The Durham heritage coast

The often stunning 11 mile coastline of County Durham lies exclusively within the District of Easington.  Together with 1.9 miles of the coastline of its northern neighbour, City of Sunderland, this coast was defined by the Countryside Agency as a Heritage Coast in 2001.  To find out the precise benefits and responsibilities which Heritage Coast status brings we suggest you access the website of the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership.

Heritage Coast status was gained following a 4 year, £10 million pound regeneration project, Turning the Tide, which was begun shortly after the closure of the huge under-sea coal mines which dominated Easington throughout the twentieth century.  Managed by a 16 member partnership, also called Turning the Tide, and funded by the Millenium Commission, the project removed the pit heaps and colliery buildings from the sea cliffs and began the massive clean up - to be completed by the sea's natural action - of colliery waste from the beaches.  So spectacularly successful was the project that it gained a string of national and European environmental awards of which details can be found on the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership website. 

Even in the heyday of the coal industry, the coastline of Easington was of particular interest to geologists, ornithologists, botanists and entymologists, not to mention sea anglers.  The geology of the area is magnesian limestone with boulder clay above it which supports grassland and a fabulous range of wild flowers.  The Durham Argus butterfly, arguably a separate species found only on this coastline, feeds on one such, the rockrose.  No less unusual is the area's bird life including a nationally important nesting site for the Little Tern.

Responsibility for the conservation and protection of the coastline's flora and fauna, the Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the National and Local Nature Reserves rests in the main with English Nature and with The National Trust.  Both operate out of local centres and publicise their work in Easington via their websites.  

The coastline of Easington is of no less interest to non-scientists.  Walkers, family groups, photographers and painters will all find much to enjoy in its dramatic landscape of beaches, cliffs and headlands and its continuous 11 mile footpath.  In some places the soft limestone cliffs have been worn into deep caves or spectacular rock formations.  Running inland are steep-sided denes containing remnants of ancient woodlands.  And at several locations new car parks and picnic areas offer ready access to beaches.

While the full extent of the coastline is worth visiting we would draw your attention in particular to its north and south gateways at Seaham and Crimdon.

Seaham, at the north end of the coastline, is the most developed section.  At one end you will find the district's only working harbour and the town's shops and pubs.  At the other is a beautifully renovated promenade, fields, attractively laid out car parking areas, an ancient medieval church and the former home of the romantic poet, Lord Byron, now converted into the nationally acclaimed Seaham Hall Hotel and oriental spa.  Throughout the whole of Seaham you will also find a great wealth of public artworks and attractive interpretive features.

Crimdon, at the south end of the district, has a large successful caravan centre on site regeneration work, coupled with a beautiful coastline, and a pony club.  Work commenced in 2004 to provide Crimdon with a promenade and visitor facilities to match the splendour of its seascape, its dunes and golden beach and its nationally significant flora and fauna.

Two years on and visitors to Crimdon can now enjoy this peaceful location by taking a stroll along the promenade with its contemporary design, or by sitting at the top of the new landform which has been designed to reflect the 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape of dunes, dene and seascape.  The Crimdon design project has recently won a National Green Apple Award.