Whitley Bay Seafront

The stretch of coast at Whitley Bay feels properly wild once you get past the promenade. A genuine nature reserve rather than a manicured seafront, it's where the North Sea does what it wants - rough, dramatic, and absolutely worth the visit if you're already staying at Parkdean Resorts or Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite nearby.

You'll find rock pools at low tide teeming with life - crabs, anemones, starfish if you're lucky. The cliffs aren't towering, but they're impressive enough, and the beach itself is a proper mix of sand and shale. On a clear day the views stretch right along the coast. On a moody day - which is most days up here - it's genuinely atmospheric.

Walkers will get hours out of this. The shoreline path is straightforward and flat, though you'll want decent footwear because it gets slippery. Families with young kids can potter about in the pools for a good hour or two without them losing interest. Birdwatchers come here regularly - you'll spot cormorants, gulls, and if you're patient, other waders.

There's no admission fee and no time limits. Go when the tide's out if you want to explore properly, or arrive at dawn if you want solitude. The nearest town is Whitley Bay itself, which has cafes and chip shops when you've had your fill of sea air. It's genuinely one of the better coastal spots in Tyne and Wear, and far less crowded than places further south.