Many of you seemed to enjoy my visit to the Tall Ships Regatta at Blyth last week, so I decided to stay on this same coastline for today’s walk. South Shields is just a little way down the coast, and if you look closely at the photo above you might just make out a Tall Ship on the horizon.
I’ve brought her a little closer! She was just hovering offshore, admiring the view.
As you can see it’s a rugged coastline, but the Blue Flag beach at South Shields is superb. We’ll start our walk from the car park behind the beach, along the new promenade. In the distance Tynemouth Priory is just visible, across the river mouth.
Walking south, in the direction of Souter Lighthouse, the sand is lovely and firm beneath my feet. At the end of the beach a path leads up to The Leas, and from there it’s 2.5 miles of coastal footpath to Souter Lighthouse.
I’m not going to talk much today. I’ll simply let you enjoy the humps and bumps of scenery. It’s a sight that always fills me with awe.
I was astounded when reading the information board in Frenchman’s Bay. I knew, of course, that this area was once popular with smugglers. What I didn’t realise was just how much coastal erosion had changed the landscape, and the timescale involved. This bay was once sandy and wooden steps led down to the beach. Long, long before that, these rocks were formed- 245 million years ago, when South Shields lay close to the Equator.
In the far distance I can make out Souter Lighthouse and Marsden Rock. The Rock is a 30 metre high sea stack of magnesium limestone and periclase. These days it’s only home to seabirds, though once it was joined to the land. At this point I turn back. I’ve visited Souter Lighthouse before, as the link will show, and I have a different goal in mind today.
I’m heading back towards the River Tyne and South Shields, and the mighty pier that stretches 1,570 metres out to sea. I keep an eye on the Tall Ship, out at sea, and am delighted to find that my arrival coincides nicely with hers. Tynemouth Priory, on the far shore, is beautiful in close up.
South Pier is an astonishing length and I’m entranced by the railway lines that once ran along it. I would love to bombard you with statistics and information but I’m finding myself sadly short of time. South Shields has a fascinating history and the Wikipedia link will give you all the facts you need.
It was a lovely day and we wandered into South Marine park, licking an icecream. The boating lake and miniature steam train were busy, and I was pleased to see Shields thriving. I know you’ll be gasping for a cuppa, and I can only apologise that this post is picture heavy, and not as factual as I would like.
Thank you so much for the many and varied contributions I’ve received to my walks this week. I struggle sometimes to keep up, but it’s always a joy to share with you. Please join me, if you’d like. Details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page. Just click on the logo above.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Paula always knows how to make me happy :
Lady Lee knows a good-looking city when she sees one. She’s lived in this one for 27 years!
Jackie does us proud this week with some fabulous murals :
And Cardinal treats us to the sight of his ass- suitably clothed, of course!
Kathrin has heaps of sea glass to share, but you musn’t take it away from the beach :
Check out what Liesbet gets up to mid-week? Lovely sunsets and sideways houses!
Feeling the Bern in Burlington, VT- a Mid-week “Weekend Away”
Fancy a bit of teeter-tottering with Violet? You’ve come to the right place!
Drake has us stepping back into the past too. Always with a smile :
Stained glass fans? Step right this way! BiTi has some beauties :
Spectacular walking with Cathy this week. 16,453 steps in total, but you do get to stop for lunch!
Iceland’s Golden Circle : Gulfoss and Geysir
Yvette is content to share the simple wonders of the beach. Timeless images and wiggly ones!
Susan gives a very personal take on her impressions of Berlin :
I simply had to steal this one away from Meg! I know this palace, but had no idea of its splendours :
And I know that Meg will approve Susan’s architectural details too :
Art in the details : Looking up in the Financial District
That’s it folks! Hope you enjoyed it, and that you have a happy week ahead. See you soon!
restlessjo 
Thank you for this lovely walk – it’s just what I needed after the torrential rain and thunderstorms of last night. 🙂
LikeLike
I gather it was a bit wild. 😦 Happy to be of service 🙂
LikeLike
Wild would be a good way to describe it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A most excellent post, dear Jo… mind blowing photographs!… all my best wishes. Aquileana 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much, darlin. 🙂 Hope all’s well in your world?
LikeLike
That is some serious blueness! Both the sea and sky here are such a rich shade of cobalt – it’s almost unreal! I think I am missing blue water in my new city. 😦
LikeLike
Blue water is almost always better than grey in my book, but I will settle for either. 🙂 Where are you based now?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Washington, DC. We have the (boring) Potomac River but no big bodies of water like I’m used to. 😦
LikeLike
Poor old Potomac 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These shades of blue!! Incredibly beautiful!! Thanks for sharing this place with us and thanks for connecting us all through your Monday walks, Jo!!
I love to discover all these beautiful excursions.
This was my ramble through Berlin https://coellefornia.me/2016/09/11/my-weekly-ramble-14/
LikeLike
Hi Kathrin 🙂 Was wondering what you’d been up to. 🙂 Just finishing my walk this morning and I’ll be right over. Thanks a lot!
LikeLike
Another wonderful walk, Jo. Seeing the water, sand, and blue skies in these photos makes me feel relaxed almost instantly. How nice it must be to explore areas like this on a regular basis. And thanks for all the work you do to connect all of us through your Monday Walks. I’ve discovered some wonderful blogs through your posts, and made some great friends in the process. Best, Susan
LikeLike
Thanks very much for your kind words, Susan. 🙂 When I started the walks I had no idea how it would work out, and if I’d have enough places to take everybody. People have been incredibly supportive, and I have 5 or 6 recent walks still to choose from, so that’s not a problem either. I do like to get out walking at least once a week, and sometimes we manage more. Lucky really 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic post, Jo. It seems forever since I went walking on the beach, but I hope to make up for that before too long. That ship is so gorgeous, and I enjoyed finding a few scary faces in your rocks. 🙂
LikeLike
Ah- I forgot to do that, Ad 🙂 🙂 Thanks a lot! A holiday to reward your man after all the d-i-y? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we joke about the fact that as soon as the house is done, we’re going to leave it for six weeks. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need to apologize for ‘picture heavy’ when you are sharing beauties like these. Splendor by the sea. Tall ships, lighthouses, magnificent coastline. What is not to love. And the fact that caught my eye was that ‘245 million years ago, South Shields lay close to the Equator’. How cool (or warm) is that?
LikeLike
A bit crazy, isn’t it? It was a beautifully warm day though 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wildly beautiful. I love the heather field. Is that you in one of the pics?
LikeLike
I’m strictly behind the camera material, Paula 🙂 🙂 That plant is something called Rosebay Willowherb, would you believe? A very glamorous name for a wildflower. I know because Badfish admired it and I had to ask Mick to remind me of its name. Thanks for your company, hon. It’s appreciated. I’m just back from a gallivant over the Moors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A little late, but… Here’s my walk through Praha (Prague):
https://artishorseshit.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/a-walk-through-praha-part-1/
LikeLike
Not late at all, Cardinal. 🙂 Plenty of time before my next Monday walk. Thanks very much 🙂
LikeLike
I can smell the sea air from these beautifully crisp photographs and yeah, love seeing another tall ship! Such beauty on our very own shores – always a delight to join you on your walks, Jo. I had to laugh at the idea of South Shields being on the equator; now that’s a great fact!
LikeLike
It did surprise me somewhat, Annika! You know when you stop and read something twice? 🙂 🙂 Enjoyed having your company!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never too photo heavy – esp with those blues ! And the bike shot was cool – such a refreshing post
LikeLike
I don’t remember ever being so warm on the north east coast, Yvette. I’m loving it 🙂 🙂 Thanks, hon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh and I am signing off for the night – so I will reply to your other comment tomorrow ((and thanks by the way – made my night Jo! – you sure bring so much blue sky with your words))
Anyhow – real quick – had to tell you that I noticed something about not being able to leave comments on your blog –
Well I came here from my blog , but then when I try and leave a comment – it did not even let me as a logged out guest – it bounces –
I then clicked on some of the other walks – and noticed I was still logged in and able to comment on those blogs – juts FYI -‘and so to leave a comment here I (easily) went into the manage reader and accessed that way –
Ok – have s good rest of your day and touch base later when my day gets going !
💙❤️💙🌺
LikeLike
Thanks, sweetheart! Sleep well 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
💙😊🎶
LikeLike