North Shields

Marsden Rock

Marsden · 3.7 miles

Located on the Tyne and Wear coast opposite the village of Marsden, the sea-stack known as Marsden Rock rises about 27 metres from the sea and is composed of Magnesian Limestone. The formation sits roughly 91 metres off the main cliff line and is classed as a bare rock landmark on the OpenStreetMap database. Originally a single stack with a natural arch, the arch gave way during the winter of 1996, splitting the feature into two. The smaller column, judged unsafe, was removed by the National Trust in 1997, leaving the present 90-foot stack that can be approached on foot at low tide, though it is completely surrounded by water when the tide comes in. The surrounding cliffs provide a vital breeding habitat for a range of seabirds, including kittiwakes, herring gulls and razorbills, which often perch on the rock itself. Cormorants have been present since the 1960s, and occasional winter visitors such as peregrine falcons and snow buntings have been recorded. No admission charge applies, and there are no visitor facilities on the rock or the immediate shoreline. Access is via the coastal path near Marsden Grotto, with the tide schedule the only practical consideration for those wishing to reach the stack on foot.

Souter Lighthouse

Marsden · 4.3 miles

The former electric lighthouse on Lizard Point, a mile north of Whitburn in South Tyneside, stands on high cliffs that give it superior sea-visibility. Built to serve the hazardous Whitburn Steel reefs, it was the world’s first lighthouse specifically designed for alternating current. Its carbon-arc lamp, first lit on 11 January 1871, produced an 800,000-candle-power flash every thirty seconds that could be seen for up to 26 miles, and a red-white sector highlighted local shoals. The tower’s daymark was enhanced in December 1891 by a broad red band, and a foghorn, originally a reed signal later replaced by a siren, added an audible warning. Designed by Trinity House chief engineer James Douglass and supervised on site by Henry Norris, construction began after the foundation stone was laid on 9 June 1869 and was completed in 1870. The complex includes a quadrangle of rubble-masonry buildings, an engine house with two magneto generators and steam engines, and five keeper’s cottages. After decommissioning by Trinity House in 1988, the National Trust acquired the site and now operates it as a museum, charging an admission fee. Visitors can explore the lantern, engine rooms and surrounding grounds, and the top of the lighthouse offers a line-of-sight view of St Mary’s Lighthouse on the opposite side of the River Tyne. Holiday lets are also available within the historic cottages. The nearest town is Marsden, and the site is accessible via local roads leading to Lizard Point.

Gosforth Park Nature Reserve

North Gosforth · 6.2 miles

Extensive woodland, wet carr and reed-dominated wetlands provide breeding grounds for species such as reed warbler, water rail and reed bunting, while winter brings birds like bittern, kingfisher and shoveler. Aquatic mammals including otter, water vole and water shrew are recorded, and the site supports England’s second-largest colony of coralroot orchid. The semi-natural forest, chiefly oak and birch with some conifer plantings, hosts mammals such as badger, fox, roe deer, stoat and a remaining population of red squirrel, alongside a diverse invertebrate community that includes nationally rare beetles and solitary bees. A small meadow adds heather and northern marsh orchid to the botanical mix. The reserve lies within the historic Gosforth Park estate in Tyne and Wear, north-east of the Whitebridge Park housing estate and close to the former village of North Gosforth. Medieval ridge and furrow evidence points to its agricultural past; the Brandling family later landscaped the area, creating a lake between 1810 and 1820 and planting much of the woodland in the mid-19th century. After the estate was sold in the late 19th century, the Natural History Society of Northumbria acquired shooting rights in 1924 and assumed full management in 1929, maintaining the area for wildlife. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1977, the reserve remains privately owned by Arena Racing Company but is leased to the Society. Public entry is limited to Society members and visitors holding a day pass; non-members may purchase a pass on arrival. Dogs are not permitted, there are no public rights of way, and opening times are listed on the Society’s information page. Regular open days and educational activities for schools are organised by the Society.

The Response

Haymarket · 6.8 miles

Set within the public gardens north of St Thomas the Martyr church and to the west of the Civic Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, The Response 1914 occupies a visible spot near the Haymarket district. The monument rests on a substantial Shap granite base that rises in three steps to a rusticated plinth and a screen wall. A large black bronze group, cast at the Thames Ditton Foundry, measures about three metres in height and ten metres across and portrays a crowd of figures – two young drummers, men parting from loved ones, and an allegorical angel sounding a trumpet. On the reverse side of the stonework, a carving of St George is flanked by two soldiers, one representing the regiment’s founding in 1674 and the other its First World War service. Commissioned by Sir George Renwick, 1st Baronet, and executed by sculptor Sir William Goscombe John, the work was presented to the city on 5 July 1923 in a ceremony that included the Prince of Wales. It commemorates the Territorial Army “Pals” battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers raised in 1914 – the “Commercials” – as well as the safe return of Renwick’s five sons and his half-century of ship-owning activity. Latin inscriptions on the front read “Non sibi sed patriae” followed by the title, while the rear bears the Fusiliers’ motto “Quo fata vocant” and a dedication to the battalions raised by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce. The monument received listed status in 1971, was upgraded to Grade I in October 2014, and after restoration was rededicated on 25 October 2007 in the presence of Prince Philip.

Roker Park

Roker · 6.8 miles

A public recreation space set on a plot given by Sir Hedworth Williamson, 8th Baronet, together with the Church Commissioners, Roker Park opened on 23 June 1880 in the Roker district of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. The layout forms an inverted reversed “L”, bordered to the south by Park Parade, to the east by Roker Park Terrace, to the west by Roker Park Road and to the north by Side Cliff Road. The broader northern section drops towards Roker beach through a ravine crossed by a wooden footbridge, creating a direct visual link to the coastline. Within the grounds a sizeable free-form lake supports remote-controlled model boating, while the north-west corner holds a narrow-gauge railway track installed in the 1970s. Sporting facilities include two bowling greens, tennis courts and additional multi-purpose courts. Architectural features comprise an octagonal cast-iron bandstand set on a wooden base with a metal-covered roof, and a memorial drinking fountain constructed from ashlar, sandstone and granite. The fountain commemorates Sir Hedworth’s land donation and was erected by scholars, teachers and friends of Sunderland’s Sunday Schools to mark both the centenary of the Sunday School movement and the park’s inauguration. Historically the venue also hosted the Sunderland Illuminations, a Festival of Light running from late September to early November, before the event relocated to Mowbray Park in the city centre. Access is straightforward via the surrounding roads, and the park remains a green amenity for local residents and visitors alike.

Grey's Monument

Newcastle upon Tyne · 6.8 miles

A prominent column stands at the intersection of Grey, Grainger and Blackett Streets, forming a focal point in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. The structure reaches 133 ft (41 m) and is listed at Grade I by Historic England. Constructed in 1838, the monument consists of a Roman Doric column designed by Benjamin Green, surmounted by a statue of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, executed by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily. Erected to commemorate Grey’s premiership and the passage of the Great Reform Act of 1832, the monument was financed through public subscription. The foundation stone was laid on 6 September 1837, and a time capsule containing contemporary coins, medals and a list of subscribers was interred. The column was completed on 11 August 1838, followed by the placement of the statue on 24 August. Although contemporary critics questioned the site’s suitability within the city’s tram network, the surrounding pedestrianised area has since become a popular meeting spot and speakers’ corner. In 1981 the adjacent Tyne and Wear Metro station was named after the monument, reinforcing its role as a landmark for both residents and visitors. Access to the monument is straightforward from the city centre, with the nearby metro station providing a convenient public-transport link. The monument occupies an open, car-free zone and does not appear to have a charge for entry or on-site facilities beyond the surrounding public space.