Tour of the Coast

Withernsea is a resort favored by the people of Hull, with a sandy beach which extends along the coast, with interruptions, for miles. There is a wide promenade with two Pier Towers at the entrance that look like castle towers. There are two fine churches within easy reach, at Hedon (4mi/6km east of Hull) and Patrington (4mi/6km southwest of Withernsea). The church at Hedon, with a Decorated nave, an Early English choir and transepts and a Perpendicular tower, is known as the "King of Holderness" (the rich corn-growing area on the plain east of Hull). The church at Patrington, with an imposing tower, is mainly Decorated; it is known as the "Queen of Holderness".

An outing to Burton Agnes Hall (6mi/9km west of Bridlington) is to be recommended. The mansion, which is a magnificent example of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture, was built in 1598, extended in 1628 by Inigo Jones, and contains valuable furniture and a beautiful collection of French impressionists.

The famous resort of Scarborough (pop. 45,500) owes its name of "Queen of the Yorkshire Coast" to its beautiful sandy beaches. It has been the leading seaside resort in the north of England since 1734, and still preserves its Victorian character. It is well supplied with parks and gardens, cafes and entertainment of all kinds.Scarborough has a North and South Bay, the South Bay is more popular for entertainment and shopping. The North Bay is connected to the South by a Victorian promenade.

Beyond Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a seaside resort favored by rheumatic sufferers, there is a marvelous stretch of coastline, which includes the rugged Boulby Cliffs, leading to Redcar, a seaside resort with miles of beach, a 3mi/5km long promenade, a racecourse and a wide range of entertainments. The town also has a museum devoted to fishing and sea rescue.Saltburn-by-the-Sea hosts numerous annual events including the Saltburn Victorian Celebrations, the Saltburn Swashbuckle - geared to children, and the Saltburn Folk Festival.

Beyond Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the next resort of any size, although not a particularly attractive one, is Tynemouth (pop. 70,000) at the mouth of the River Tyne. It forms a conurbation with North Shields, South Shields, where the Roman fort of Arbeia marks the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Indeed Tynemouth serves this larger urban area as a residential town and favored place for weekend outings to the beaches, particularly favored for surfing. The coastline along here is interspersed with many rocks, and on an outlying crag surrounded by water are the remains of the Castle and the ruins of the Priory Church (about 1090), with a fine Early English choir and the completely preserved Percy Chapel (15th century).

Whitley Bay (pop. 40,000) has a very attractive beach. It is a modern resort with excellent facilities for sport, recreation and entertainment.Whitley Bay has numerous restaurants with a variety of tastes such as Indian, Chinese and Thai. The Park View Shopping Centre opened in 2004 and features niche retailers.

Just 3mi/5km north of Whitley Bay is Seaton Sluice. Inland from here is Seaton Delaval Hall, seat of Lord Hastings, a gigantic Palladian house built by John Vanbrugh in 1718-29, which contains an excellent collection of furniture and paintings by English masters, including works by Reynolds.

From Seaton Sluice the road continues via Blyth and the pretty village of Bedlington - familiar to dog-lovers because of Bedlington terriers - to the seaside resort of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, with rock formations, a sandy beach and an impressive church (St Bartholomew's from the 13th century).Newbiggin-by-the-Sea is a popular holiday destination to enjoy cod caught by the local fishing fleet or some sports activities at the Newbiggin Sports Centre.

The next stretch of coast, 40mi/64km long, between Amble and Berwick is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. The little town of Amble is noted for its boatbuilding and fishing opportunities.

Warkworth is prettily situated in a loop of the River Coquet. The castle, which is mentioned in Shakespeare's "Henry IV", was founded in 1139 and has been in the possession of the Percy family since 1332. Of particular interest are the keep, a later addition, which, despite being without its roof, is well preserved, and the Lion's Tower (1480). St Laurence's Church, largely Norman in style, is also notable.

Bamburgh, once capital of the kingdom of Bernicia, is a pleasant little seaside resort (pop. 600).It has a sandy beach and sand dunes that are popular with tourists. Bamburgh Castle overlooks the beach, the original portion was completed in 547 and it was completely restored by the Armstrong family.

Located 11mi/18km further on from Bamburgh is Beal, which is a starting point for visits to Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island, parts of which are a bird sanctuary. At low tide the island can be reached on foot or by car across a causeway (2¾ mi/4km). The island derives its name from the fact that it was very important as an early center for Christianity.