Once notorious as one of the ‘Black Beaches’ of the Durham coast, Blackhall beach has been transformed over the last few decades into a clean, tranquil beach that is excellent for wildlife.
For almost a century, Blackhall Colliery was linked to the beach via a conveyer system that would take 1.5 million tonnes of coal waste each year and dump it into the sea, causing devasting damage to the environment and having an impact on marine life over four miles off the coast.
The bleak, coal-strewn landscape was used as the backdrop for several films, most notably Get Carter, and the climatic scenes where gangster Jack Carter played by Michael Caine met his violent demise.
In 1981, the colliery was closed, and the area started to recover. A regeneration programme was implemented in the 1990s to remove the conveyer and its tower along with the waste, with the sea itself naturally contributing to the clean-up operation.
Today, there is a barely a trace of Blackhall’s industrial past and the beautiful stretch of clean beach now attracts tourists and day-trippers from all over the world.
It is managed by Durham Wildlife Trust and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and as well as an important habitat for wildlife has some interesting geology too.
The cliffs that back the beach feature exposed reef-limestone, and there are some caves in the southern end of the cliffs that are the largest in Durham’s coastline. The cliffs support a rich variety of grasses and wildflowers including the locally rare butterwort, grass of Parnassus. and bird’s eye primrose. Visit in June and July to see the meadows in full bloom and looking their best.
Saltmarsh species grow offshore while rocky reefs and kelp forests are home to cuttlefish, squat lobsters, and sea slugs. And at low tide rockpools are exposed which support a multitude of sea life.
The area is also visited by foxes, brown hares, voles, weasels, and stoats, as well as a large population of toads. Over 15 species of butterflies have been recorded too, including the Durham brown argus, which as the name suggests, is endemic to the region.
For bird enthusiasts, look out for kestrels, short-eared owls, and merllns circling in the sky above. The plant life also attracts stonechats, reed buntings, meadow pipits, and one of the highest densities of breeding skylarks in County Durham.
Blackhall Rocks is a great starting place for some lovely scenic walks. A 3 mile circular route along the top of the cliffs via Castle Eden Dene offers the chance to explore the small patches of woodland that dot the coast and look out for wading birds by brackish poos. Although you can take your dog with you on the beach and the cliffs please keep them on a lead during breeding season so they don’t disturb nesting birds.
Fishing is popular, with the rock edges offering the chance of snagging whiting, codling, eel, and plaice.
There are no facilities available on the beach itself but there are shops, restaurants, and pubs in Blackhall Colliery village. There is a small car park at the top of the cliffs with access via a steep path down to the beach.
