Eye Spy for 2014

What ever did we do before the advent of Google Earth and Google Maps? We use them so much now for planning our cruises that it is hard to imagine what it would have been like before their launch. 

We find it useful to look around the harbours we intend to visit so that we can see the entrances, check out where the visitor moorings are located, where the office is located and where shops, pubs and transport links are located in relation to the various ports of call.

So here is a little look at some of the ports we intend to visit during next summers big trip.

Grimsby. The first port of call. Now familiar to us and a much appreciated stop off point with a friendly club house and easy access into the marina.

The next stop on the journey North is Whitby. The harbour overlooked by the ruins of the abbey. We have yet to visit this port byboat as our previous attempts were thwarted by bad weather.

Next stop Newcastle city centre and the recently opened Newcastle City Marina right in the thick of the action and in complete contrast to the previous port.

After a couple of hectic days in Newcastle the peace and quiet of Amble should be a pleasant break and a way to relax and unwind.

Eyemouth is the most Northerly port we intend to visit in the Scottish Borders. Still very much a fishing port and another quiet little place to chill out and unwind.

After the relaxing few days away from it all Hartlepool should bring us right back into reality.

 It would be rude not to visit Scarborough on our south bound leg of the trip. A typically british seaside resort.

 We know we are well and truly on the home run when we pull into Hull Marina. Again by now a familiar sight. By the time we reach Hull we will know we are home safe and sound.

We may well stop at other ports and marinas along the way. If we are blessed with nice weather and flat seas we may well venture further into Scotland. But as with all of these long coastal trips a lot depends on the weather and sea state at the time.