They're all less than 2 hours long (round trip) and most are pushchair and dog-friendly too.
Fancy something a little longer? Why not try our 'Visit 12 North East Lighthouses in One Day Challenge'
Park your car at Seaham Hall Beach Car Park (postcode SR7 7AF - it's free) and you can walk all the way along Seaham Sea Front, through the town, past the harbour and then onto Blast Beach.
There's a prom all the way along the walk (it's pushchair friendly) and you can stop off at Lickerty Splits for ice cream, a milkshake or hot chocolate. The beaches in this area are known for their Seaglass so if you have a chance, pop down onto the sand and see if you can find any.
Start in Whitley Bay Town Centre (there's plenty of free and paid parking) and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the seafront to St Mary's Lighthouse.
The lighthouse is a great spot for rock pooling and spotting seals and there are usually food vans there selling hot drinks and doughnuts. You can pay a small fee to climb to the top of the lighthouse too (it's important to check the tide timings before walking along the causeway though). There's loads to do in Whitley Bay after your walk & this walk is all along paths so pushchair friendly.
Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is one of our all-time favourite Coastal walks. Park at Craster (postcode NE66 3TW), make sure you visit the loos in the car park as there aren't any along the walk and head off towards to castle. You can visit the castle free of charge if you're a National Trust or English Heritage member.
Expect to pass sheep and cows along the way and we have spotted dolphins off the coast here in the past. Make sure you leave time to enjoy a well-earned crab sandwich at The Jolly Fisherman on your return and there's a play park for kids if you continue into the village. This walk is along the grass and should be ok with an all-terrain pushchair.
The South Shields Coastal Path is 7 miles in total. This little stretch is just part of the full walk. Park at South Shields and follow the pushchair-friendly path along to Souter Lighthouse.
Bring your National Trust cards if you're members and you can climb to the top or pop into the cafe for cake (highly recommended). There's plenty to enjoy in South Shields too. I recommend Ocean Beach Pleasure Park and North Marine Park - both lots of fun.
This walk is technically a little over 2 hours but I didn't want to miss it out. The walk from Bamburgh Castle to Seahouses is beautiful. You can stop for fish and chips, visit the castle or take a boat trip to the Farnes if you fancy making a day of it.
It's free to park at South Beach Blyth (postcode NE24 3PL) and you'll find a fabulous fish and chip restaurant, ice cream parlour, loos and play park by the carpark. This walk is nice and easy and a good one for kids to take their bikes.
I've already mentioned the walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's Lighthouse and the walk in the other direction is just as good. Plenty of places to stop off en-route and there's a path along the whole route. I recommend Cullercoats Coffee.
You can walk all along the beach from Cresswell to Druridge Bay (my favourite beach) and I'd recommend stopping off at The Drift Cafe en-route, it's lush! Once at Druridge Bay, you can walk around Ladyburn Lake, play in the park and pop into the visitor centre. There is a small amount of parking at Cresswell but you might be better off parking at Druridge Bay Country Park and doing this walk in reverse (car park NE61 5BX)
This is a fab walk to try on a Sunday when a market normally takes place around Amble Harbour. After a mooch, walk along the Coquet Estuary to Warkworth Castle. There's a path the whole way and remember your English Heritage cards to visit the castle if you're members. Warkworth is home to some lovely pubs and cafes where you can stop for a bite to eat before heading back.
Roker Park is a lovely green space near the seafront and a great place for kids. You can walk along the prom to Whitburn in less than 30 minutes and enjoy some of the best seafood in the North East before heading back.
We've tried this walk a few times and it's brilliant for transport loving toddlers when combined with a trip on the Shields ferry. You can walk along the sea wall for a lot of it but watch out, there is a little but of a hill towards the end. North Shields Fish Quay is a fab place to pick up some fresh fish and there's plenty of parking available.
Fancy something a little longer? Why not try our 'Visit 12 North East Lighthouses in One Day Challenge'
1 - Seaham Hall Beach to Nose's Point
There's a prom all the way along the walk (it's pushchair friendly) and you can stop off at Lickerty Splits for ice cream, a milkshake or hot chocolate. The beaches in this area are known for their Seaglass so if you have a chance, pop down onto the sand and see if you can find any.
- Read about our luxury stay at Seaham Hall here
- Read about our trip to Seaham Beach and stay at Seaton Lane Inn here
2 - Spanish City to St Mary's Lighthouse
Start in Whitley Bay Town Centre (there's plenty of free and paid parking) and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the seafront to St Mary's Lighthouse.
The lighthouse is a great spot for rock pooling and spotting seals and there are usually food vans there selling hot drinks and doughnuts. You can pay a small fee to climb to the top of the lighthouse too (it's important to check the tide timings before walking along the causeway though). There's loads to do in Whitley Bay after your walk & this walk is all along paths so pushchair friendly.
- Check out some photos and read more about the walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's here
- Read 11 fun things to do in Whitley Bay here
- Read all about Evan's Bistro - a child-friendly restaurant in Whitley Bay here
- Check out what we thought of fish and chips from Spanish City here
3 - Craster to Dustanburgh Castle
Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is one of our all-time favourite Coastal walks. Park at Craster (postcode NE66 3TW), make sure you visit the loos in the car park as there aren't any along the walk and head off towards to castle. You can visit the castle free of charge if you're a National Trust or English Heritage member.
Expect to pass sheep and cows along the way and we have spotted dolphins off the coast here in the past. Make sure you leave time to enjoy a well-earned crab sandwich at The Jolly Fisherman on your return and there's a play park for kids if you continue into the village. This walk is along the grass and should be ok with an all-terrain pushchair.
- See more photos and read about the walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle here
- Read about our stay at Craster Reach cottage here
4 - Trow Rocks South Shields to Souter Lighthouse
The South Shields Coastal Path is 7 miles in total. This little stretch is just part of the full walk. Park at South Shields and follow the pushchair-friendly path along to Souter Lighthouse.
Bring your National Trust cards if you're members and you can climb to the top or pop into the cafe for cake (highly recommended). There's plenty to enjoy in South Shields too. I recommend Ocean Beach Pleasure Park and North Marine Park - both lots of fun.
- Read my post about Exploring North & South Shields by Metro here
- Read about our Summer Picnic at South Shields here
5 - Bamburgh Castle to Seahouses
This walk is technically a little over 2 hours but I didn't want to miss it out. The walk from Bamburgh Castle to Seahouses is beautiful. You can stop for fish and chips, visit the castle or take a boat trip to the Farnes if you fancy making a day of it.
6 - South Beach Blyth to Seaton Sluice
It's free to park at South Beach Blyth (postcode NE24 3PL) and you'll find a fabulous fish and chip restaurant, ice cream parlour, loos and play park by the carpark. This walk is nice and easy and a good one for kids to take their bikes.
7 - Whitley Bay to Tynemouth
I've already mentioned the walk from Whitley Bay to St Mary's Lighthouse and the walk in the other direction is just as good. Plenty of places to stop off en-route and there's a path along the whole route. I recommend Cullercoats Coffee.
8 - Cresswell to Druridge Bay
9 - Amble Harbour Village to Warkworth Castle
This is a fab walk to try on a Sunday when a market normally takes place around Amble Harbour. After a mooch, walk along the Coquet Estuary to Warkworth Castle. There's a path the whole way and remember your English Heritage cards to visit the castle if you're members. Warkworth is home to some lovely pubs and cafes where you can stop for a bite to eat before heading back.
- Read about Warkworth Beach here
- Read about Warkworth Castle here
- Read how to spend an afternoon in Amble here
- Read about us catching the X18 from Amble here
10 - Roker Park to Lattimer's Seafood, Whitburn
Roker Park is a lovely green space near the seafront and a great place for kids. You can walk along the prom to Whitburn in less than 30 minutes and enjoy some of the best seafood in the North East before heading back.
11 - North Shields Ferry Terminal to Tynemouth Priory
We've tried this walk a few times and it's brilliant for transport loving toddlers when combined with a trip on the Shields ferry. You can walk along the sea wall for a lot of it but watch out, there is a little but of a hill towards the end. North Shields Fish Quay is a fab place to pick up some fresh fish and there's plenty of parking available.
I walked Whitley Bay to the lighthouse and back again when pregnant with Sophia as I had heard long walks make you go into labour, it didn't work. But its a nice walk even at 41 weeks pregnant lol x
ReplyDeleteLOL at least you tried x
DeleteHave you tried the OS mapping app? We’ve found loads of great walks with it as you can see all of the bridleways and footpaths wherever you are in the country. Very handy in Yorkshire
ReplyDeleteYou missed the marina out at Seaham. I recommend you call in there its half way point from Seaham Hall car park to Noses point. The George Elmy lifeboat is on display (free except for a small donation to the lifeboats) Boulan burgers place (amazing burgers), Ice cream shop, pancake house and coffee shop the lookout up top with amazing views cake and coffee. Also toilets are available very handy with kids and a beautiful small sandy bay beach (we call it our secret beach).
ReplyDeletePlease come back and visit us in the New Year!