This area extends a little beyond Country Durham in both directions. It extend north as far as Druridge Bay into Northumberland and south into Saltburn in Yorkshire.
The area is somewhat urban, encompassing Blyth, Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar. Many kayakers will prefer to head further north, but the area does have both sandy beaches and rocky points, as well as the Tyne and Tees rivers for those seeking shelter or urban river adventures.
Blyth: High water is at high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
South Shields: High water is at high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
Sunderland: High water is at high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
Hartlepool: High water is 15 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
Saltburn by the Sea: High water is 15 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
Between Blyth and Coquet Island: The south going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
River Blyth Entrance: The south south-east going stream begins at 15 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north north-west going stream begins at 6 hours before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The streams are not strong.
Between Seaton Sluice and Blyth: The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 0.6 knots at springs.
Off Whitley Bay: The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 10 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. The stream is weak away from salient points
River Tyne, Fish Quay: The east north-east going stream begins at 25 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 50 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs.
River Tyne entrance: The east north-east going stream begins at 40 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. There can be turbulence here, especially when the out-going flow meets a north east wind.
Off South Shields: The south south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 40 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 40 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
South Shields Beach: In the bay to the south of Tynemouth South Pier, the south-going stream begins early: The tidal stream here flows south south-east starting 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields).
River Tyne, west of South Shields: The north north-east going stream begins at 30 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs.
River Tyne at Howden: The east going stream begins at 10 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west going stream begins at 5 hours and 45 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The east going stream reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs. The west going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.
River Tyne, Tyne Bridge: Near the centre of Newcastle in the Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge area: The east north-east going stream begins at 10 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 40 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs.
Off Sunderland: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
River Wear at Sunderland: The east going stream begins at 5 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west going stream begins at 6 hours and 5 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields).
Off Seaham: The south south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 25 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Off Peterlee: The south south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 15 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 0.6 knots at springs.
Hartlepool Headland: The north going stream begins at 45 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south going stream begins at 5 hours and 25 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
River Tees entrance: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 5 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south going stream begins at 4 hours and 55 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs.
Tees Bay, across river entrance: The south-east going stream begins at 2 hours and 40 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 35 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.
Off Saltburn: The east south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west north-west going stream begins at 3 hours after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The east south-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.2 knots at springs. The west north-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.3 knots at springs.
Tees VTS: Tees VTS may be contacted on VHF channel 14 or 01642 277205/6.
Cresswell Pond: (NZ 284 946) g Small car park 150m carry from the beach.
Cresswell Beach: (NZ 290 940) g Car park 100m from the beach
Newbiggin Church Point: (NZ 316 880) g Car park near slipway onto beach, 50m carry to beach.
Cambois Beach: (NZ 305 845) g Small car park, steep carry down to beach , but likely easier than the wooden steps at the car park to the south of here.
Cambois railway bridge: (NZ 308 835) g Small car park by the beach.
Blyth South Beach: (NZ 321 799) g Small car park near a road that ends at the beach.
Blyth Battery: (NZ 321 793) g Larger car park than South Beach, but there is a 150m carry to the beach.
Seaton Sluice North: (NZ 326 780) g Large parking area. 150m carry across the dunes to the beach.
Seaton Sluice Village: (NZ 332 771) g Car park 100m from the beach across soft sand. There is a second car park slightly to the north, but the carry is a little longer.
Whitley Bay Brierdene: (NZ 350 740) g Large car park. 70m carry to the beach.
Tynemouth Beaconsfield: (NZ 365 708) g Road leading down to the beach, and a restaurant, where it should be possible to drop boats. Large car park above the beach just to the south.
Tynemouth Longsands South: (NZ 369 700) g Road leading down to beach. Limited parking on this road and on the road above.
North Shields Low Lights car park: (NZ 364 686) g Beach within the Tyne entrance. Large car park by the beach.
South Shields Little Haven Beach: (NZ 371 678) g Beach inside the sea wall, two large car parks, of which this location is the further south.
South Shields Pier Parade car park: (NZ 375 674) g Car park by the beach, likely busy on summer weekends.
South Shields Sand Dancer Car park: (NZ 379 671) g Car park by the beach, pay and display.
South Shields Trow Quay car park: (NZ 381 668) g Large pay and display car park, likely a bit quieter than the Sand Dancer car park just to the north.
Derwenthaugh Marina: (NZ 204 633) g Slipway and steps down to river. Several options for parking. Better when the tide is high, as the banks may be muddy at low water.
Whitburn Bents: (NZ 409 613) g Pay and display car park near the beach
Sunderland Harbour beach: (NZ 409 586) g Car park with slipway at north end.
Sunderland Hendon Promenade: (NZ 411 554) g Parking area by the beach, access at south end to avoid scrambling over sea defence rocks.
Seaham North Beach: (NZ 427 501) g Roadside parking, ramp 100m down to beach. There is a car park 400m to the north if the seafront is busy.
Seaham Harbour Beach: (NZ 431 496) g Parking area by roundabout, 150m carry from here down a ramp to the beach.
Seaham Harbour Beach: (NZ 433 495) g Access and parking possibilities unclear.
Lime Kiln Gill, Dene Mouth: (NZ 455 408) g Small parking area at end of road, 150m carry down to beach
Blackhall Rocks: (NZ 470 392) g Small car park. 100m steep carry down to beach.
Crimson Beach: (NZ 483 372) g Parking above the beach. Steep carry down to the beach down a zig-zag path.
Hartlepool Town Wall Beach: (NZ 527 336) g Small beach just inside the harbour, access through an archway down steps, likely awkward with sea kayaks. Car park 100m north on St. Mary Street.
Hartlepool West Harbour: (NZ 518 329) g Limited roadside parking on Slake Terrace. 100m carry from here around the side of the yacht club to a slipway.
Hartlepool Coronation Drive: (NZ 517 320) g Small parking area near slipway. There is another car park 250m to the south.
Seaton Carew: (NZ 528 294) g Large car park by the beach.
Tees South Gare Breakwater: (NZ 556 272) g Various options to park and launch either across the beach or at slipways. One slipway is owned by South Gare Marine Club who welcome kayakers and run a fine cafe at weekends.
Redcar Seafront car park: (NZ 593 253) g Large car park by the beach.
Redcar Millclose Howle: (NZ 625 237) g Large car park by the beach.
Marske Sands: (NZ 632 232) g Car park by the beach.
Saltburn by the Sea: (NZ 668 217) g Two good sized car parks close to the beach.