy duck, you may also see arctic tern, purple sandpiper, turnstone, little egret, wheatear and much more. Just off the coast is Coquet Island. The nesting ground for 90% of the UK’s roseate terns, boat tours take you around the island to see these, puffin and an array of other sea birds as well as seals and sometimes dolphins too.
The Farne Islands are a must for wildlife enthusiasts with sailings from Seahouses.
The Harbour Village in Amble includes an array of retail pods as well as the lobster hatchery which helps keep the sea stocked with an important catch for the local fishing industry.
If British history interests you then, Cragside House is within easy reach. Many more delightful destinations are within a short drive or bus ride along Northumberland’s beautiful Heritage Coast. Craster with its famous kipper smoke house and the nearby Howick Hall and Dunstanburgh Castle.
Bamburgh Castle and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne are just up the coast. Northumberland was the cradle of Christianity in England and the county has a much older history with Hadrian’s Wall and ancient Roman forts as well as neolithic settlements, stone circles and rock carvings.
The picturesque coastal village of Alnmouth and the market town Alnwick with its famous gardens and impressive castle are both within a few miles. The castle was used as the backdrop of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the early Harry Potter films.
Berwick-upon-Tweed with its Elizabethan Ramparts, unique in the UK, is under an hour’s drive or just twenty minutes by train from Alnmouth Station. The historic city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is half an hour away on the train, and Edinburgh is just an hour’s ride to the north.
Other fantastic places to visit nearby are Druridge Bay Country Park, Barter Books, the Woodhorn Museum, Whitehouse Farm, Northumberlandia, Northumberland Zoo, Kielder Water, the historic market town of Morpeth and the Northumberland National Park.
Leisure Activities from our Partners
Crafting Workshops
Sewing, quilting, needlework and knitting. Come and learn at Amble Pin Cushion
Guitar, Mandolin and Ukulele Lessons
Book a lesson at Cast Off, or at our tutor’s home, to learn as an individual or in a group, whatever your current level of skill. Hire an instrument for your stay. Contact Brian on: brian.arthur@hotmail.com.
Jazz in the living room Book Mad Hattie and the Eclectic Guitarist jazz duo to perform for you at Cast Off. Contact norma@mad-hattie.co.uk for further information.
Piano lessons or recital Book Colin Nicholson, our local pianist and piano teacher, for a lesson or piano recital, during your stay at Cast Off. Please quote ACO when booking.
Photography Workshops
Would you like to discover how to take better photographs? Or, maybe you would like a portrait or album of your visit to Northumberland. Ivor Rackham is the local professional photographer and photographic coach. Please quote ACO when booking.
Therapeutic Massage and Kinesiologist Local Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist and Kinesiologist, Johanna Rackham, can help you repair your body, advise you on nutrition and discover how to relax on your holiday. Please quote ACO when booking.
Massage and Facials Contact Beryl King for a relaxing holistic facial and / or massage during your stay. Please quote ACO when booking. geordielass5422@yahoo.co.uk