If the idea of squeezing onto a packed promenade at Saltburn or Tynemouth leaves you cold, there are quieter stretches of coast within roughly an hour’s drive that are repeatedly described as “hidden gems” by tourism bodies, walking bloggers and reviewers.
We have compiled seven of the region’s ‘hidden’ beaches that you could visit this bank holiday weekend:
1. Easington Beach, County Durham
County Durham’s official tourism site describes the Durham Heritage Coast between Seaham and Crimdon as a “hidden gem” offering unspoilt beaches and dramatic cliffs where colliery waste has been removed and nature has returned.
Easington sits on this stretch and is shown as a relatively quiet, shingle‑and‑sand beach backed by cliffs and grassland rather than resort development.
A County Durham coastal walking guide notes that access is via the England Coast Path and local footpaths, with steep sections that make it less suitable for buggies and people who need level access.
Holiday‑park and visitor guides emphasise that there are no significant facilities directly on the beach, suggesting visitors treat it as a peaceful walking and picnicking spot rather than a full‑service resort.
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Approximate drive: around 45–55 minutes from Darlington depending on traffic, based on mapping tools.
2. Horden Beach, County Durham
Horden is another former colliery coastline that has been highlighted in regeneration case studies and travel features as a “hidden beach” created by years of clean‑up work.
One feature on coastal restoration describes it as “one of the UK’s most secluded” regenerated beaches, now valued for its peace and wildlife after the removal of mining spoil.
Walking accounts of the Durham Coast National Nature Reserve describe paths from the clifftop down to broad, pebbly shores at Horden, with views along an “unspoilt” and often quiet shoreline frequented by sea anglers and dog walkers.
Tourism information stresses that facilities are limited, with informal parking near the coastal path and no promenade‑style cafés or toilets on the beach itself.
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Approximate drive: around 45–55 minutes from Darlington via the A19, according to mapping estimates.
The ‘hidden’ beaches in the North East you could visit this bank holiday. (Image: GOOGLE)
3. Hawthorn Hive, County Durham
Official Durham tourism content and independent walking blogs both single out Hawthorn Dene and its small cove (often referred to as Hawthorn Hive) as a particularly secluded spot on the Heritage Coast.
They describe a route through ancient woodland and under a striking railway viaduct to reach a sheltered bay with cliffs and rock pools that feels much more “tucked away” than larger nearby beaches.
One widely shared route guide calls this area “a hidden gem of the Durham coastline”, noting that access is via footpaths with steep sections and that there are no direct facilities on the cove itself.
That lack of infrastructure, combined with the walk‑in approach, is presented as the main reason it remains quiet even in good weather.
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Approximate drive: roughly 25–30 minutes from Durham city, plus a 20–30 minute walk, based on route planners and walking sites.
4. Crimdon Dene Beach, County Durham
Crimdon Dene Beach appears in several “best beaches near Durham” and family‑day‑out guides as a relatively peaceful alternative to busier resorts, with long sand, dunes and nature‑reserve status in parts.
One guide aimed at families describes it as a “quiet, unspoilt gem” where you can still find space even in peak season if you walk away from the main access point.
The area is noted for little tern nesting and other wildlife, which is why some sections are managed carefully and cordoned seasonally.
Tourist information and campsite guides mention parking near the dene and some facilities in the surrounding area, but again highlight that it’s much less commercialised than the classic bucket‑and‑spade promenades further south.
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Approximate drive: generally around 45 minutes to an hour from Darlington depending on route and traffic.
5. Rumbling Kern, Northumberland
Northumberland tourism features and local bloggers repeatedly point to Rumbling Kern, near Howick, as one of the county’s more “secret” or lesser‑known coves.
It is described as a small, rocky inlet with a pocket of sand facing inland, tucked below low cliffs and easy to overlook if you don’t know the unmarked parking spots and paths.
Visit Northumberland articles and independent guides frame it as a place to seek out for rock‑pooling, sheltered paddling and photography rather than big‑group beach days, stressing that there are no facilities and only limited roadside parking.
That combination of atmosphere and relative inaccessibility is consistently cited as the reason it retains a “hidden” feel despite its inclusion in some round‑ups of “secret beaches Northumberland”.
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Approximate drive: around an hour from Newcastle, less from Alnwick or Morpeth, according to standard route planners.
6. Sugar Sands, Northumberland
Sugar Sands, near Longhoughton, appears in multiple Northumberland beach round‑ups as a “hidden gem” or “underrated” stretch of sand compared with headline names like Bamburgh or Alnmouth.
Local‑authored guides describe a curved, golden bay with relatively few visitors, accessed via narrow country lanes and footpaths from small parking areas.
These sources emphasise that there are no cafés or toilets directly on the beach, and suggest visitors stock up in nearby villages and be prepared to carry everything in and out. In exchange, they highlight the sense of space, clear water and views along a quieter section of the Northumberland coast that many day‑trippers never reach.
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Approximate drive: around 15–20 minutes from the A1 near Alnwick, based on travel guides and mapping.
7. Quieter pockets between Craster and Dunstanburgh, Northumberland
The walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle is widely promoted as one of the classic coastal routes in Northumberland, but tourism and walking content note that there are small, less‑visited pockets of sand and rocky platforms along the way.
Depending on the tide, these guides describe inlets and rock shelves where you can pause away from the busier castle viewpoints and harbour area, even on popular days.
Northumberland beach round‑ups often pair this route with more obviously “secret” spots, pointing out that while the overall area is famous, some sections of shoreline feel surprisingly quiet because most visitors focus on the castle ruins or Craster’s harbour and pubs.
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Approximate drive: around an hour from Tyneside and South East Northumberland, plus a coastal walk from Craster based on route descriptions.
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Clean beaches
Most North East beaches are safe to swim at this bank holiday weekend, with the majority achieving ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ water quality ratings across Northumberland, County Durham, and Tyne and Wear.
However, two beaches in Tyne and Wear have been rated ‘poor’, picking up an unwanted ‘Brown Flag’ award.
Three stars (Excellent) indicates the highest quality water that is safest for swimming, while two stars (Good) means high quality water that meets strict standards.
One star (Sufficient) shows the beach meets minimum acceptable standards, whereas zero stars (Poor) means the water does not meet minimum standards and swimming is not advised.
Here’s a full list.
How to make the most of these hidden beaches
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Access and safety: Walking guides and tourism sites consistently stress that several of these beaches involve steep paths or steps and can feel very different at high versus low tide, so they advise checking tide tables and local signage before visiting.
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Facilities: Official and independent guides agree that many of these spots have little or no built infrastructure – often no lifeguards, toilets or cafés directly on the sand – which is cited as a key reason they remain quieter.
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Wildlife and respect: The Durham and Northumberland coasts are repeatedly highlighted for their wildlife, including dune systems and protected birds, so public guidance asks visitors to follow cordons, keep dogs under control and park considerately in villages.
Where are your favourite beaches in the region? Let us know in the comments.
