Tucked in between the popular resorts of Tynemouth and Whitley Bay you can find the former artists’ colony of Cullercoats.
Artisan coffee shops rub shoulders with watersports kit hire shops. Everything you need is within a few minutes walk.
Cullercoats bay offers something for everyone – it’s sheltered enough for the sunbathers, the water is clear for the swimmers and it’s calm enough for the paddleboarders and kayakers.
The Metro will get you into central Newcastle within half an hour. But you don’t need to go that far to have a fun day or night out – there’s the vibrant North Shields fish quay, Tynemouth village, award-winning fish and chips at the newly-renovated Spanish City in Whitley Bay, barbecued fish on the beach at Riley’s or head over to St Mary’s island to climb the lighthouse or spot some seals.
Things to see and do
Beach stuff
Cullercoats bay is less than a 5 minute walk from the house. It’s pretty sheltered and the RNLI has lifeguards on patrol at popular times. CBK Adventures nearby offers kayak/paddleboard hire and lots of other fun activities.
Whitley Bay and Tynemouth are a bit further along the coast (turn left for WB and right for Tynemouth).
At St Mary’s Island, just past Whitley Bay, you can sometimes access the lighthouse and see seals swimming/relaxing nearby. Check out local tide times as the lighthouse is accessed by a causeway.
Walking
Stroll to St Mary’s Lighthouse to spot the seals at the hauling out site (or drive and park if legs are too small/tired!). There’s a nature reserve there too. The quick route is via the lower prom at WB , then cut across the beach to the continuation of the prom to the lighthouse. Tide tides/safe crossing times are on St Mary’s Lighthouse FB page. Dolphins are regularly spotted off the coast. Walk along to Tynemouth , past the priory and down to the mouth of the Tyne and onto the Fish Quay if you are feeling energetic. The route is part of the England Coast Path.
Cycling
The seafront from St Mary’s Lighthouse to Tynemouth is a shared use cycling/pedestrian path, part of National Cycle Network path No 1 (Coast and Castle route) between Edinburgh and Newcastle. Sustrans route 72 is a largely off-road route that follows the river Tyne for around 11 miles into Newcastle (and beyond into Northumberland for the active). You can also hop on the ferry from North Shields to cycle down to Soutar Lighthouse and beyond to Sunderland.
Culture
Locally there’s the Playhouse Theatre in WB, Laurels comedy club and Jam Jar independent cinema. Tynemouth Priory is English Heritage. Segedunum Roman Fort is in nearby Wallsend. The Low Lights Heritage Centre at the mouth of the Tyne in North Shields is interesting.