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South Marine Park

14 ha

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

FamilyBirdsPicnic
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome14 ha

Getting here

55.00005, -1.42054

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🐦94+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Wigeon
  • ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
  • ☕Smith's Seaview Cafe — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Best for

12 activities

Family friendly

Very strong match

Free

playground, café, toilets, picnic area; Urban park — family destination

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Herring Gull, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull +91 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Picnic day out

Very strong match

Free

picnic area, café, toilets, car park; Urban park — open green space

Playgrounds

Very strong match

Free

playground, toilets, café, parking

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Herring Gull, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull +91 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Syrphus ribesii, Eupeodes luniger +33 more · last seen 2026

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Way of LearningWalking route61 km▾
Named routeLength 61 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Stride out walkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Souter Lighthouse Ranger Run, Souter LighthouseWalking route2 km▾

A scenic run route around the former Whitburn Colliery, now home to grasslands, wildflowers & birds. This short but interesting & enjoyable run takes in a lap of Whitburn Coastal Park nature reserve. Paths are maintained but naturally uneven coast path.

Named routeLength 2 kmDuration 00:15-00:30Round tripLocal walking route
Souter Lighthouse Trail, Souter LighthouseWalking route2.6 km▾

This trail is an easy stroll for all the family on well-established footpaths following the coastal path. Start and finish your walk at Souter Lighthouse, in Sunderland, spotting wildlife along the way. Mostly easy walking across established footpaths.

Named routeLength 2.6 kmDuration 00:30-01:00Round tripLocal walking route
The Souter Saunter, Souter LighthouseWalking route3.2 km▾

On this 2 mile walk, you'll discover more than a lighthouse. Follow coast paths to discover a lost village, a nature reserve on the site of a former colliery, interesting rock formations & a beautiful bay. Maintained paths, fairly flat, no steep inclines.

Named routeLength 3.2 kmDuration 01:00-02:00Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

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122 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 14Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 14National Cycle Network
Coast Road cyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 5Cycling route▾
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
Hadrian's CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 72National Cycle Network
Reivers' RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 10National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Link RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef (14) / (72)National Cycle Network
🚵

Mountain biking

▾

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Reivers Off Road Cycle RouteMountain bike route▾
Named route
Waggonways Cycle Route C - BackworthMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Waggonways Cycle Route D - Rising SunMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Waggonways Cycle Route E - Silverlink Albert Edward DockMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Waggonways Cycle Route F - Wallsend DeneMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Harton Branch RouteMountain bike route▾
Named route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

15 photos from nearby open sources

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Mythical beast in South Marine Park

📷 Oliver Dixon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Mythical beast in South Marine Park

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Facilities

☕

Café

Smith's Seaview Cafe · 295m

🅿️

Parking

Pier Parade · Paid · 158m

🧺

Picnic spot

5 · 26m away

🛝

Playground

5 · 88m away

🚻

Toilets

176m away

✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Northumberland ParkUrban park2 km→🌱South Marine ParkUrban park0 m→🌱Tynemouth ParkUrban park2.8 km→🌱Bents ParkUrban park200 m→🌱Bents ParkUrban park200 m→🌱North Marine ParkUrban park500 m→