Seahouses is a fishing village on the Northumberland coast, a few miles south of Bamburgh.  The main attraction for photographers is the colourful and busy harbour, which is also notable as the departure point for excursions to the Farne Islands with its seabird and seal colonies. There are plenty of fishing boats, lobster pots and other fishing equipment to photograph around the harbour, which is also home to various ducks and other seabirds. To the north of the Seahouses is North Sunderland Beach which stretches for a mile and a half towards Bamburgh. As the southern end of the beach where it becomes rocky, is a good spot for photographing wading birds. Oystercatychers, Turnstones and Redshanks were all present when we visited in late April.

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Location and Parking

Post Code: NE68 7SL

Seahouses is located on the Northumbrian coast, about 50 miles north of Newcastle. For the harbour, it is best to park in the centre of the town. If driving from the south, take the A1 north from Newcastle, then turn onto the B1340 just after Alnwick. This leads directly to Seahouses.   Once in the town, turn right at the first roundabout, then left at the second, then immediately left again to reach a large car park in the centre of the town.  If travelling from the north, turn left of the A1 onto the B1342, passing through Bamburgh.  The road continues to the centre of Seahouses, and the car park is reached on the right immediately before the roundabout in the centre of the town.

For the beach and seabirds, drive north from Seahouses towards Bamburgh along the B1340 and park at one of the many lay-buys and pull-offs on the dunes side of the road. The beach is reached through the dunes, then walk south to reach the first of the rocks.

Seahouses Harbour

The most prominent feature of the harbour is a small lighthouse at the end of the pier, built in 1900.

Seahouses is the departure point for Farne Island excursions, so there are numerous cruise boats dotted around the harbour. As these are used for the tourist trade, they are generally kept in pristine condition.

The fact that the harbour is also used for fishing can be seen from the many lobster pots and fishing tackle around the harbour.

From the sea wall, there is a view north to Bamburgh Castle across North Sunderland Beach. Just north of the harbour is an wide flat area of exposed rocks, and sea birds my be seen here occasionally, picking through the rock pools. However a better option is go a little further north to the area where the sands of North Sunderland beach run into the rocky outcrops.

Seahouses Seabirds

Here’s a collection of images of wading birds taken on North Sunderland Beach – Oystercatechers, Turnstones and Redshanks.

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