Basically start off up the A14 then take the A1. Stop just short of Scotland. Allowing for two breaks for driver changes it takes a little under 7 hours in the minibus if the traffic is reasonable.
For the last few trips we have booked two 8-berth caravans at the Waren Caravan Park.
Waren Caravan & Camping Park
Waren Mill Bamburgh,
by Belford,
Northumberland
NE70 7EE
Tel: (01668) 214366
Click here for a more detailed map.
These are excellent value for money (<£10 per night for six in a caravan), comfortable, and heating, bed linen and towels are provided. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the Caravan Park to Seahouses.
In 2006 the Caravan Park could not offer accommodation for the Friday night so we used the Youth Hostel at Wooler. An overnight stay for 10 of us in 2006 came in at about £10.50/head. (Three rooms, one with 7 beds). It is just over 20 minutes to get from Wooler to Seahouses.
If you don't like cooking, then two places to try are the Victoria Hotel in Bamburgh and the Links Hotel in Seahouses. The food (and beer) at the Caravan Park was not the best a few years ago (2004) and, as a result, hasn't been sampled since. Things may have changed.
It's a popular spot so you need to book early to get the best boats. Later bookings tend to end up with one of William Shiel's Glad Tidings fleet. He does offer diving on a per-head basis so small parties do not have to pay for the entire boat. However your diving may then be constrained by the qualifications of the other divers who share your boat.
There are two used primarily for diving: Glad Tidings VII with a loo and a stern lift; Glad Tidings III with a side lift (no loo). We've also seen Glad Tidings II carrying divers - you have to get up the ladder under your own steam on that one.
In 2004 the harbour master changed his charging schedule so now most boats stay out and do not return to harbour between dives. (In 2004 we were quoted an additional cost of £50 should we wish to do so). You basically need two cylinders with you or a set of gills.
Air fills are provided by Sovereign Diving. They do air, clean air and Nitrox. The air station is open 7 days a week but not necessarily staffed! You may find that you have to phone and then wait 5-10 minutes for somebody to appear and open up.
(Or what to do if you're blown out). There is Holy Island and an assortment of castles (ruined and restored) to visit. Bamburgh Castle is near by. Alnwick Castle is a short drive away. This has been used for location shots in a number of films including Harry Potter. Another ruined castle is Dunstanburgh castle in Craster. All-in-all it's worth being a member of the National Trust!
