In their words...
why we love the North East
Stretching from Hull to the Scottish border, the North East is famous for its cold, heavy waves, large industrial cities and beautiful isolation – Northumberland is the most sparsely populated county in England with around 62 people per square kilometre.
Starting at the mouth of the River Humber is Spurn Point. This narrow spit of sand is a National Nature Reserve, stretch of Heritage Coast and is owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. In some places it is only 46m wide.
Travelling northwards one long stretch of sand merges with the next as you pass coastal towns, holiday villages, golf courses and countryside before reaching another stretch of Heritage Coast, Flamborough Head. A Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest, the sheer white chalk cliffs are topped by the oldest surviving complete lighthouse in England.
From here the surf really starts. Big Northerly ground swells light up point, reef and beach breaks along this stretch with a selection of quality surfing on offer. From Scarborough to Saltburn the coast is backed by the wild beauty of the North York Moors National Park and has long been a stronghold for our campaigns with some of our most long-standing Reps based here.
The industrialised urban conurbations comprising Middlesborough, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle upon Tune characterise this stretch of coastline and sometime overshadow the quality of the beaches in the region which are quite simply stunning.
Continuing the journey ever north and nature takes over; urban sprawl gives way to rurality and crowded line-ups are few and far between. Wind-based sports are popular here with kite surfing and windsurfing at the forefront. This region boasts some of the most beautiful and remote coastal areas with the Holy Island of Lindisfarne being the jewel in the crown. A tidal island with records dating back to the 6th Century, the National Nature Reserve of Lindisfarne is defended by a castle built in the 1550s.