Seaham to Amble

KC3 ECP Leg Number 56b and 57

Overview
Date started:
4th October 2024
Date completed:
8th October 2024
Official miles:
57.0
Miles we actually walked:
57.1
Guest walkers
Ani The Dog
Five days of walking through very varied scenery, combining fabulous sweeps of sandy beach with the more urban stretches through Sunderland and Newcastle
Day by day
Day 1 – Seaham to Whitburn Bents
4th October 2024
Miles 11.2 | Elevation gain 698ft
Map of Day 1
Day 2 – Whitburn Bents to Tynemouth
5th October 2024
Miles 11.0 | Elevation gain 473ft
Map of Day 2
Day 3 – Tynemouth to East Sleekburn
6th October 2024
Miles 14.3 | Elevation gain 486ft
Map of Day 3
Day 4 – Lynemouth to Amble
7th October 2024
Miles 11.5 | Elevation gain 277ft
Map of Day 4
Day 5 – East Sleekburn to Lynemouth
8th October 2024
Miles 9.1 | Elevation gain 392ft
Map of Day 5
How we approached this leg
We walked this stretch over five days of between 9 and 14 miles. Originally planned as five approximately equal days, the deteriorating weather forecast led us to walk further than planned on day 3, and then swap day 4 and 5 so we could enjoy the walk up the beach to Amble in good weather, and then back to complete the less scenic 9 mile stretch between East Sleekburn and Lynemouth on the final day, in the rainy weather.
Where we stayed
Tynemouth - with its attractive beach and good range of places to eat
Useful links
Little Lobo, Tynemouth
Awesome little place serving Mexican food, so good on our first night that we returned later in the trip for a second go!
Hidden on the Harbour, Seaham
A coffee each here before setting off for the first morning's walk
Barca, Tynemouth
We had a pre-dinner drink here on Friday, and then again later in the week. As the website describes, a quirky, cosy bar. Very good craft beer but the wine wasn't up to much.
Allards Lounge, Tynemouth
We had dinner here on Friday evening - a tapas sharing dish type place. This came with recommendations (and a discount code!) from our airbnb host, but Allards must have been having a bad day in the kitchen as, when it eventually arrived, the food was well over done and not particularly enjoyable. We'd been waiting a long time by then so we just put up with it. Oh well.
Michael's Cafe, South Shields
Not far from the ferry on the south bank of the Tyne, we had very welcome second breakfast here on the way to the start of our second walk. Not fancy and unexpected chips with our sausage butties - which went down very well! Ridiculously cheap and extra sausages for dogs.
Fishnet Tavern, North Shields
A pub in North Shields on the coast path near to the northern side of the ferry. A welcome cheese and ham toastie and a pint - looked like there were fancier places to dine on that road, but this did the job for us towards the end of a long day.
Iztuzu, Tynemouth
We ate here on Saturday evening - tasty Turkish food and welcoming service
The Beach House, Whitley Bay
The destination for breakfast, around a couple of miles into Sunday's long walk north from Tynemouth. Dog friendly and good food.
Castaways Tea Shop, Seaton Sluice
A quick coffee break here before walking up the beach towards Blyth
Lola Jeans, Tynemouth
Sunday night burgers here to recharge after our very long day's walking!
The Drift Cafe, Cresswell
Location for second breakfast on Monday morning, en route to Amble. Dog friendly and classy breakfasts.
Cafe Needles Eye, Newbiggin
Looked nice inside but not dog friendly so we sat outside in the semi-rain for a quick coffee and snack. Bit of a shame.
The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth
After dinner drinks here on our last night, after our second visit to the fabulous Little Lobo Mexican.
Crusoes, Tynemouth
Breakfast cafe on the beach, very close to our accommodation, highly recommended by our hosts. We'd been looking forward all week to leisurely breakfast here before the long drive south, but in the event it was a bit disappointing - might have been something to do with the 40 mile an hour gales lashing the beach, but the staff were less than welcoming, and the food was overcooked :(
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
The coast path runs right past this, we popped in for a little look and it would have been worth spending longer here
Shields Ferry
Timetable for ferry across the Tyne to link the coast path south to north