One of the most well-known beaches is Whitley Bay, reachable in 30-40 minutes via Metro from Haymarket or by the 308 bus. This seaside town has multiple attractions on offer, with its beautiful sandy beach, nature reserve, tidal pool and lighthouse – there’s undoubtedly a lot to do there. My favourite feature has got to be St Mary’s Lighthouse, a classic white lighthouse sitting on a rocky tidal island with a road leading up to it. You must factor tidal times into planning a visit, as when it’s high tide, the road gets swallowed by the sea, so you could get trapped on the island! It’s a bit of a walk from the Metro station along the sea front (around 2 miles), but I’d certainly argue that it’s worthwhile, especially if you’re an avid bird watcher or looking for seals.
Cullercoats Bay is the next beach that springs to mind when I fancy a quiet walk by the sea. A 35-minute journey by Metro brings you to a quieter beach with more natural forms to investigate and visit, with a couple of caves to explore, a stone arch, and a stone pier. From Cullercoats Bay, you can see the skyline of Tynemouth, and the magnificent shape of St George’s Church, rising up from the famous Longsands beach. If you fancy a visit to this beach, I’d recommend you have a torch handy, as the caves can get quite dark!
If you go on a Saturday or Sunday, as you make your way back towards the Metro station, you can immerse yourself in Tynemouth Market, situated in the station.
If you’re looking for a classic beach day out with fish and chips by the sea, I’d recommend you go to Tynemouth. The last time I visited, I went to Longsands Fish Kitchen, conveniently located between the beach and the Metro station, where the food was great.
From King Edward’s Bay, you can walk up to Tynemouth Priory and Castle, which sits on a headland, looking out to the lighthouses and the sea. The ruins are really a stunning sight, but to enter them, you can buy tickets, which, for an adult, are just under £10. However, you can still see a great deal through the castle-style gate, and the exterior is public to have an amble around. Eventually, you might find yourself looking at the coastal batteries: Britain’s coastal defences built in the late 19th century to protect the Tyne’s valuable shipyards from naval attacks.
If you go on a Saturday or Sunday, as you make your way back towards the Metro station, you can immerse yourself in Tynemouth Market, situated in the station. There’s so much to look at, from food to crafts, photography to artworks. It’s a fabulous day out.
There are so many different things to do at each of the beaches. While you are here, I’d recommend you visit them all!