Marvel at prehistoric cliffs and caves

The staggering power of nature left its stamp on South Tyneside’s Marsden Bay long before any footsteps were made on the beaches. The dramatic limestone stack of Marsden Rock is surrounded by cliffs, caves and cracks that were formed almost 250 million years ago.

A favourite destination for wildlife as well as walkers, the cliffs here hold the largest seabird colony in the North East, with thousands of pairs of nesting kittiwakes, hundreds of fulmars, cormorants and herring gulls, and smaller numbers of shags, razorbills and lesser black-backed gulls.

Overlooking the sea is the red and white iconic hoops of Souter Lighthouse, the first lighthouse in the world to be purpose built for electricity. Or head to Marsden Grotto, a unique bar built into the caves.

Content provided by Visit South Tyneside