North East

Seaton Sluice and Blyth history walk

Blyth Beach huts on the wider estate walk near Seaton Delaval Hall Northumberland | © Callum Thompson Photography

Explore the centuries of history in and around Seaton Sluice and Blyth on this circular trail. Seaton Delaval was granted to the Delaval family in the 11th century and the earliest record of a building here is a defensive 'tower'. Discover how for more than 900 years, the family has played its part in protecting the area from civil conflicts, wars against the French and attacks during the First and Second World Wars.

Near to

Seaton Delaval Hall

Start point

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

A shorter route

There's an alternative route that cuts the trail down to 5 miles (8km). See Step 8.

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. 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
There are public toilets at Seaton Sluice and Blyth. Alternatively, 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, cafes can be found by Blyth Beach car park.
This trail is not suitable for people using wheelchairs. There are numerous gateways and stiles, and several slopes. It also follows uneven tracks through fields and farmland.
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets can be found at the Brewhouse Café and Carriage House in the Seaton Delaval Hall grounds. A full place to change with adult hoist is available in the toilets next to North West Woods near the Delaval Playdium.
Total stages: 17
Total stages: 17
Start point
Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR. Grid ref: NZ322765
Stage 1
Leave the grounds by the main gate and turn right to head downhill towards Seaton Sluice.
Hare Park
As you round the first bend, look for the slag capping on the wall on your right, which was built in the 18th century to enclose a hare park. During the First World War, the hare park was used as a military camp. In fact, the hall and its grounds were used by the military in both world wars. German prisoners of war worked on the local farms and were housed in the hall during and after the Second World War.
Stage 2
Keep going down the hill, passing Lookout Farm on your left.
Lookout Farm
The house was built in 1720 to house James Mewburn who, as well as being a farmer, acted as agent for first Admiral George and then Captain Francis Blake Delaval. There was once a gun loop in the far wall and, in a nearby field, there was a gun emplacement disguised as a sheep fold. Some of Mewburn's surviving letters and accounts are the reason we know more about the buildings of the Seaton Delaval Hall.
Stage 3
Continue straight until, towards the bottom of the hill, you reach a path and opening in the wall on your right.
Georgian mausoleum
The mausoleum is hidden behind the trees for much of the year. Now a ruin, it was built to house the remains of Lord John Delaval's son, also named John, who died aged 19 in 1775. The building was never consecrated so no bodies have ever been laid to rest there. Young John is instead buried in his 'temporary' grave in Doddington Church, Lincolnshire, along with his sisters Rhoda and Sophia.
Stage 4
Turn right onto the path and go through the gap to enter a housing estate. Turn left and then around to the right onto Easedale road. Turn left and then right onto Parkfield road, before immediately turning left and walking straight to reach a T-junction. Turn left up Cresswell Avenue and then quickly right up a path between two houses. This will bring you out by a road and a large grass area.
Stage 5
Turn right and where the road forks, take the footpath in the middle towards the Seaton Sluice Upper Harbour and Seaton Burn. Keep on the path that follows the stream under the road bridge. At the lower harbour, make a sharp left to climb the steps up to the main road. Cross the track and follow the path running north-west, parallel to the beach on your right.
Stage 6
Continue along Eve Black Way for just over 1 mile (1.6km) until you reach Gloucester Lodge Farm on your left. Alternatively, at low tide, you can walk along the beach instead.
Stage 7
Continue on the path, passing Gloucester Lodge Farm on your left.
Gloucester Lodge Farm
Believed to originally be called East Lysdon Farm, the farm was renamed in 1795 after a large military review was held on Blyth Links by the Duke of Gloucester. It's said he used the farm as his headquarters. During the review, Lord Delaval put on lavish dinners at Seaton Delaval Hall to entertain the senior officers, including the Royal Duke. In the field opposite the farm are the remains of a Second World War anti-aircraft battery, which was manned by American troops.
Stage 8
Keep straight on the Eve Black Way.
Stage 9
Continue along Eve Black Way, until you reach its end at Blyth Battery.
Stage 10
From Blyth Battery, head towards the sea and then turn left to walk along the promenade. You'll pass beach huts and a playground on your left before reaching some cafés and paved area.
Stage 11
Cross the car park and walk between the garage and farm buildings to reach the road, just below the roundabout. Carefully cross the main road and turn right towards the roundabout.
Stage 12
At the roundabout, keep on the footpath as it turns left into South Newsham Road. Continue on this path for about ½ mile (0.8km), passing two bus shelters on your left.
Seaton Delaval Hall
If look across the fields on your left, you'll spot Seaton Delaval Hall silhouetted on the horizon. The land here has belonged to the Delaval family since the 11th century. The family were Normans who supported William the Conqueror's invasion at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. For their continuing loyalty, they were granted land in Northumberland, including Newsham with Seaton Delaval, Dissington and Callerton.
Stage 13
Turn left to follow a public footpath down South Farm driveway, keeping right as the track forks. Head through a gate and follow the footpath, marked by yellow arrows, to the right and around farm buildings. Just before a cottage, turn right to follow the path as it bears right. Continue at the pedestrian gate and walk beside the hedge. At the corner of the field, join the path going left, heading down the left-hand side of the field.
Stage 14
Continue down the side of the field until you reach a sign about Meggie's Burn Reservoir. If you'd like to explore the reservoir then go up the slope behind the sign and walk the perimeter path. (To skip the reservoir, simply turn right at the sign and skip ahead to Step 15).
Stage 15
Retrace your steps back down the slope. With the reservoir sign behind you, head west on the path with the hedge on your left. Where the hedge ends, turn left to follow the yellow arrows down the edge of the field and through a kissing gate into a wood. Carry straight on to go through another kissing gate into a field. Head down the fence to reach a gate on the far side of the field. Go through this gate and then head towards and through a final metal gate.
Stage 16
At Lysdon Farm, turn left to go around the end of the stone wall and cart shed, then head down the main drive. This takes you to a metal gate by some houses. Go over the stile, pass in front of the houses, and follow the drive bending to the right. Follow this track for almost ½ mile (0.8km) to reach Red House Farm. Keep left on the road to pass the farm and carry on to join the main road. Head in the same direction on the pavement until you reach The Avenue.
Stage 17
Turn left onto The Avenue and, when it's safe to do so, cross the road. Follow the pavement along the road back to the front 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 Seaton Delaval village. Admiral George laid out this avenue in 1719, with two rows of lime trees down each side and enclosed by thorn hedges to protect the young trees from livestock. At the end of the trail, admire Seaton Delaval Hall's gates, which were designed in the 1960s by Fred Hetherington, the estate manager.
End point
Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay, NE26 4QR. Grid ref: NZ322765
Trail map
Walk 7 Seaton Sluice and Blyth in Troublesome Times | © 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: 17

Total stages: 17

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Stage 5

Point of interest

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

Stage 14

Point of interest

Stage 15

Point of interest

Stage 16

Point of interest

Stage 17

Point of interest

End point

Trail map

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