Summer Walk, Cullercoats - Tuesday 23rd July 2019.
On Tuesday 23rd July, the sixth walk on Morpeth Camera Club's Summer Programme of visits to places of local
interest took place, as we met in the Beaconsfield car park for a stroll around the coastal village of Cullercoats.
Rough plan was to walk in a northerly direction along the seafront before returning via the promenades & lower
pathways at beach level. Originally a fishing village that traded in salt and coal it is now a venue for day trippers
and has been absorbed into the suburbs of adjoining Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.
The hot weather had attracted hundreds of people to the area and the thirteen camera club members joined the
crowds as we looked for images. St George's church dominated the skyline as we walked along Beverly terrace
with fine houses to our left and open parks and links to our right before we stopped to look down on Cullercoats
Bay. The recently restored Adamson Memorial drinking fountain, the Dove Marine Laboratory opened in 1908, &
the old Life Brigade Watch House and Clock Tower were all photographed as we continued along Victoria Crescent.
The boatyard in the older part of the village, the Fishermen's mission and several private gardens with nautical artifacts
reminded us of the maritime traditions as we continued onto Promontory Terrace and then Windsor crescent. Stopping
to look out over Browns Bay we looked down to see the unique Table Rocks outdoor tidal swimming pool created from a
natural inlet in the rock formation. This natural pool was formally developed as a bathing pool in 1894 and in its day was
extremely popular with separate ladies and gents changing facilities and in 1910 a bathing club was formed.
Dropping down to pool for a closer look we then started our return along the lower promenade but the dangerous rocks
where the Greek Steamship Zephyros ran aground in 1947 were hidden the tide. Our route took us up to Browns Point
that was the site of Cullercoats maritime Radio receiving station. A well known local landmark with huge radio masts
that listened for distress signals on the 500khz morse code band until technology deemed this was no longer needed.
Returning to Cullercoats Bay we dropped down to the beach and viewed the victorian RNLI lifeboat station that is still
active today and the two small piers that protect the cove.
The incoming tide prevented our intended route along the beach past the cliffs and caves and the group headed back up
to street level and as the light dropped some members caught the last of the evening sun on the sandstone sea arch at
Saddle Rocks before we returned to the car park to end our walk. Once again this was a good turn out to an interesting
and varied location. Thank you to those who supported the evening and look forward to seeing your images.
Davy Bolam.
interest took place, as we met in the Beaconsfield car park for a stroll around the coastal village of Cullercoats.
Rough plan was to walk in a northerly direction along the seafront before returning via the promenades & lower
pathways at beach level. Originally a fishing village that traded in salt and coal it is now a venue for day trippers
and has been absorbed into the suburbs of adjoining Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.
The hot weather had attracted hundreds of people to the area and the thirteen camera club members joined the
crowds as we looked for images. St George's church dominated the skyline as we walked along Beverly terrace
with fine houses to our left and open parks and links to our right before we stopped to look down on Cullercoats
Bay. The recently restored Adamson Memorial drinking fountain, the Dove Marine Laboratory opened in 1908, &
the old Life Brigade Watch House and Clock Tower were all photographed as we continued along Victoria Crescent.
The boatyard in the older part of the village, the Fishermen's mission and several private gardens with nautical artifacts
reminded us of the maritime traditions as we continued onto Promontory Terrace and then Windsor crescent. Stopping
to look out over Browns Bay we looked down to see the unique Table Rocks outdoor tidal swimming pool created from a
natural inlet in the rock formation. This natural pool was formally developed as a bathing pool in 1894 and in its day was
extremely popular with separate ladies and gents changing facilities and in 1910 a bathing club was formed.
Dropping down to pool for a closer look we then started our return along the lower promenade but the dangerous rocks
where the Greek Steamship Zephyros ran aground in 1947 were hidden the tide. Our route took us up to Browns Point
that was the site of Cullercoats maritime Radio receiving station. A well known local landmark with huge radio masts
that listened for distress signals on the 500khz morse code band until technology deemed this was no longer needed.
Returning to Cullercoats Bay we dropped down to the beach and viewed the victorian RNLI lifeboat station that is still
active today and the two small piers that protect the cove.
The incoming tide prevented our intended route along the beach past the cliffs and caves and the group headed back up
to street level and as the light dropped some members caught the last of the evening sun on the sandstone sea arch at
Saddle Rocks before we returned to the car park to end our walk. Once again this was a good turn out to an interesting
and varied location. Thank you to those who supported the evening and look forward to seeing your images.
Davy Bolam.