While we admit that it may not always be sunny in the Tees Valley, when the sun does shine there can be no better place to hang out than the beach, and we’re spoiled for choice!
Whether you’re looking for activity-filled shores, abundant nature or just a quiet doze on the sand, there’s something for everyone on the Tees Valley coastline.
BEST FOR… ACTIVITIES
A predominantly sandy beach with some shingle, Marske Sands occupies a prime stretch of Tees Valley coastline. Watersports are popular here, as is fishing and swimming in the warmer months. The wide beach at low tide is perfect for long walks, while the village a perfect spot to relax afterwards.
The beaches at Saltburn, Marske and Redcar make a perfect location for gentle hacks. Don’t forget to check tide times before you head out. A more sheltered 6.5km circular ride is available at Errington Woods, and there’s a permissive bridleway which circumnavigates the fields around Errington, Soapwell and Village woods.
Surfers at Saltburn, courtesy of Flow Surf SchoolSaltburn beach is also a great place to get out on the water. If you fancy giving surfing a try, give the family-run Flow Surf School a call. They offer lessons in surfing for beginners and intermediate learners (including kids aged 8 and up), video surf coaching in fun and interactive lessons. They also offer stand up paddleboard equipment hire and have an onsite shop.
Or, why not channel your inner Beach Boy and learn how to catch the waves at popular Saltburn Surf School on Saltburn beach. A variety of lessons for all ages and abilities are provided, and they also hire out equipment and run surf instructor courses. Open April-October.
BEST FOR… A QUIET STROLL
While sightings of Keira Knightly and chums may be rare these days (the Hollywood actress starred in romantic war drama Atonement, partly filmed on Redcar beach in 2006), Redcar’s seafront is no less appealing now. The beach is popular with dog walks and families who traverse the eight mile stretch of golden sands.
A vast and peaceful stretch of sand runs along the coast from Crimdon to Blackhall Rocks further north. There’s not much here aside from a couple of campsites, but wildlife thrives among the nature reserve’s quiet dunes, with nesting terns resident during the summer months. To the south, the hulking Steetley Pier was part of a magnesium plant in the 1960s and now rests in the shallows, making for an interesting photo stop.
The broad sandy beach stretches more than a mile in each direction from the centre of Seaton Carew, providing plenty of space for beach games, walking and more. The south end of the beach leads to protected dunes, from which you can continue on to Seal Sands, home to common and grey seals and hundreds of species of migratory birds.
BEST FOR… NATURE
In a previous life Cattersty Gill was used as a tip for slag waste from nearby iron works, today the valley protects grassland abundant with wildlife, including migrating birds who make Cattersty Gill their first stop after crossing the North Sea. The golden sand and shingle of Cattersty beach (also known as Skinningrove beach) stretches for miles and is wonderfully sheltered.
Hummersea nature reserve occupies a stunning stretch of Tees Valley coastline, just to the north of Loftus. The site includes a wide swathe of coastal slope, rich in wildflowers such as fragrant and pyramidal orchids and spiny restharrow along with elegant grass-of-Parnassus. The high cliffs here are home to nesting seabirds in spring and summer. There is also a small area of shingle beach at the foot of the cliff, which can be reached by several flights of steep wooden steps, and leads onto a wider expanse of wave-cut platform and rocky shore.
Seaton Common is home to many resident and migratory wading birds. A wet grassland, which is grazed by cattle, the Common holds much historical interest as well as being a popular resting place for mammals. On the other side of the golf course from the common lie Seaton Dunes – one of the largest dune systems between Lindisfarne and the Humber. The dunes provide a rich and varied habitat for many plants and animals, including the rare purple milk vetch, which flowers in the dunes during July and August, and short-eared owls. Take in the sights on a 3.5 mile walking route taking in the common.