County Durham Heritage Coastline

County Durham's past of mining for coal and tin, amongst other natural resources, spawned lots of small communities to house the miners and their families. Over the years the closure of these mines left many of the villages in the County sparsely populated as people moved to the bigger towns nearby. In turn, these villages became neglected as unemployment rates increased and the desire for new people to move to these areas was low. Gradually, these areas are being invested in as the appreciation for the beauty of the area is being realised. Old pit sites are beingconverted into country parks and a popular new housing build on the old Vane Tempest coal mine site has brought a lot of new people to the area and with it, opportunities for local businesses and an increased interest in the nearby coastline. Seaham is part of the Durham Heritage Coastline which runs from the North of the County to Hartlepool in the South. One of the lesser-known beaches is situated at Blackhall Rocks, about 10 minutes drive south of Seaham. This is a rugged, pebbled beach with lots to explore and some days you have it all to yourself. The images below are all from Blackhall Rocks beach.