Cullercoats Beach (Tynemouth)

Cullercoats is a small, sandy, crescent-shaped beach, taking up most of Cullercoats Bay, which is enclosed at each end by small piers. At high tide the bay divides into two distinct North and South beaches.

The bay has had a thriving fishing industry for hundreds of years, and the southern end is still used for launching fishing boats today. Thanks to the sheltering effect of the piers, the bay is a good place for bathing.

The beach is backed by small cliffs, and is also home to an active lifeboat station, built in Victorian times as well as Newcastle University’s School of Marine Science. Cullercoats Watch House, a popular location for artists, including the American artist Winslow Homer, whose works portray the bay and surrounding coastline, overlooks the bay and beach. 

Searching for marine wildlife in the rockpools which can be found here at low tide, can be a popular pastime, and the beach is also used for a variety of watersports. The beach also has a selection of caves to explore at low tide times, above which is the Promenade running the whole length of Cullercoats from St. George\‘s church to Cliffe House (the oldest local property)  and the promontory.

Parking can be found in the centre of Cullercoats, behind the northern end of the beach, as can a range of facilities such as pubs, shops, places to eat, and a station along the yellow line of the Tyne and Wear metro, with frequent services to Newcastle Central.

The beach can be accessed down a sloping road. The south of the beach is overlooked by a grassy area with many park benches, a large children’s play area, and public toilets. Another road descends the cliffside between here and the beach.