8/15/2022 0 Comments Walk 5 - Crimdon DeneOr the first part of the Horden to Crimdon stretch of the England Coast Path
This was the first part of the County Durham stretch of the England Coast Path I have walked this year. It follows the older, better established Durham Hertiage Coast walk, originally just 11 miles between Seaham and Crimdon, but now much longer stretching from Sunderland to Hartlepool. Much of the Durham coastline was marred by mining, the beaches covered in spoil or coal dust, being black rather than golden. This meant that as children we spent more time at Crimdon with its soft sand dunes. We used to have a photograph of my sister and I sitting on in the dunes with woollen sweaters during the summer. The breeze from the North Sea can be cold at any time of year. There was also a huge paddling pool there, or at least it seemed like it to me as a child. I also learned to drive here. There used to be a huge car park and many a Thursday afternoon when it was quiet in winter, I practised reverse parking in the bays. Sadly both the paddling pool and car park are long gone. But the dene is still there, as picturesque as always with the beck meandering through it to the sea and the spectacular viaduct overhead. The England Coast Path Between my trip to Scarborough and walking this section of the England Coast Path I fell down and sprained my ankle. It still is not right. This stretch of the walk should be from Hordon to Crimdon, but I have created 3 shorter circular walks which cover this stretch which for me is more manageable, Denemouth to Blackhall Rocks Circular, Blackhall Rocks Circular and Crimdon Dene Circular. It was the sort of day starting misty but peeling back to reveal a glorious day. I headed to Crimdon only to find the mist had not lifted and although I could hear the waves and fog horn, I could not see the beach or sea. I headed along the cliff tops passed the caravans and chatted with several holiday-makers mostly about whether the mist would lift soon or not. The cliffs are high and spectacular here. One of the footpaths to the beach was closed because of a rock fall, however the second one which dropped down to Limekiln Gill was still open, but it is a very long way down and an even longer way back up. I walked to the head of the gill and looked back down, the usual view shrouded in mist. Walking back down the road to Crimdon Dene I passed people waiting to catch the bus to Hartlepool. Shopping or museum probably seemed a better option than a misty day on the beach. Crimdon Dene The path down into Crimdon Dene is very steep, but the mist had temporarily lifted and the sun shone through the trees dappling the footpath with light. As I reached the bottom, the dene opens up into a wide grassed area and it would appear that a family decided camping here was better than hiring a caravan. I have no problem with this as long as they leave no trace. The views of the viaduct above dominate the area. Built in 1905 to carry the railway along the coast to Hartlepool and beyond, it is still in operation. The day I walked this route was a rail strike day, but a lone Northern train passed overhead. Continuing through the dene I crossed the bridge over Crimdon Beck, but there was no water anywhere, last time I was here it was a torrent following heavy rain. As I reached the end of the dene by the beach the mist rolled in again and it was difficult to make out the path to the beach so I doubled back towards the car park. When I was young, the beach was accessed by walking across the dunes at any point, now there are specific walkways and much of the dunes are fenced off to protect them. Little terns nest here and a bird hide and sculptures are a reminder of these endangered birds. I didn't see any, not even a seagull, I could hear them, and I could hear children playing on the beach in the mist but couldn't see them either. I met a couple who had just come back from the beach, they had not dared to go too far in case they got lost, had walked on the beach but couldn't find the sea, we assumed it was low tide. Back on the England Coast Path I walked back to the car, having parked it at the new Dunes cafe and decided to treat myself to a cup of coffee before returning home. For a long time there were no facilities for day trippers here. Back in the 70s when we took trips here there were lots of facilities such as the paddling pool, cafe and large car park. I find it very difficult to follow the argument that although seaside visitor numbers dropped as we all go abroad for our holidays, removing every last useful amenity from popular beaches like Crimdon Dene has surely forced its demise. If it were not for the holiday parks this lovely stretch of coast would be completelty barren. Shame on the local councils. Public conveniences, a cafe with decent parking and water filling station (trying to be green with my own water bottle) are all that are required really for a family day out or walking the England Coast Path. I must commend them however on the excellent signage along the way.
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8/14/2022 0 Comments Walk 4 - ScarboroughThis is probably not what you were expecting, it's not what I expected either. I had tickets for concerts at Scarborough Open Air Theatre but the week before I was due to go I finally caught COVID and it was possible that I would not make it to Scarborough at all. However having several clear tests in the days before I was due to go decided that I would be OK forgetting that Scarborough is built on hills and anywhere that has cliff lifts should ring alarm bells with anyone who dislikes hills. To add to the challenge, I had booked a hotel next to the castle - yes you know what's coming next - at the highest part of the town. I have many happy memories of Scarborough. We took holidays here when I was young, it is also a day trip location for us being only 2 hours from home across stunning moorland. I also took my first girl's holiday here with my best friend from school when we finished our O-levels in 1987. Although we stayed with her aunt, we did have free reign to do what we pleased, and if I remember the weather was really good. One of my lasting memories of a journey across the moors was watching a bus being pushed up each of the inclines as there was not enough power to get the bus and all of its passengers up them. We had a Vauxhall Chevette estate and all of the kids piled in the back so the adults could have the seats. This was back in the days before seatbelts in the back and car seats for every child. How things have changed. This trip was made special by the tickets we (my mam was with me on this trip) had to the 2 concerts. I was not really expecting to enjoy the first one, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, but they sang a number of sing along songs from Queen, Tom Jones and Wham. Most of us had a grand time but I think the die-hard fans were disappointed it was not more like Phantom of the Opera. The second concert we attended was Bryan Adams. He never fails to disappoint and this venue is amazing, really good acoustics. North Bay Two of the main attractions in the North Bay are the miniature railway and Peasholm Park. This walk starts the park gates. Several times a week there are battles in the park pond, aptly named the Battle of Scarborough. Each of the battleships involved actually has a person underneath controlling the ships which fire cannons and is quite a spectacle but we missed it on this visit. We did however take the miniature railway which runs from Peasholm Park past the open air theatre to Scalby Mills. Seeing the engine turn around on the turntable made my day! On the walk from Scalby Mills there are many brightly coloured beach huts and you can either walk along the promenade or on the beach. It was a lovely afternoon for paddling so we took the beach option. The view of the castle up on the promentory is a permanent feature as you walk around the headland. There is little else to do here, but the beach is popular with paddle-boarders and wild swimmers and on a hot day is quieter than the south bay. Children may also enjoy the Sealife Centre. Town Centre We started our second day with a visit to the castle and then a walk through the old town. The castle is ruined and with the stormy clouds made for a really ethereal scene. There are spectacular views across both the north bay and south bay with its harbour and spa from here. we wandered through the old town, which is an eclectic mix of buildings with their red tiled rooves, and through the indoor market to the modern town centre. Sadly my happy memories of wandering the quirky hippy shops and record shops in the town centre have been dashed as the town centre is full of empty shops and large chain stores like most town centres these days. I do long for the days when you could wander into a record shop and flick through the racks and ask for a particular record to be put on the turn tables. If you've never had the opportunity to do that then check out the record shop scene from the Rock of Ages movie*. And yes, were were known to sing along too. We headed back down to the sea front via the cliff lift - the Victorian Central Tramway. Scarborough used to have 5 cliff lifts back in the mists of time, but now it only has 2 and the spa cliff lift was not operational, only the central cliff lift connecting the town centre to the sea front is still working. We were suddenly caught in a deluge and sought shelter in the fancy shelter with seats along with a number of artists painting scenes of the pier and harbour. Wandering along the seafront, the sky remained gray threatening more rain. From the harbour we took the path up towards the castle and the hotel. Be aware that this is steep all the way to the castle. Still recovering from Covid, this seemed to be an impossible task, but I did make it eventually. South Bay Between the harbour and the Grand Hotel is a row of typical seaside establishments, pubs, cafes, piers, arcades and shops selling buckets and spades. Continuing around the South Bay we passed the Grand Hotel, which by reviews is not as grand as the name suggests to the Spa Bridge. This is an old footbridge which spanned the road down to the sea front. Beneath this was once an underground entertainment venue, this is now just an underground car park. The cliff lift here no longer works and has been turned into a cafe. It is so close the the central cliff lift however it is not really needed. Actually the walk up to the Rotunda Museum and on to the town centre is much gentler than walking up through St Nicolas Gardens next to the Grand. Beneath the Spa Bridge is a busy roundabout, but beyond this the spa buildings are more interesting. It seems out of place now to see cheeky postcards, but honestly some of them are funny. We continued walking (in the rain) to the constellation map. At ground level it is really not that spectacular. There is supposed to be a viewpoint further up Cliff Gardens but other people said the vegetation blocked the view. Walking back to the car, I can now safely say I have completed the Scarborough stretch of the England Coast Path. *Rock of Ages - originally a stage show, it was turned into a movie in 2012 starring some people you may not expect to see in such a movie. Although quite different, they do have the same basic storyline and soundtrack, based in approximately err, 1987, the summer I spent my teenage holiday in Scarborough. I have seen the stage show twice, so if you haven't already and you love 1980s rock music, do go and see it. Sometimes I wish I could be back in 1987 when exams were over and I didn't have a care in the world except the music. Now, I have new memories of Scarborough, contributing to the walking of the England Coast Path and enjoying outdoor concerts!
Introduction You will note that there has been a long gap between walk 2 and 3. Illness, work commitments and a trip to Scotland has kept me from the challenge. Even this short stretch of the England Coast Path proved to be a challenge and I completed it in 2 stages on 2nd May and the 2nd June, both bank holidays. Roker to the Wearmouth Bridge (2nd May) When I left home, the weather was fine, by the time I had arrived in Sunderland the rain had started. I parked the car in the town centre and then went to the bus stop only to find the bus stop had changed from the published schedule. As I reached the new bus stop I was quite shocked to see the E1 come around the corner in its open-topped glory! Clearly no-one wanted to sit on the top deck in the rain. On a nice day this would be great because this bus goes all the way along the seafront from Roker to South Shields. I got off at the Roker Hotel and walked down to the beach. The rain got heavier. As I walked around the marina I stopped to talk to a lady who told me she had seen a pod of dolphins off Roker Pier, I have seen them before but missed them on this occassion. Further round I started to look at the artworks, I particularly liked the 'Stone Stair Carpet' and 'Passing Through'. I then met a gentleman who pointed out the boats on river. He told me the MSC Seawell was one of the last ships built on the Wear. Just a little piece of our history. I continued on and stopped off at the National Glass Centre for coffee and a warm up. There cafe is on the riverbank level. It is also worth checking out the glass blowing demonstrations and exhibitions. It was still raining when I left the National Glass Centre, I continued walking along the river bank passing the Sunderland University St Peter's Campus and began the climb up towards the Wearmouth Bridge. The views from the bridge back down the river were amazing even in the drizzle, but soaked through I decided to save the remainder of the walk for another day. As I walked back to the car, it hit me. That old smell I associate with Sunderland was still there. The smell of Gregg's pasties and cigarette smoke. Funny how many people still seem to smoke here Wearmouth Bridge to the City Centre (2nd June) It is a bank holiday on a Thursday for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The morning was warm and clear, so I drove to Sunderland. Knowing that the walk would not take too long, I combined it with another, the Historic Buildings of Sunderland's East End. This starts and ends at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, the same finishing point as the England Coast Path wald. Disappointingly the ECP does not pass any of the historic buildings other than the Fish Quay and the museum so combining the walks is definitely worth considering. Sunderland has managed to retain many of its beautiful historic buildings, more so than other towns in the North East. Fawcett Street The East End I remembered from my student days was very different from the one I saw today. I began the walk at the museum and walked down Fawcett Street checking out the Athenaeum Buildings, Corder House (no. 21) and Sydenham House (no. 22). The Athenaeum was opened in 1841 by the Sunderland Literary and Philosophical Society and at one time housed the museum. The two buildings show a mixture of Moorish and Gothic influences. All 3 buildings are spoiled by the modern frontages of discount shops and a housing association but looking above that provides a great view of the buildings. You can't really see anything at street level because of all the buses. The entire length of Fawcett Street is lined with bus stops. Further down is the Elephant Tea Rooms, sadly no longer a tea room and again the modern frontage of the ground floor ruined the building, but do look up to see the elephants carrying their tea chests. They are actually gargoyles, but not the usual ones. On the opposite corner is Mackies Corner. I remember this as Chamber's nightclub from my university days. When it was original built it was the main shopping area for the well-healed. Following the closure of the nightclub it fell into disrepair and for a long time was a sad sight on the corner of the High Street. It has since been fully renovated and now houses boutiques and other specialist shops and is once again a place to meet. I had passed all of these buildings hundreds of times but had never noticed them. The beautiful old Town Hall used to be located in Fawcett Street too. It was opened in 1890 and demolished in 1970, when the town council moved to the new Civic Centre, now also earmarked for demolition. Fortunately St Mary's RC Church is still there at the end of the street. Quayside Once bustling with the shipyards and fishing industry, the quayside on the south side of the Wear is now quiet and lined with many new buildings including Sunderland University Halls of Residence looking more like luxury appartments than student digs. There are 2 significant artworks at the top of Panns Bank and at the bottom. The first piece gives information on the ship yards and includes a steel cut outline of a shipyard worker. A number of these information boards line the Sunderland to Seaham route which follows the East Coast Path. The second is a mural is a nod to Austin's Shipyard by Frank Styles, best viewed from the Wearmouth Bridge. From the bottom of Panns Bank is probably the best view of the Wearmouth Bridge. There appears to be an inlet here, maps show there was once a floating pontoon dock here. The traditional dock next to it now houses small boats. The ECP route along the edge of the river was blocked by building work, it had been blocked back on 2nd May when I completed the first half of the walk so I walked back up Panns Bank a short way to continue following the road. Perhaps it is a good thing that I did as I passed the Bonded Warehouse and rear of the Exchange Building which I would not have seen had I followed the ECP signs which continue along the front of the student residences to the Fish Quay. Fresh fish can still be bought here but there is no longer a large fishing fleet. East End The official route of the ECP continues along the High Street towards the dock and across the Town Moor missing all of the important places of interest. This is why I explored using the Historic Buildings of Sunderland's East End rather than walking straight back to the museum. The first stop was Holy Trinity Church, now a project called 1719 (the year the church was built). This church once acted as the town hall and courts. The East End used to be the hub of the town, but as the population expanded, the town expanded to Bishopwearmouth, the current town centre. The church is open and has a small coffee shop, a very kind gentleman bought me a coffee and told me the next stretch of coast is his favourite walk. Leaving the church I walked up Church Walk past the Donnison School, built in 1798 to educate girls. I continued past Trafalgar Square, built in 1840 as almshouses for mariners. I walked past the Town Moor which is on the ECP passing the Orphanage and then turned back towards the river passing Pheonix Hall (Freemasons' Hall) which was undergoing some renovations and then back to the High Street passing the Exchange Building, now a bar and restaurant, and the Eagle Building, once the Eagle Tavern, with its stunning eagle on the roof. The Exchange Building operated as the court, market hall and town hall, taking over the role from Holy Trinity Church. Sunniside Walking back up High Street, I turned into West Sunniside. This area has seen a lot of regeneration in recent years with a new multiplex cinema, lots of restaurants, cafes, the green space that is Sunniside Park and the musem to the southern edge. There are well-kept Georgian terraces and the old Post Office Building. This cultural centre is just a nice place to hang out. I finished the walk with a visit to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. If you are into to art, do go and check out the works by LS Lowry or just hang out in the Winter Gardens. I also highly recommend the cafe here. Conclusion
When I lived in Sunderland in the early 1990s the East End and Sunniside were run-down and there was no real reason to visit. Crime was perceived to be relatively high and the decay of the buildings and decline of the shipyards and fishing industries were taking their toll on the area. This was in sharp contrast to the enjoyment of shopping, particularly in Joplings (John Street) in the 1970s and 1980s. During my time living in Sunderland, the rot really set in, many shops closed including Binns and I began to visit Sunderland less and less in the following years. I was realy glad that I took this diversion from the ECP as I enjoyed exploring this part of Sunderland again. It was not even as though I was revisiting old memories, the area had changed so significantly that it could have been a completely different town and yet had managed to regain that air of gentility it probably had when first built. I strongly urge anyone walking the ECP through Sunderland to get explore this area. 3/20/2022 0 Comments Walk 2 - Souter to South ShieldsIt's been a while since the first walk from Roker to South Shields. This is in part due to storms Malik, Corrie, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin which barrelled through one after the other causing yet more damage, this time my fence. I also took a trip to London and clocked up almost 20 miles over 4 days, mostly in tube stations if seemed, but we took in Regent's Park, London Zoo, Kew Gardens and Kensington Gardens so much of it was pretty. I hurt my back last week but felt fine on what was a beautiful Saturday morning so I choose a gentle 3-mile stretch of coast I know well from Souter Lighthouse to the bustling resort of South Shields. As with my previous walk, despite the chill wind, many people were out walking, cycling and kite flying. Souter Lightouse and Lizard Point I began this walk at Souter Lighthouse where my previous one finished. I walked down past the lighthouse to the coastal path. This stack, just of Lizard Point, was the first of many. As I walked along the path, I noticed an old sign for the Coastal Footpath. This was next to a fence which forced a diversion around some coastal erosion. Here the path heads towards the road, but gives a good view of the old Marsden Lime Kilns which is now a scheduled monument. They date back to the 1870s producing lime for industries in the surrounding area. They were removed from the Historic England at Risk Register in 2021 following work to conserve them for future generations. Marsden I have many happy memories of afternoons on the beach at Marsden Rock as a child and in the Marsden Grotto as a student at Sunderland University. A great place for a game of pool and a beer after lectures. Marsden Rock was (and still is) an impressive sea stack. It used to have a great arch which fell into the sea shortly after I graduated and subsequently the unsafe stack was demolished. The remaining rock however is still impressive. The Marsden Grotto is a pub with accommodation built into the cliffs, so great if you want to sleep in a cave. The lift takes you down straight into the grotto, however there are a lot of steps if you just wish to visit the beach. I had tea and a scone here before continuing. Marsden to Frenchman's Cove Continuing the walk, the path snakes around the top of the cliffs then dips to the entrance of Marsden beach. There are less steps here than at the grotto but the beach is just as rocky. There were a few steps down from the path, across the access road and then back up the otherside which contained puddles so do be careful. The path then reaches Frenchman's Cove which gives spectacular views towards Tynemouth and the pier at South Shields. There are plenty of benches along the route to rest and take in the view. Trow Point to South Shields There are some spectacular views along the coast here including the pier and lighthouse at South Shields and Tynemouth and the priory at Tynemouth is also clear to see even on a hazy day such as this. The path continues to wind around the coast giving views of the rocky coastline and the beautiful sandy beaches beyond. At Trow Point there is a gun battery. The gun here today is a replica, the orignal 1887 gun being replaced in 1987. It is known as a disappearing gun as it can be lowered into a recess below the gun. However this was never used and a second gun battery was built in Frenchman's Cove in 1903, this no long exists. Below the gun emplacement is the only ECP sign on this section of the walk. Beyond the gun the path continues on the promenade passing a number of restaurants and the surf school. I finished this section of the walk at Sandhaven beach just in time to catch the bus back to the car park. Practicalities
It was a beautiful day, but there was a chill wind even for late March. There is a fence along the cliff tops and many signs reminding you not to cross. It is tempting to get a good photo but please don't as the coast here is prone to landslip. I parked at Souter Lighthouse. There are car parks here and at the end of the walk at South Shields. It can be difficult to work out the car parking charges at South Shields, it is 1p a minute for the first 60 minutes, then £1 per hour after that or £5 all day, therefore 3 hours would cost £2.60. Souter Lighthouse is free for National Trust Members, just scan your card. The E1 bus connects South Shields seafront with Souter Lighthouse. I can recommend Marsden Grotto for refreshements on the way. There is also a cafe and toilets at Souter Lighthouse. There are many restaurants, cafes and kiosks and toilets at South Shields. I highly recommend ice-cream from Minchella's. This is next to the bus stop at the end of the walk. 1/20/2022 0 Comments The Challenge Has BegunRoker to Souter Lighthouse Roker We have had some amazing weather lately, those cold but bright clear winter days with blue skies. What else would you do on a sunny day but go to the seaside. So I began my 2022 challenge at Roker, a place I often visit and know well from childhood days at the beach and a place for reflection from my time as a student at Sunderland University. This stretch of coast is still my go-to when I need time to recharge, think and reflect about anything and everything. I hadn't however expected the seafront to be so busy, every man, woman, child and dog seemed to be there. Parking on the lower promenade, I started the walk at the marker for the end of the C2C cycle route which starts in Whitehaven in Cumbria. This part of Sunderland has changed vastly since I was a child, my dad would regularly bring us here whilst he loaded the van with timber from the timber yard where now the new housing and marina are located. After time on the beach we would have to sit on the wood in the back of the van for the ride home. There are very few remnants of the industrial past on this stretch of the Wear today. The smell of fish and chips wafted around the area and althrough there were amazing views of the pier, it was closed today. The tide was also in so many parts of the beach were not accessible because of the waves. The lower promenade at Roker is fairly short and ends at the mouth of the ravine which leads up to Roker Park. The park is well-worth a visit, being opened in 1880, it was one of the main attractions in Roker. It still has a boating lake and bandstand and easy access to the beach. The official England Coast Path (ECP) which on this stretch is marked by the small brown ECP signs, directed me up a flight of steps and across the bridge at the over the ravine. The views back along the promenade to the lighthouse at the end of Roker pier are unobstructed, but following the path around the top of the curved grassed area also provided good views of the White Lighthouse. So far all of the ECP had been paved. I remained on the upper promenade, as those on the lower promenade were getting a little wet. Huge waves were breaking over the sea wall giving much joy to some of the children. Beyond the lighthouse is the Bede Memorial Cross. Here the route overlaps with the Bede's Way Walk from St Paul's church in Jarrow to St Peter's church in Monkwearmouth. Seaburn Beyond this is the old tram shelter which is about to undergo renovations and possibly be transformed into a cafe. This marks the begining of Seaburn. Next to the tram shelter, there are no trams by the way, is the ornate drinking fountain. Opposite the tran shelter, across the roundabout which once had a spectacular fountain in the centre, but alas no longer, these days it has a light display, is the Sunderland Grand Hotel. This was once just known as the Seaburn Hotel. It used to be a little run down inside. My first experience of the Seaburn Hotel, some time around 1984 was at an Elvis Appreciation Event, I went with a friend who was a big fan, and I felt really out of place not having an appropriate costume. Many years later I was working for a local company on a large recruitment project. One night after interviewing all day, we were travelling back to the office when we turned the wrong way up a one way street. This happend a lot back in the 1980s and 1990s, streets would suddenly just become one way in the opposite direction overnight. It took a couple of policemen to sort out the HGVs and buses whose drivers were all as confused as us. Back to the walk, the route continues along Seaburn promenade which is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars including the new Stack. This area has also undergone huge changes since I was young. There used to be a funfair and behind this a zoo which we visited many times as children. This was then replaced with the Seaburn Centre and a Morrisons supermarket. The only reminder this was ever a seaside resort is the amusement arcade next to the supermarket. The one thing that has survived is Minchella's where you can buy fish and chips or ice-cream from the hatch. This place is a good spot to take a breather and refreshments as there are little opportunities for the remainder of the walk. Whitburn Further along the seafront the paved footpath passes in front of some houses and then leads you back to the road, across a small bridge and then sharp right again to follow the road around Whitburn Bents car park. Here the footpath shares the route with the NCN1 cycle path. The ground underfoot becomes a gravel track and follows the cliff tops giving great views of the coastline. Houses and a school line the other side of the path. The cycle path then takes a sharp left up to Whitburn itself, in hindsight I should have followed that route rather than the path. Crossing a large grassed area with rutted tracks, and passing through an A-frame barrier led to a very muddy narrow footpath around the tops of the cliffs. There were warning signs everywhere warning of coastal erosion and encouraging staying back from the cliffs. The A-frame is meant to deter cyclists but many came that way anyway and the path was deeply rutted in places with tyre marks making walking very difficult in places. The path skirts and old rifle range, but these days this is used to graze horses. As the section stretched out with my feet becoming caked in mud, I began to regret my decision to continue. Having mobility issues and not walked for some time I had probably reached the limitations of my physical abilities, however I had reached the point of no return and had about the same distance to Souter Lighthouse as back to the road. I pressed on feeling sore and anxious about the rest of the walk. I stopped and rested for a while and then pressed on. I think not being able to see the end point of the walk and feeling it should have been closer than it was caused some phsychological problems, but I reconciled this with the notion this walk was to test my abilities to help in planning other walks. I kept looking at the stunning coastal scenery and telling myself this was why I was walking the coastal path.
Practicalities
I parked in the Harbour View car park on the seafront at Roker, this cost £3.00 all day. There are toilets along the promenade at Roker and Seaburn and cafes, restaurants and bars here too. There is little else from Whitburn to Souter Lighthouse which is approximately half the walk but took much longer than the first half because of the muddy footpath, narrow part of the path where you may need to give way to other walkers and cyclists. There are also toilets and a cafe at Souter Lighthouse when open. I took the E1 bus from outside Souter Lighthouse back to the car park. This bus runs along the seafront from South Shields to Sunderland City Centre, costing £2.80 one way. 12/15/2021 0 Comments England Coast PathI am excited to be planning some short walks along the North East section of the England Coast Path (ECP) for the new year, but it hasn't been easy. There is not yet a definitive map that I have been able to find and the websites below do not yet cover the relevant sections in depth. This website should hopefully plug the gap in the meantime and help you on your journey to the North East section of the ECP.
If you would like to walk any part of the ECP you might find the following websites useful.
I did buy the one 'guide book' available, The England Coast Path: 1000 mini adventures around the world's longest coastal path' by Stephen Neale. There are many beautiful pictures in the book, however it is not a guide, there are no descriptions of the path sections and no maps. It is also too heavy for a backpack so only consider buying this if you want some visual inspiration. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. CategoriesAll England Coast Path North Gare To South Bents South Bents To Amble
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