Walking the North East Coastal Path: The First 20 Miles from Tynemouth
Tynemouth is an easy place to start a walk. You step off the Metro, pick up a coffee on Front Street, and ten minutes later you are on the clifftop with the North Sea working away below you. From there the coast runs north in an almost unbroken ribbon of promenade, sand, low cliffs and harbour walls. The first twenty miles will carry you from the mouth of the Tyne to the dunes at Cresswell, on the edge of Druridge Bay.
Almost all of it is flat. Most of it is on good surfaces. That makes it a gentle introduction to the North East coast, whether you want one long day out or a series of short hops with a train or bus back to where you started.
Start at the Mouth of the Tyne
The walk begins with a view that sets the tone. Tynemouth Priory and Castle sit on the headland above the river mouth, and from the grassy slopes you can look south to South Shields and north along the curve of Longsands beach. Below the cliffs, the Black Middens rocks are a reminder that this coast has always been a difficult one for shipping. On a calm morning it looks harmless. On a rough one, the sea turns white around them and you understand why the lifeboats were kept busy.
Leave the headland on the path above the beach and follow the promenade north. This first stretch is about two miles to Cullercoats, and it is as easy as coastal walking gets. There are railings, benches, and plenty of places to stop if the weather turns.
Tynemouth to Cullercoats
Cullercoats Bay is a neat horseshoe of sand with a small harbour wall at each end. It feels more like a village than a suburb, even though you are still on the edge of the city. There are cafés near the bay, and the houses behind the front have the solid, weathered look of a place that has seen a lot of weather. If you are walking in stages, this is a natural first stop, though most people push on to Whitley Bay.
Cullercoats to Whitley Bay
The path continues north along the promenade. Whitley Bay opens up ahead, with the dome of the Spanish City standing out against the sky. The building has been restored and is now a useful landmark as well as a pleasant place to break for coffee or ice cream. In summer the beach is busy with families, dogs and paddleboarders. In winter it is quiet, bracing, and at its best when the light is low and the sea is a hard grey-blue.
Whitley Bay is the first real escape point. The Metro station is a few minutes from the front, so you can end a short walk here without any trouble.
Whitley Bay to Blyth: Lighthouses, Harbour Walls and Old Coal Staithes
After Whitley Bay the coast feels slightly wilder. The promenade gives way to a low clifftop path, then to grass and sandy links. The sea stays close, but the buildings fall away. This is where the walk starts to feel like a proper coastal route rather than a town promenade.
St Mary's Island and Curry's Point
St Mary's Island is the postcard moment of this section. A small lighthouse stands on a rocky island, and at low tide a causeway of rough stone appears and lets you walk across. Do not cross if the tide is coming in or the causeway is already covered. The currents around the island are strong, and the tide can cut you off faster than you expect.
Even if you stay on the mainland, Curry's Point and the nearby rock pools are worth a detour. At low tide, children and adults alike can spend a happy half hour peering into shallow water for crabs, anemones and small fish.
Seaton Sluice and Hartley
The path continues north through Hartley and past the links towards Seaton Sluice. Seaton Sluice is a small place with a big history. Its harbour was cut through rock in the seventeenth century to serve the coal trade, and the old channel and staithes give the village a compact, industrial feel that sits oddly beside the beach. It is also a good spot to refill water or grab a snack before the longer push towards Blyth.
From Seaton Sluice, the route follows the coast past Blyth Beach and into Blyth itself. The approach to Blyth is more industrial than what has come before. Wind turbine blades, port machinery and the harbour walls are all part of the view. It is not picturesque in the traditional sense, but it is honest and interesting, and it reminds you that this coast has always been a working one.
Blyth to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
Blyth is the biggest town on this stretch, and the harbour is its heart. The path crosses the River Blyth and then turns north along the sea front. From here the walk becomes a mix of promenade, low dunes and wide beach. The sand is darker and coarser in places, but the views open up, and on a clear day you can see Newbiggin ahead.
The Blyth Estuary and the Promenade
Leaving Blyth, the route runs along the promenade before dropping onto the beach or the path behind it. At high tide, the promenade is the safer and drier option. At low tide, the beach gives you a long, flat walk with the sea on your right and the town slowly shrinking behind you. This is easy mileage, but it can feel longer if you are walking into a headwind.
Newbiggin's Couple and the Bay
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea has a long curved bay and a very distinctive landmark: The Couple, a tall sculpture of two figures standing on the breakwater and looking out to sea. It is a good meeting point, a good photo, and a good excuse to stop. The town itself has cafés, pubs and a maritime centre, and the beach is one of the most accessible on the route. If you are splitting the walk into stages, Newbiggin is one of the best places to finish for the day.
Newbiggin to Cresswell: Into the Dunes
From Newbiggin the character changes again. The buildings thin out, the path softens, and the dunes begin. This final stretch towards Cresswell is the most natural part of the walk. You are still close to roads and buses, but it feels quieter, with marram grass, seabirds and the long sweep of Druridge Bay ahead.
Druridge Bay and Cresswell
Druridge Bay is a long arc of sand backed by dunes and nature reserves. The path here can be sandy and uneven, especially after rain, but it is not difficult. In summer, the dunes are full of wildflowers and birdsong. In winter, they are stark and windswept, and the sea has a rawness that is hard to find on more sheltered coasts.
Cresswell marks the end of this first twenty miles. There is a small village, a beach, and the dunes that lead on towards Druridge Bay proper. If you have arranged a lift or checked the bus times, this is a satisfying place to stop. If not, it is a short walk inland to the main road, where buses can take you back towards Ashington, Morpeth or Newcastle.
Practicalities: Transport, Timing and Weather
One of the best things about this stretch is that you are never truly remote. Tynemouth and Whitley Bay have Metro stations. Blyth, Newbiggin and Cresswell have bus links. That means you can walk the whole twenty miles in a day if you are fit and the weather is kind, or you can break it into four or five shorter sections and still feel like you have completed a proper route.
Getting back
- Tynemouth and Whitley Bay: Metro services run frequently to Newcastle and the coast.
- Blyth: Regular buses connect the town to Newcastle, Whitley Bay and other nearby towns.
- Newbiggin-by-the-Sea: Buses run to Ashington and beyond, with connections to the wider network.
- Cresswell: Services are less frequent, so check times in advance or arrange a pickup.
When to walk
Spring and early summer are ideal. The days are long, the dunes are green, and the cafés are open without the full summer crowds. Autumn can be beautiful, with clear light and quieter beaches. Winter walking is possible and often atmospheric, but you need to be ready for wind, rain and shorter daylight hours. Whatever the season, check the tide times if you want to cross to St Mary's Island or walk on the lower beach.
What to take
- Comfortable shoes with a bit of grip, especially for the sandy sections.
- Water and snacks, even though there are cafés along the way.
- A windproof and waterproof layer. The coast can be sunny one minute and cold the next.
- Sun cream and a hat in summer. There is little shade on the dunes.
- A phone, a charger and a backup payment method for buses or cafés.
- A tide timetable if St Mary's Island is on your list.
Useful Stops and Detours
Food and drink
Tynemouth Front Street is the best place to start with coffee or breakfast. Cullercoats and Whitley Bay both have cafés near the front. Seaton Sluice is small but useful for a quick stop. Blyth has plenty of options near the harbour, and Newbiggin has cafés and pubs close to the beach. Cresswell is more limited, so plan your last meal and drink before you arrive.
Shortcuts and easier days
If twenty miles feels like too much, split the route into stages. This also makes it easier to match the walk to the weather.
- Tynemouth to Whitley Bay: about 6 to 7 miles, with plenty of cafés and a Metro at the end.
- Whitley Bay to Blyth: about 5 to 6 miles, including St Mary's Island and Seaton Sluice.
- Blyth to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea: about 4 to 5 miles, mostly promenade and beach.
- Newbiggin to Cresswell: about 3 to 4 miles, through the dunes and into Druridge Bay.
The best thing about this section of the North East coast is not the drama. It is the rhythm. You walk, you look at the sea, you stop for a cup of tea, and you realise that twenty miles can feel both gentle and genuinely wild.
Final Thoughts
The first twenty miles from Tynemouth to Cresswell are a complete walk in themselves. They give you clifftops, promenades, harbours, lighthouses, dunes and long sandy bays without ever taking you too far from a bus stop or a café. It is a route that suits a first long-distance walk, a winter training day, or simply a good excuse to spend a full day beside the North Sea.
If you continue north, the coast path carries on towards Amble, Alnmouth and eventually the Scottish border. But there is no need to think that far ahead. Start at Tynemouth, walk north, and let the first twenty miles show you what the North East coast does best: quiet beauty, working harbours, and a path that keeps pulling you on.
