Skip To Main Content

  • Accommodation
    • Don't Miss
      • City Breaks
      • Spa Breaks
      • Dog Friendly
      • Stunning Stays
    • Hotels
    • B&B and Guest Houses
    • Inns & Pubs
    • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages
      • Self Catering Agencies
    • Caravan, Camping & Glamping
    • Hostels
    • Accessible Accommodation
  • Things to Do
    • Don't Miss
      • Beamish Museum
      • Bowlees Visitor Centre
      • Crook Hall Gardens
      • Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Centre
      • Durham Castle Tours
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Durham University Botanic Garden
      • Durham University Oriental Museum
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • Hardwick Park
      • High Force
      • Kynren- An epic Tale of England
      • Locomotion
      • Palace Green Library
      • Raby Castle
      • The Auckland Project
      • The Bowes Museum
      • Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
      • Wharton Park
    • Attractions
      • Castles & Historic Houses
      • Cathedral & Churches
      • Hands on History
      • Gardens & Parks
      • Family Fun
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Waterfalls & Reservoirs
    • Activities
      • Adventure Activities
      • Cycling
      • Family Fun Activities
      • Festival & Events Organisers
      • Fishing
      • Golf
      • Horse Riding
      • Spas
      • Walking
    • Entertainment
      • Cinema
      • Theatre
    • Shopping
      • Antiques
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Farm Shops & Markets
      • Garden Centres
      • Only in Durham
      • Independent Shops & Boutiques
      • Shopping Centres
    • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides
      • Attraction Tours
      • Tour Guides
      • Scenic Tours
      • Cycling Tours
      • Walking Tours
      • Durham City Guide - Churches, Chapels and Cafes
    • Weddings
      • Historic Wedding Venues
      • Hotel Wedding Venues
      • Wedding Fairs & Events
      • Stag & Hen Party Ideas
      • Wedding Packages
  • What's On
    • What's on this Week
    • Family Events
      • May Half Term Events
      • Free Events
    • 2025 Unmissable Events
    • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events
      • Cinema Venues
      • Theatre Venues
    • Sports
    • Dark Skies Events
    • Food & Drink
    • Exhibitions
  • Food & Drink
    • Don't Miss
      • Cafe Bowes at The Bowes Museum
      • Collage Restaurant and Grill
      • Eating Out at Ushaw
      • Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill
      • Ozone at Seaham Hall
      • The Dining Room
      • Undercroft Restaurant
    • Restaurants
    • Tearooms & Coffee Shops
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Get a Taste of Durham
    • Afternoon Tea in Durham
  • Inspire Me
    • Don't Miss
      • Auckland Palace
      • Beamish Museum
      • Dalton Park
      • Durham Cathedral
      • Hamsterley Forest
      • High Force
      • Killhope
      • Kynren – an epic tale of England
      • North Pennines National Landscape
    • Short Break Ideas
      • Dark Skies
      • Dog Friendly Durham
      • Romantic Getaways
      • Spa Breaks
      • Golf Breaks
      • Weddings
      • City Break
    • Seasonal
      • Spring Breaks
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter Breaks
    • Budget-Friendly Days Out in Durham
    • Explore From Your Door
    • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors
    • Discover Wellness in Durham
    • Only in Durham
    • Delve Into Our Heritage
    • Durham's Unmissable Highlights
    • Itineraries
    • Durham Videos
  • Explore Durham
    • Durham City
    • Durham Dales
    • Vale of Durham
    • Durham Coast
    • Durham Towns
      • Barnard Castle
      • Bishop Auckland
      • Chester-le-Street
      • Seaham
      • Stanhope
    • North Pennines National Landscape
    • North East England
  • Visitor Information
    • Information Points
    • Maps of Durham
    • Getting to Durham
    • Getting Around Durham
      • Car Hire
      • Taxis
      • Electric Car Charging Points
    • Accessible Durham
    • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham
    • Publications
    • Durham Apps
    • Discover Durham Digitally

Don't Miss

  • A couple walking in the Durham Dales

    Walking in Durham

  • children playing in Hamsterley Forest

    May Half Term Events

  • A couple at High Force waterfall

    Next Stop, Durham

  • Seaham summer beach holiday fun

    Summer Breaks

  • Corporate
  • Groups & Travel Trade
  • Durham Story
  • Meet in Durham
  • Northern Saints
A German Flag
Menu
  • Top Attractions

  • Places To Stay

  • Things to Do

    Things to Do in Durham

  • Planning Your Trip

    Planning Your Trip

  • Inspire Me

Site Search Icon
My Account icon

Login to your account

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Logo
  • Print Logo
Close Navigation

Follow Us...

  • Facebook

    Thumbnail for Facebook

  • Twitter

    Thumbnail for Twitter

  • YouTube

    YouTube Icon

  • Instagram

    Instagram

  • Blog

    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > Blackhall Rocks Local Nature Reserve Walk

Blackhall Rocks Local Nature Reserve Walk

Pattison Crescent
Blackhall Rocks
Hartlepool
Cleveland
TS27 4DG

Tel: +44 03000 264 589

Email

Visit Website

Add Blackhall Rocks Local Nature Reserve Walk to your Itinerary

Walking on the Durham Heritage Coast

About

Blackhall Rocks is a Local Nature Reserve and picnic area within Durham Heritage Coast and is UK Woodland Assurance Scheme certified. Part Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation.

Habitats include neutral grassland, coastal magnesian limestone, grassland, scrub and ponds.

The coastal views are stunning and every day is varied; wind, sunshine and sea fret alter the mood and can make it feel like a completely different place.

The underlying geology at Blackhall Rocks is Magnesian Limestone. The thin soil on top is of poor quality with a high lime content. A rich and unique group of wildflowers and grasses, known as Magnesian Limestone grassland, grows on this type of soil. Plants found on the coastal grassland include cowslip, thrift and common rock-rose.

These vast areas of wildflower rich meadows and grasslands are ideal for bird- watching. The coast has one of the highest densities of breeding skylarks in Durham.

Blackhall Rocks is suitable for walkers and wheelchair users and has a circular Easy Access route which is gently undulating with one short steep section. This route has a 2m wide, sealed surface and has seats at regular intervals. Paths and tracks throughout the rest of the site can be narrow and are made of a mixture of hardened surface with some large stones, pot holes and bare earth. There are various slopes but only those which are particularly steep are marked. There are numerous steps down to the beach which are steep and uneven. A section of the coastal footpath runs through this site, this is an 11 mile linear route between Seaham and Crimdon. Take care near cliff edges.

Route supplied by Durham County Council’s Countryside Service.

Book Tickets

TripAdvisor

Downloads

BlackhallRocksNatureReserve_1693281397.pdf
2 Mb

BlackhallRocksNatureReserve_1693281397.pdf

Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Distance: 1-5 Miles
  • Grade: Easy
  • Route Surface: Off Road

Provider Features

  • Coastal
  • Grade (Easy)
  • Time (1 hour or Less)
  • Walk Distance - Easy access route is 500 metres.

Access Information

Opening Times

Season (1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025)

Map & Directions

Map Link

View Map

What's Nearby

  1. Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Heritage Centre with themed rooms. Mining Museum going back 100 years with 350 archives,…

    2.52 miles away
  2. Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre

    Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre

    Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre is small building of architectural beauty situated in…

    5.63 miles away
  3. A family of 3 playing mini golf.

    The Hole in Wand

    Discover the Magic at The Hole In Wand – Dalton Park!

    Step into a world of wonder at…

    6.45 miles away
  1. Durham Heritage Coast

    Durham Heritage Coast

    Experience the colourful and dramatic landscape of Durham’s Heritage Coast with its…

    6.7 miles away
  2. Exterior view of The EDAN Gallery

    The EDAN Gallery

    The EDAN Gallery is the only dedicated art gallery in East Durham. 

    6.91 miles away
  3. East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    The East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre displays the historic lifeboat The George…

    6.94 miles away
  4. A building and the sea at Seaham Harbour Marina

    Seaham Harbour Marina

    The multi award-winning Seaham Marina is County Durham's one and only marina. The marina…

    6.94 miles away
  5. The Gardens, Wynyard

    The Gardens, Wynyard

    The Gardens at Wynyard Hall are fast becoming one of the North’s leading visitor…

    8.44 miles away
  6. st edmunds sedgefield

    St Edmund's Church

    St Edmund's Church is over 750 years old with a 30m high Norman Tower visible for miles,…

    9.23 miles away
  7. Hardwick Park at sunset

    Hardwick Park

    This VisitEngland accredited attraction is an 18th Century parkland featuring beautiful…

    9.79 miles away
  8. Girl looking through a magnifying glass into a bug pot

    RSPB Saltholme

    RSPB Saltholme is the perfect place if you’re new to birdwatching or want to get out in…

    9.99 miles away
  9. Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Rainton Meadows was created by the restoration of the Rye Hill Opencast coal mine in 1996…

    10.76 miles away
  10. Old Durham Gardens

    Old Durham Gardens

    Old Durham Gardens can be found less than a mile east of Durham City Centre. The gardens…

    11.3 miles away
  11. Feed the llamas at Adventure Valley

    Adventure Valley

    Discover a world of family adventures at Adventure Valley, the North East’s biggest…

    11.57 miles away
  12. St Giles Church Durham City

    St Giles Church

    St. Giles’ has been a place for people to meet and worship for over 900 years.…

    11.76 miles away
  13. st oswalds church

    St Oswald's Church

    St Oswald’s is an Anglican church in the centre of the beautiful university and cathedral…

    12.02 miles away
Previous Next
More

Search What's Nearby

Product Type
Proximity
Within miles
  • Enewsletter Sign Up

  • Win

  • Save

  • Contact Us

this is our blog

  • Something Spectacular Is Taking Flight at Kynren – The Storied Lands

    Andy Hallsworth, Assistant Curator, Birds & Training at Kynren - The Storied Lands, pictured with blue and yellow parrots on his arm.

    Following recent planning approval, development has now begun on The Storied Lands at Kynren - the UK’s first live-action historical theme park. 

  • 60 Years of Adventure: Must-See Sights Along The Pennine Way’s Northern Stretch

    Aerial view of Blackton, Hury and Balderhead Reservoirs in the Durham Dales.

    Join Emma from Northumberland Adventures, as she explores the northern stretch of the iconic Pennine Way.

  • Eight events not to miss at The Auckland Project

    group of woman with arms around each other with backs to camera, looking at a stage where performers are singing at Auckland Palace summer concert series.

    Get ready for a season of celebration, music, history, and hands-on family fun at The Auckland Project!

  • Raily Fab Ways to Explore Durham

    bright red and green steam train on the historic Tanfield Railway.

    Full Steam Ahead: Discover Durham’s Best Railway Experiences

  • Next Stop: Amazing Days

    Collage of images showing Raby Castle, The Auckland Project, Locomotion Railway Museum and Beamish Museum.

    Your ultimate guide to the top days out in Durham, packed with history, adventure, and stunning landscapes.

  • Loading..Loading..
    • Print Page
    • Email Page
    Home Accommodation
    • Hotels,
    • B&B and Guest Houses,
    • Inns & Pubs,
    • Self Catering & Holiday Cottages,
    • Caravan, Camping & Glamping,
    • Dog Friendly,
    • Hostels,
    Things to Do
    • Attractions,
    • Activities,
    • Shopping,
    • Sightseeing, Tours & Guides,
    What's On
    • Family Events,
    • 2025 Unmissable Events,
    • What's on this Week,
    • Cinema, Theatre & Music Events,
    • Dark Skies Events,
    Food & Drink
    • Restaurants,
    • Tearooms & Coffee Shops,
    • Pubs & Bars,
    • Get a Taste of Durham,
    • Tasty Places to Stay,
    • Foodie Events,
    Inspire Me
    • Short Break Ideas,
    • Discover Durham's Great Outdoors,
    • Delve Into Our Heritage,
    • Durham's Unmissable Highlights,
    • Itineraries,
    Explore Durham
    • Durham City,
    • Durham Dales,
    • Vale of Durham,
    • Durham Coast,
    • Durham Towns,
    • North East England,
    Visitor Information
    • Information Points,
    • Maps of Durham,
    • Getting to Durham,
    • Getting Around Durham,
    • Accessible Durham,
    • Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Durham,
    • Publications,
    Submit Event
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Site Map
    • Submit Event
    • Terms & Conditions

    © Copyright Visit County Durham. All Rights Reserved

    Registered Office: Visit County Durham, East Wing, 1st Floor, Corten House, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TS

    • North East England logo

    Ratings & Reviews

    Powered By

    tripadvisor

    • Durham County Council