Beadnell Harbour & Lime Kilns
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Beadnell Harbour & Lime Kilns

A west-facing working harbour with restored 18th-century lime kilns, sand on either side and one of the best sunset spots on this stretch of coast.

Address:

Beadnell, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5BJ

Hours:

Always open

Map

Good to Know

Beadnell Harbour is a small working harbour at the southern end of the village, often described as the only west-facing harbour on England's east coast. Fishing cobles still work from here, with sand on either side and the sheltered water inside the harbour walls popular with paddlers and children.

Right on the harbour's edge stand Beadnell's lime kilns, a striking stone block of late 18th-century kilns now cared for by the National Trust. Lime was burnt here and shipped out from the harbour, and in later years the kilns were used by fishermen for curing herring and storing their gear. Information boards tell the story.

Tom's Notebook

  • Best for: Sunsets, a quiet sit by the sea, families with small children and dog walkers.
  • Walks: The harbour sits at the northern end of Beadnell Bay, the start of our favourite walk south along the sand.
  • Sunsets: Because the harbour faces west, it's one of the best places on this stretch of coast to watch the sun go down, looking inland towards Middlemoor Wind Farm.
  • Parking: The car park by the bay is the easiest place to leave the car.
  • Food & drink: Coffee, lunch or a pint at The Landing is a short stroll away.
  • H&S tip: Find the seat just above the harbour as the sun begins to go down. Summer or winter, it's hard to beat.

Our Time at Beadnell Harbour & Lime Kilns

There's a lovely little seat just above Beadnell Harbour that has become one of our favourite places to stop for a while.

If you catch it as the sun begins to go down, whether it's a warm summer evening or a crisp winter afternoon, the view inland towards Middlemoor Wind Farm can be quite magical. The sky changes colour, the light softens, and everything seems to slow down a little.

Below you, the harbour is usually a picture of calm. Small boats gently bobbing at their moorings, children playing in the sheltered water, dogs chasing balls along the sand and people simply enjoying being beside the sea.

The old lime kilns stand quietly at the harbour's edge, a reminder that this peaceful little corner of Beadnell once had a rather more industrious life.

It's not somewhere you need an itinerary. Find a seat, watch the world go by and enjoy whatever the Northumberland weather happens to be doing.

The harbour sits at the northern end of one of our favourite beaches, so we tend to find ourselves here rather often. Sometimes we're passing through on a longer walk. Other times we come simply because we know how lovely it can be.

Our Heather & Sand verdict: One of those little places that reminds us why we love Northumberland. Beautiful in summer, wonderfully atmospheric in winter, and always worth stopping for. If you find that seat above the harbour as the sun goes down, you'll understand exactly what we mean.

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