North East

Souter Lighthouse trail

Two visitors walk towards Souter Lighthouse, silhouetted against the sky at dusk — Souter makes the ideal starting point for a walk | © National Trust Images / John Millar

This trail is an easy stroll for all the family on well-established footpaths following the coastal path. Start and finish your walk at Souter Lighthouse, in Sunderland, spotting wildlife along the way.

Near to

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas

Start point

Souter Lighthouse, grid ref: NZ407641

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.6 (km: 2.56)

Duration 30 mins to 1 hour

Dog friendly**

*Mostly easy walking across well-established footpaths. For further details, please see section marked Terrain.
**Dogs welcome under close control. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Souter Lighthouse, Coast Road, Whitburn, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 7NH.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
East Boldon and South Shields stations (Tyne and Wear Metro) both 3 miles (5km).
By ferry
Shields Ferry crosses River Tyne from North Shields to South Shields twice hourly.
By bus
E1, E2 and E6 from Sunderland and South Shields either pass by lighthouse or close by.
Cycling
National Cycle Network Route 1, adjacent to property. Visit the Sustrans website for more details.
Sustrans
By road
On A183 coast road.
Dogs
Dogs welcome under close control.
Car park
The car park is open 9am–8pm daily (closes 6pm November–March). Charges 9am–8pm. £1 for 1 hour, £2 for 2 hours, £3 for 4 hours, £4 all day. National Trust members free.
Toilet
Toilets are available in the lighthouse, with baby changing facilities.
Café
The Lighthouse Café serves hot and cold drinks, light bites and cakes to eat in or take away.
Picnic area
Play area
Shop
Our second-hand bookshop can be found in the admissions area.
Total stages: 5
Total stages: 5
Start point
Souter Lighthouse, grid ref: NZ407641
Stage 1
Start at the lighthouse and make your way toward the foghorn at the bottom of Foghorn Field. Exit through the green gate behind the foghorn.
Stage 2
Follow the coastal path nearest to the cliffs southwards with the sea on your left.
Wildlife in Whitburn Coastal Park
Keep your eye out for wildlife as you walk, especially migratory birds. Redwings and fieldfares, members of the thrush family, may arrive in large numbers for the winter. They particularly like to feed on elder and rowan berries. Wheatears, named for their white rump, on their way to Africa and pale snow buntings from Scandinavia can be seen along the cliff tops. On a calm day look out to sea, where you might be lucky enough to see a porpoise or dolphins swim by.
A redwing (Turdus iliacus) in the snow | © National Trust Images/Richard Bradshaw
Stage 3
Go down to the wherry. Here you can take a look at the sea views, search rock pools for coastal creatures if the tide is out and maybe skim a few stones.
Stage 4
Here you will find a bird hide overlooking Whitburn Nature Reserve. If you stop a while, there will likely be several species visiting the feeders. Just after the car park, follow the tarmacked track to head back towards the lighthouse.
Whitburn Nature Reserve
Whitburn Nature Reserve is reclaimed colliery land and includes tree planting, a bird observatory, viewing screens and wetland habitats. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2003 and a Big Lottery-funded project in 2011 allowed the installation of ponds by the local Coastal Conservation Group. In 2017–18 an artificial sand martin colony was built, hoping to attract nesting birds away from nearby cliffs where their nest holes are often lost to collapses following wet weather.
Stage 5
Cut right off the track at this point to find another bird hide. From here, it is only a few minutes' walk back to the lighthouse and the café.
Tree sparrow | © National Trust Images/Dougie Holden
End point
Souter Lighthouse, grid ref: NZ407641
Trail map
Souter Lighthouse autumn trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Tyne & Wear

Trail

The Souter saunter

Discover more than just a lighthouse on this circular walking trail. Starting and ending at Foghorn Field, you'll take in views over Lizard Point, stop to watch the birds at Whitburn Nature Reserve and discover lots of history on the way.