• Yorkshire and Redcar & Cleveland
• South Tyneside
• Northumberland

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Yorkshire and Redcar & Cleveland
The Cleveland Way footpath runs close to the wall of cliffs, above rocky coves and fishing villages, linking the National Trust's coastal properties. Walkers can enjoy spectacular views, and the cliff tops also provide stunning stop-off points for picnics, Boulby Head, north of Staithes, is Eastern England's highest sea cliff, 650 ft (200 metres) high.

The cliffs, woodland and farmland provide a variety of habitats for flora and fauna. Roe deer enjoy the woodland cover, while kittiwakes and cormorants choose precarious nesting sites on the cliff face. Primroses, orchids, adders, winkles, crabs and anemones are some of the species to be found.

There are many fascinating industrial archæological sites including, at Ravenscar, the renowned Peak Alum Works. Huge quantities of shale were removed from the cliffs in order to extract alum, an important chemical in the tanning and dyeing industries. The Trust's Coastal Centre at Ravenscar, explaining how the process worked, also houses ammonites and other fossils for which the area is renowned.

Three miles up the coast, at Robin Hood's Bay the Old Coastguard Station is open to visitors, housing information, education facilities and a holiday apartment.

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South Tyneside
Sheltered from winds, the sandy arc of Marsden Bay is breathtaking all year round, and from Edwardian times has been a favourite spot for picnics. Caves are to be found in the surrounding limestone cliffs, including one that was once inhabited by a hermit. The bay is dominated by the 139-ft (42-metre) high Marsden Rock which is renowned for its seabird colonies, especially kittiwakes, cormorants and fulmars. Created by coastal erosion, the imposing limestone stack changed dramatically in 1996 when its great arch, a feature of many a photograph and postcard, collapsed.

Overlooking the cliffs, red and white striped Souter Lighthouse started operating in 1871 and had the most advanced light and fog horn technology of its day. The lighthouse was closed in 1988 and purchased by the National Trust with Neptune funds. Visitors today can view the engine room, see the cramped living quarters and - of course - climb the 76 steps to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the coastline from the mouth of the Tyne to the Tees. There is wheelchair access to the ground floor where a closed circuit TV shows views of the top for those unable to climb the tower. Refreshments can be enjoyed in Souter's own tea-room.

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Northumberland
In contrast to the industrialised landscape of Newcastle, Druridge Bay curves, undeveloped, along the Northumberland coast. The grassy dunes where picnickers can take in the view of the bay and sit among the wildflowers that pepper the ground, shelter the sandy beach.

Continuing up the Northumberland coast, an easy but impressive 1½-mile coastal walk can be taken from the fishing village of Craster to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Standing on low cliffs above the North Sea, the castle was begun in 1316 but has been decaying since the 16th century. It figures in three paintings by Turner.

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The picturesque 18th-century fishing village of Low Newton-by-the-Sea lies by a small beach sheltered from the tides by an offshore reef. Ideal for bathing in summer, the beach is also a wonderful picnic site from autumn to spring, when migrant birds swoop overhead. Families can settle down on the beach or on the village green in the middle of Newton Square. Newton Pool at the back of the village is also a lovely spot, within reach of the sea, a great place to see all kinds of wildlife.

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