Seaham
Seaham Beach · Photo: Mick Garratt
Hunt for smooth coloured sea glass washed up from an old bottleworks on Seaham's beach, then head down the coast for a wilder walk through a steep wooded limestone gorge full of yews and birdsong. Free all day apart from parking.
Nature & gardens · 10:00–12:45 (2h45m)
Sea-glass hunting and rock pools; picnic on the front.
A mile of sand, pebbles and rock pools on the Durham Heritage Coast, famous for smooth coloured sea glass left from an old bottleworks. Hunting for glass makes it a great free activity for all ages; the marina with cafes and watersports is close by.
Photo: Mick Garratt
Nature & gardens · 13:10–15:45 (2h35m)
Walk the gorge paths from Oakerside Dene Lodge; sturdy footwear.
A steep-sided wooded limestone gorge running down towards the coast, one of the largest natural woodlands in the North East, with yew trees, rocky outcrops and good insect and bird life. Wild-feeling walking for older children; paths get muddy and steep.
Photo: David Robinson
North EastNewcastle city centre (Haymarket)
Three free stops within a mile of each other: a natural history museum with a T. rex and Egyptian mummies, Newcastle's oldest park for a picnic and a run-around by the lake, then the city's science and industry museum. It works in drizzle because two of the three stops are indoors.
The Great North Museum → Leazes Park → Discovery Museum
North EastRowlands Gill (Gateshead)
A free green day on Gateshead's western edge: a flat old railway path along the Derwent for scooters and buggies, a picnic deep in a big Forestry England wood, then the ruins of a medieval castle above the Tyne at Prudhoe. Good for families who want fresh air without paying entry fees.
Derwent Walk Country Park → Chopwell Wood → Prudhoe Castle
North EastWallsend / North Shields
Three free stops with free or cheap parking: a big country park on reclaimed colliery land with a community farm and sand-and-water play, a wooded Victorian dene with a pump track, and a little sheltered beach to finish. Pack a picnic or use the park cafes.
Rising Sun Country Park → Northumberland Park → Cullercoats Bay
