Surprise yourself on the North East coast!

Gaze at mesmerising sunsets, explore rugged clifftops or indulge in a luxury stay in Seaham, the Durham Heritage Coast has been transformed from its industrial past and makes a brilliant escape to nature.

The Durham Heritage Coastline boasts outstanding natural, historical and geological features. Hugging the coast from Sunderland to Hartlepool, this sealine has emerged from its industrial past to Heritage Coast status and is considered one of the finest in England. 

The 11-mile stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path offers dramatic views across the North Sea and runs from the pretty harbour town of Seaham in the north to Crimdon in the south, linking a series of coastal villages with yellow Magnesian Limestone cliffs. 

This is a coast for nature-lovers – year-round you’ll find a huge variety of plants and wildlife. Come for bird watching, jaw-dropping landscapes – don’t miss Crimdon or Blackhall Rocks – dolphin and seal watching, rare sights - the nature reserves are home to a breeding colony of Little Terns, one of Britain’s rarest sea birds - and wild woodlands, don’t miss Castle Eden Dene and Hawthorn Dene. 

It’s also great for escapism, indulge at the luxury Seaham Hall Hotel & Spa, dine in cosy seafront pubs or splurge at a castle and when it comes to shopping, Dalton Park is the largest retail shopping centre in the north east. 

Magical islands, festivals and family entertainment, Northumberland and Tyneside provide miles of sweeping beaches and towns and villages steeped in maritime history.

With more castles than any other county, Northumberland’shistorical credentials are not in dispute but mixed with sweeping beaches like Bamburgh or Budle Bay and the magical island of Lindisfarne, this stretch becomes wondrous. Come for dreamy bays, sandy strands and some of the quietest beaches in the country and on most of Northumberland’s beaches you can even bring your dog year-round. 

Yet there is so much more to visit. Tyneside’s coast offers a great mix of sandy beaches, historic sites with a dynamic atmosphere. Visit Sandhaven Beach in South Shields for its castle and surf culture, its prom and blue flag beaches, revitalised Whitley Bay with its dome-topped Spanish City housing modern restaurants, cafes and bars - climb all 137 steps of St Mary’s Lighthouse to be rewarded with views out to the Cheviot Hills on a clear day.  

Explore Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a historic burial spot for kings and saints but also long, sandy stretches. In July the Mouth of the Tyne Festival offers a weekend of free family entertainment with outdoor concerts, street performers, jazz and parade. Tynemouth is also a magnet for surfers with scores of surf schools. 

Stroll around King Edward’s Bay, a smaller, pretty cove, popular for yoga on the beach.  Stride between the piers at Cullercoats with its fishing boats, Victorian Lifeboat Station, a draw for Winslow Homer, one of America’s leading artists, and inspiration for countless generations of artists. 

Feast at one of the many restaurants at The Fish Quay, North Shields, on the bank of the River Tyne and watch the fishermen at work at this bustling port and shop at Royal Quay built on the site of former docks. 

South Tyneside makes a great base for exploring the North East, known for its mix of coastal scenery and cultural attractions. 

Sandhaven is the main beach, miles of golden sand and impressive dunes and winner of numerous Best Beach accolades. It’s ideal for families with sandcastle competitions, entertainment and music. Enjoy volleyball, water sports and stroll the clifftops and prom. 

North of Sandhaven, Littlehaven Beach is great for relaxing with an award-winning prom and series of public art pieces. This is the place for kayaking, canoeing and boating, in WW1 the beach was used as a RAF base, there are still faint traces of an old landing strip near the Groyne lighthouse. 

Spectacular views can be had from Marsden Bay and Marsden Rock, home to one of England’s key seabird colonies with thousands of kittiwakes, fulmars. Gulls and cormorants. Walk, cycle or fly kites at The Leas, a two-mile grassy stretch of special scientific interest. 

Take the coastal path and you’ll encounter a series of bays, coves and bird watching spots all the way to Marsden Bay, Souter Lighthouse and beyond.