North East

Seaton Delaval crops and coal trail

A low wall on the side of a road has flowers and trees behind it. On the wall there is a sign marked Hester Pit Memorial Garden — The Hester Pit Memorial Garden in New Hartley near Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland | © Callum Thompson Photography

The Seaton Delaval estate and surrounding countryside has a deep history of coal mining, which can be discovered on this walk. Starting at Seaton Delaval Hall, the circular trail explores nearby farmland and woodland while uncovering stories of the local mining companies, how the industry impacted everyday people's lives, and Victorian mining disasters. You'll also learn about the Delaval family's long history in the area.

Near to

Seaton Delaval Hall

Start point

Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR. Grid ref: NZ322765

A shorter route

For an alternative route that cuts the trail down to 6 miles (9.7km) see Step 7.

Address
Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Cramlington station is about 6 miles (9.7km) from the start of the trail.
Monkseaton station is about 4.5 miles (7.2km) from the start of the trail.
By ferry
North Shields Ferry Terminal is about 8 miles (13km) from the start of the trail.
By bus
The Arriva X7 bus service runs from Newcastle to Blyth via Seaton Delaval Hall.
Arriva X7
By road
From Newcastle upon Tyne: Head north out of Newcastle on the Great North Road and then take the third exit onto Jesmond Dene Road (A189). Stay on the A189 across several roundabouts and then join the A190 at the large roundabout junction. Follow this through Seaton Delaval and onto The Avenue. Then turn right, following road signs to Seaton Delaval Hall.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Be careful near busy roads and they should be kept on the lead and under close control in fields containing livestock.
Car park
The trail starts and ends at Seaton Delaval Hall, which has its own car park, free to National Trust members.
Toilet
Toilets can be found at the Brewhouse Café and Carriage House in the Seaton Delaval Hall grounds.
Café
The Brewhouse Café on the Seaton Delaval Hall grounds serves a range of drinks, light meals and sweet treats. Alternatively, cafés can be found in Seaton Delaval vilage.
Pub
Pubs can be found in Seaton Delaval village and the trail passes The Keel Row pub on route at Step 8.
Total stages: 14
Total stages: 14
Start point
Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR. Grid ref: NZ322765
Stage 1
Leave Seaton Delaval Hall by the main gates, turn left onto the pavement and follow the estate wall around the bend to enter and explore the grounds of the Church of Our Lady. Then, retrace your steps to the main road and turn left up The Avenue towards Seaton Delaval village.
The Church of Our Lady
Now a parish church, this Norman church was originally built as the family chapel at Seaton Delaval Hall and the churchyard was once part of the hall's gardens. At the bend in the church drive, notice the stone wall on your right. This is all that remains above ground of the original Seaton Delaval village, which was one of Northumberland's largest villages in the Middle Ages.
Stage 2
Cross the road carefully and turn right at the junction, following the sign to New Hartley. Follow this road all the way up and around to the left. Carefully head over the level crossing and then cross the road to reach the Hester Pit Memorial Garden.
Georgian plinth
As you turn right onto the road, look in the trees on your right to find a plinth. This is all that remains of an obelisk that was erected to mark the spot where Admiral George Delaval fell from his horse and died in 1723. The obelisk was removed in 1932 as a safety precaution when mining work was carried out. The railway line is one of the few remaining mineral lines, which were originally created to move coal around the mining areas.
Stage 3
After exploring the Hester Pit Memorial Garden, cross the road and retrace your steps along the pavement and over the level crossing until you reach the bend in the road.
Stage 4
At the bend, turn left onto the farm road towards Seaton Red House Farm. Following the blue arrows, carry on along the track, heading between the farm buildings and past a pair of houses, to reach Lysdon Farm.
Stage 5
Pass to the right of the five-arched barn. Then, following the blue arrows, bear to the left to go behind the barn, under the railway arch, and follow the track between two hedges.
Stage 6
Where the path splits, turn left. Then, at the edge of the wooded area, follow the blue arrows to the right. Continue on this track as it heads west with woodland on its left and then on its right. It then curves to the left and carries on between fields before reaching a wooded area where a path crosses your way.
Stage 7
At the crossroads, carry straight on until you reach the road (A192) beside The Keel Row pub.
Stage 8
At the main road, turn left to walk on the pavement beside the road towards Seaton Delaval village. After about 520yd (475m), having passed the Seaton Delaval sign, turn left onto a footpath through a gap in the hedgerow.
Stage 9
Head through the trees and, following yellow arrows, keep to the left of a fence and walk along the edge of the field towards and then into more woodland.
Stage 10
In the wood, follow the tarmac footpath as it bends to the right. Follow this through the trees until you reach the road.
Stage 11
Carefully cross the road and turn right to walk on the pavement along Double Row road. Continue on this road until you reach a bus shelter on your left with a roundabout in the distance.
Stage 12
Immediately after passing the bus shelter, turn left onto a footpath that runs alongside a small park. At the top of the steps, turn left onto the pavement along the A192. Continue on this path for about ½ mile (0.8km).
Daisy Park and Hastings Arms
This park was laid out in 1920 as a First World War memorial. The land was presented by Colonel Pollard of the Seaton Delaval Coal Co. He was a decorated veteran, who lived in the west wing of Seaton Delaval Hall for several years. Look out for the Hastings Arms along the main road. This is named after the 16th Baron Hastings, the son of Sir Jacob Astley, who inherited the Seaton Delaval Hall estate in 1814.
Stage 13
Carry on along the road until you reach the Avenue Head roundabout. Here, stay on the pavement to turn left onto The Avenue.
Stage 14
Walk the full length of The Avenue until it eventually bears to the left and returns to the main entrance of Seaton Delaval Hall and the end of the trail.
The Avenue
This busy road was once the private drive to Seaton Delaval Hall. Until the 1930s, massive stone gate piers still stood at Avenuehead in the village. The carriageway was laid out in 1719 with two rows of lime trees down each side and enclosed by thorn hedges to protect the young trees from livestock. While the road is straight it undulates. Photographs from the 1940s show that it used to be more level, but nearby mining had created dips.
End point
Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR. Grid ref: NZ322765
Trail map
Seaton Delaval crops and coal trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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01912379100

seatondelavalhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Near to

Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

Short trail

A shorter route

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 14

Total stages: 14

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Point of interest

Stage 5

Stage 6

Point of interest

Stage 7

Point of interest

Stage 8

Point of interest

Stage 9

Point of interest

Stage 10

Point of interest

Stage 11

Point of interest

Stage 12

Point of interest

Stage 13

Point of interest

Stage 14

Point of interest

End point

Trail map

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