Tynemouth Rockpooling
Visit King Edward's Bay, Tynemouth, for rock pooling
Of all the beaches along this stretch of coast, King Edward's Bay is the one to seek out if rock pooling is the plan. It's a small, sheltered, sandy cove tucked beneath high cliffs, just along from the more famous Long Sands, and considerably quieter for it. When the tide draws back, it reveals a wonderful scattering of rock pools, perfect for a determined wild child armed with a net and a bucket, hunting for crabs, anemones and whatever else the North Sea has left behind.
The lowdown:
Where: King Edward's Bay, Tynemouth, accessed via steps down from Front Street or from the path between Long Sands and the bay itself
When: Always accessible, though rock pooling is best attempted a couple of hours either side of low tide. It's well worth checking tide times before you set off, as the bay disappears almost entirely at high water.
Cost: Free
Parking: Grand Parade car park, just behind Blue Reef Aquarium, is the closest option (postcode NE30 4JF), with charges of around £1.20 for an hour or £3 for the full day. Blue Badge holders and motorcycles park free.
Why your wild child will love it: this is proper hands-in-the-water territory, ideal for careful rock flipping, curious poking about, and the occasional triumphant crab capture (do please put everything back where you found it). The bay is protected on three sides, so it tends to be calmer and less windy than its neighbours, and there's a fish shack on the sand for chips afterwards.
Contact: Tide times are worth checking at a site like tidetime.org before you travel.