Marsden Bay and Marsden Grotto: The Complete Guide

Marsden Bay is the most dramatic stretch of coastline in South Shields and one of the finest coastal landscapes in the North East. Towering magnesian limestone cliffs, a 27-metre sea stack teeming with seabirds, a pub built into a cave, and the clifftop grassland of The Leas combine to create a place that feels wild and remote despite being just two miles from the town centre.

Marsden Rock

The centrepiece of the bay is Marsden Rock, a 27-metre (90-foot) sea stack of magnesian limestone lying approximately 90 metres off the main cliff face. It is one of the most photographed landmarks on the North East coast.

The rock originally had a natural arch connecting two stacks, but this collapsed during a winter of storms in 1996. The smaller of the two remaining stacks was demolished in 1997 on safety grounds, leaving the single imposing pillar that stands today.

Seabird Colony

Marsden Rock and the surrounding cliffs host one of the most important seabird breeding colonies in England. In spring and summer, the rock is alive with thousands of nesting birds:

• Kittiwakes -- the dominant species, nesting in dense colonies on the cliff ledges
• Fulmars -- graceful gliders that nest on the upper cliff faces
• Cormorants -- the colony here accounts for approximately 10 per cent of the entire English breeding population
• Herring gulls -- present in large numbers throughout the year
• Razorbills -- smaller numbers breed on the lower ledges

Puffins and guillemots are regularly seen flying past, and in late autumn migrant terns, skuas, and gannets can be spotted from the clifftop. Marsden Rock was historically the only recorded breeding ground for Manx shearwater on the east coast of mainland Britain.

Best for: Visit between April and July for the best seabird viewing. Bring binoculars -- the kittiwake colony on the rock face is spectacular from the clifftop path.

Marsden Grotto

Marsden Grotto is one of the most unusual pubs in Britain. Built partly into the cave at the base of the cliffs and fronted by a more conventional building opening onto the beach, it is one of only a handful of cave bars in Europe.

History

The cave was first inhabited in the late eighteenth century by a man known as Jack the Blaster, a former quarryman who carved out a home in the rock face. The site was later developed as a pub and entertainment venue, and today operates as a gastropub, restaurant, and boutique hotel.

What to Expect

The venue includes:

• The Cave Bar -- a bar and pool room carved into the cliff itself, atmospheric and unlike anywhere else
• The main bar -- a larger space in the conventional building at the front
• The seafood restaurant -- upstairs, with views directly out over Marsden Rock and the North Sea
• A heated beach terrace -- for fair-weather drinking with the waves at your feet
• Ten boutique hotel rooms -- each with views directly over Marsden Rock

The Grotto's seafood restaurant is open daily from noon to 9pm. Note that the venue may close during high tides, with closures posted on their Facebook page.

Getting There

Access to the Grotto is either by lift from the car park at the top of the cliff or by a zigzag staircase on the cliff side. The lift is free. The car park is on the A183 Coast Road.

Best for: A pub carved into a cliff face, with a heated terrace on the beach and views of Marsden Rock. There is genuinely nowhere else like it.

The Leas Coastal Walk

The Leas is a two-mile strip of clifftop grassland stretching from Bents Park in South Shields south to Marsden and on to Souter Lighthouse at Whitburn. Managed by the National Trust and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is one of the finest stretches of coastal grassland in the North East.

Walking The Leas

The walk from Bents Park to Marsden Bay is approximately 3 miles (4.8km) one way and takes 1.5 to 2 hours at a comfortable pace. The terrain is mostly grass and coastal paths with gentle undulations -- no steep climbs.

Along the way you will pass:

• Frenchman's Bay -- a small, sheltered cove accessible by steps
• Velvet Beds -- named for the soft grass, with wildflowers in spring and summer
• Marsden Rock viewpoint -- the best elevated view of the sea stack and the bay

For a longer walk, continue south from Marsden Bay to Souter Lighthouse, the first lighthouse in the world built for electric illumination. The National Trust tea room there makes a good stopping point. The E1 bus from Whitburn can take you back to South Shields town centre.

For more route options, see our best walks from South Shields guide.

The Beach

Marsden Beach sits at the base of the cliffs, accessed by the Grotto lift, the cliff steps, or on foot along the shoreline from the south end of Sandhaven Beach at low tide. It is a dramatic, rugged beach backed by high limestone cliffs -- very different in character from the wide, sandy Sandhaven Beach further north.

The beach is dog-friendly all year round with no seasonal restrictions, making it a popular choice for dog walkers. See our dog-friendly South Shields guide for more options.

Best for: Check tide times before walking to Marsden Beach from Sandhaven. The shoreline route is only passable at low tide.

Practical Information

• Marsden Grotto car park is on the A183 Coast Road (postcode NE34 7BS). Parking is free for pub and restaurant customers.
• The Leas can be accessed from several points along the coast. Bents Park (Sea Road) is the most popular northern starting point; the Marsden Grotto car park is the southern access.
• Public transport: The E1 bus runs along the coast road between South Shields and Sunderland, stopping near the Marsden Grotto car park.
• Footwear: The Leas paths are grass and can be muddy after rain. Wear sturdy shoes in winter and spring.
• Dogs: Welcome on The Leas and Marsden Beach year-round.

Further Reading

• Best Beaches in South Shields
• Best Walks from South Shields
• Best Pubs in South Shields

---

Marsden Bay is at its best in the spring and early summer, when the seabird colony is in full swing and the clifftop wildflowers are in bloom.