Our coast

Covering the coastline from Sunderland to Hartlepool, the Durham Heritage Coast has emerged from its industrial heritage to being one of the finest coastlines in England. With sweeping views along the coastline and out to the North Sea, it has unique qualities which come from it’s underlying geology. This is no ordinary coastline – it is wonderfully varied, consisting of shallow bays and headlands with yellow limestone cliffs up to 30 metres high with occasional caves and stacks and coastal slopes which are home to a fabulous array of wild flowers.

Magnificent sweeps of magnesian limestone grassland along the cliffs support a unique mix of plants, insects and several colonies of rare northern brown argus butterfly; exposed rocky shores at low tide reveal returning marine life, sea urchins and anemones and birds along the coast include skylarks, sanderling, purple sandpipers and not forgetting our annual visitor from West Africa, the little tern which nests at Crimdon every year. Off shore, minke whales and harbour porpoises are often spotted – why not come and explore our fascinating and exhilarating coastline!