On a small island at the north of Whitley Bay you can see St Mary’s Lighthouse which is linked to the coast by a short path, submerged during the high tide. Built in 1898, it remained operational up to 1984. Since then it has been operated as a visitor centre. The environment around the lighthouse provides a rich variety of marine life and resident or migrating birds. Climb the 137 steps to reach the top roof of the lighthouse and admire a majestic panorama going from the North Yorkshire coast to the Cheviot Hills on clear days. Access to the island and Lighthouse is governed by the tides and, as the area is increasingly popular for dark sky photography and Northern Lights spotting, visitors are urged to check the tide times in advance.

Location

NE26 4RS