22 Feb 2025 : I had an appointment in Newcastle, and so rather than make it a chore we decided to combine it with a night away and a trip to Whitley Bay. The weather on the way down was torrential rain and high winds, but on the morning of Saturday , the storm had passed and the sun was shining , so it was off to the beach we went.
St Marys lighthouse is on a small island just off the coast of Whitely Bay, and it’s reached by a short causeway that opens to people on foot at low tide. Low tide was 11am today, so we went for a short walk through the dunes and along the beach while we waited. The area is a big draw for dog walkers and families and so it was busy, but we still managed to steer away from the crowds. The beach is small pockets of sand bordered by rocky pools and they were alive with Redshanks, Turnstones, Black He’d Gulls, Herring Gulls and Oyster Catchers, along the shore line Rock Pipets hopped amongst the grasss and pebbles and Cormorants were drying their wings in the morning sun. The other side of the headland is a bay with a black beach covered in coal dust which was sparkling like gem stones in the sun, and here we watched a pair of Eider ducks and flocks f Sanderlings and Dunlin, while a lobster boat was busy putting out its pots before low tide hit.
The tide was still too high to get to the island so we we followed the coast and returned through a managed wetland area, in the fields were dozens of Curlew calling, and by the pond Teal, Canada Geese and Mallards were happily looking for food, a great pace for short walks with great wildlife.
As we left the wetland area the causeway was nearly dry, so we rolled up our trousers and crossed before the crowds followed us, we arrived on the island and marvelled at the number of Grey Seals that were sunning themselves on the rocks, with the young hanging about by the rock pools leaning to swim and hunt. There is a small hide behind the lighthouse and it offered a wonderful place to sit and watch the seals play. We didn’t stay too long, as it was half term and a Saturday and so it was busy with families enjoying themselves, but what a place ! If you want to watch Seals without a long hike, at a place with a hide and a coffee shop, them St Marys Island is for you !
