Glass Beach

The beach at Easington is strewn with sea glass - thousands of frosted fragments worn smooth by years of tumbling in the North Sea. It's an oddly beautiful place, though the reason behind it is less romantic. The glass comes from a Victorian rubbish tip that once sat on the cliff edge above, gradually eroding into the sea. What could be depressing instead feels rather magical when you're walking across pebbles and spotting cobalt blues, pale greens, and amber pieces catching the light.

You'll find families here combing for the best specimens, though it's very much a mild-weather activity. The glass gets harder to spot in winter light, and the beach can be bleak and windswept. Summer is kinder to both the view and your patience. Allow an hour if you're keen collectors, less if you're just passing through from Peterlee nearby.

There's no admission fee - it's a working beach, so just turn up. Wear proper shoes though; the pebbles are sharp, and the path down from the car park is steep enough to test your knees. The Barn at Easington holiday park sits only three miles away, making this a decent afternoon outing if you're staying in the area. It's not a full day's attraction, but paired with a walk along the coastal path or a visit to nearby Seaham, it breaks up a park holiday well enough. Don't expect a pristine seaside experience - this is raw Durham coast, proper industrial heritage, and somehow that's what makes it worth the visit.