Our Guide To 5 Must-Visit Beaches Near Durham

 

A day at the beach might not be the first (or even the second) thing that springs to mind when you think about Durham. However, this renowned university city in England’s north east is less than 15 miles from the coast as the crow flies. 

And what a coast it is, with a mixture of pebble and sandy beaches, towering limestone cliffs with abundant birdlife, and a path running its full length. Throw in scattered relics of its industrial past too, and it’s no surprise a long stretch of it has been awarded heritage status.

If you’ve already put a big tick next to the medieval cathedral, the bridges on the River Wear and every item on this list, it might be time to leave the city behind and head to the Durham Coast.

Here are our top five must-see beaches near Durham.

Seaton Carew Beach

Family-friendly sandy beach and sea safaris

Although it’s not the closest beach to Durham, Seaton Carew is arguably the best equipped, with vibrantly coloured beach huts for hire, golf courses for adults and kids, and a grassy beachfront playground with a miniature adventure course. Oh, and a huge sandy beach… 

Relax on the golden sand with some fish and chips or an ice cream while you gaze at the wind turbines offshore. Powerboat sea safaris from nearby Hartlepool Marina take you close to the wind farm en route to seeing grey seals and dolphins – but beware, it’s a bumpy, splashy ride.

For a more chilled experience, stroll or cycle along the promenade all the way to the southern end of the beach. Here, among the sand dunes and marshland of Seaton Common Nature Reserve, you might spot waders and birds of prey.  

Click here for campsites around Seaton Carew

Seaham Beach

Sandy beach with sea glass and a café-lined marina

Another popular destination along the Durham Coast is the (mostly) sandy stretch at Seaham, also known as Glass Beach because of the colourful glass pebbles that wash up on its shore. 

Kids and adults alike are likely to be intrigued to hear how sharp glass offcuts dumped into the North Sea over a century ago have been pounded and smoothed by the waves into the pastel-coloured stones in their hands. Need an activity? Set a family challenge to see who can find the widest range of colours. 

When it’s time for lunch, head towards town, stopping at Terrace Green for the sea views and a look at the sculpture of a World War I soldier (affectionately known as ‘Tommy’). Cafés and restaurants line the revitalised Seaham Harbour Marina, where you can also try your hand at paddleboarding.

Just south of the harbour, a sea stack dominates Chemical Beach, scattered with rusting remnants of the area’s industrial past, such as a set of wagon wheels. If you want to add a few fossils to the sea glass collection you started at Seaham, follow the coast path to Blast Beach, with its natural arches and unusual rock formations.

Search for campsite accommodation near Seaham

Easington Beach

Quiet beach and a former colliery turned nature reserve

This secluded sand-and-shingle stretch between two rugged headlands is popular with anglers and dog walkers. Stock up on goodies at the nearby town of Easington Colliery and have a picnic on the beach, before hunting for fossils or exploring rockpools for crabs and whelks. 

There are far-reaching views of the Durham Coast from the path that runs along the cliffs, where the Pit Cage monument (an original lift cabin) stands as a stark reminder of this community’s mining past. 

Easington Colliery closed down in 1993, and the land is now home to a nature reserve with grasslands, pond areas and colourful wildflowers, including orchids. Keep an eye out for skylarks and kestrels flying overhead, too.

Book a campsite near Easington Colliery

Blackhall Rocks Beach

Birdwatching and rockpooling in a nature reserve

Film buffs hoping to recreate the final scene of Get Carter will probably be surprised to see that the beach bears little resemblance to how it looked in the Michael Caine movie. 

The area is now a local nature reserve: gone are the slag heaps and the conveyor that used to dump coal waste into the North Sea, and in their place are cliffs covered with grassland and wildflowers. In the summer, the whole area buzzes with insects, including colourful butterflies like the rare Durham Argus.

Head down to the sand-and-rock beach and look for sand martins nesting in the cliffs or oystercatchers feeding on the rugged shore. If you have kids with excess energy to burn, send them off to explore caves and rockpools, searching for starfish, small crabs and anemones. 

Browse campsites in the vicinity of Blackhall Rocks

Crimdon Beach

Sandy beach with nesting birds and industrial ruins

This long sandy beach backed by grassy dunes is a magnet for families, who can let the kids loose to splash around in the shallow waters, build sandcastles or fly kites. They can even go horse riding on the beach with trips from Crimdon Pony World. 

Dogs will love it, too, but be sure to keep them away from the grassy dunes in the summer, when little terns come to nest on the sand. Behind the dunes, the 18-hole Hartlepool Golf Course welcomes visitors on its windswept fairways, while in the distance, the imposing remains of Steetley Pier are a reminder of this area’s industrial heritage.

Look for campsites around Crimdon Beach

Durham’s heritage coast has plenty to keep everybody happy, from fossil-hunting families to birdwatchers. If walking the England Coast Path through these beaches has not quite sated your appetite for rambling, check out our list of the best scenic walks in Durham. And for all those thinking of a holiday in County Durham, here’s a rundown of our campsites and holiday parks in County Durham and in the entire North East region.