The delightful fishing village of Seahouses is a firm fixture on the burgeoning Northumberland tourist trail. Boasting a busy harbour, excellent seafood and vast sandy beaches, this picturesque spot makes for an ideal base for exploring the local area. Facing due east across The North Sea, Seahouses also enjoys some of the best sunrises in the region.
If you are lucky enough to visit during good weather, it is worth setting your alarm and enjoying the spectacle. Whilst many visitors will head straight to the beach, we think several sunrise spots are worthy of consideration.
From the historic harbour to the 18th-century gunpowder house, here are five brilliant places to watch the sunrise in Seahouses.
1. Seahouses Harbour
Best for: Watching fishing boats setting off to sea.
The launching spot for fishing vessels, pleasure boats and the RNLI lifeboat, Seahouses Harbour – or North Sunderland Harbour, to give it its official title – is a hive of activity.
The harbour, which is run by the North Sunderland Harbour Trust, boasts an array of sunrise spots – including an impressive pier that stretches out into the sea. The whitewashed harbour light at the end of the Long Pier provides a beautiful focal point for sunrise photos.
As the sun rises above the waves, the harbour makes an excellent backdrop for golden hour photos. There are countless subjects to photograph and enjoy, from the plethora of fishing vessels to the ropes, lobster pots and rusting machinery.
How to find Seahouses Harbour: Seahouses Harbour is at the heart of the village, facing out towards the sea. If you are travelling by car, the nearest car park is at Seafield Road – a thirty-second walk away.
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2. The Seahouses Gunpowder House
Best for: A subtle nod to the construction of the harbour at Seahouses.
This tiny stone structure cuts a lonely figure, standing on a rocky outcrop on the hidden southern tip of the harbour.
The Seahouses gunpowder house dates back to the 18th century, when it was built to store explosives during the construction of the Long Pier and harbour walls.
Today, the Grade-II-listed hut provides a stunning subject for sunrise photos in Seahouses. Whilst sunrise explorers can admire the hut from afar as it is silhouetted against a blood-red sky, it is also possible to walk across the rocks to take a closer look. However, this should only be attempted at low tide.
How to find the Seahouses Gunpower House: The hut is a five-minute walk from Seahouses Harbour. Click here to see it on a map.
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3. Crewe Street
Best for: A dramatic, sweeping view across the harbour.
The diminutive Crewe Street is probably our favourite sunrise spot in Seahouses. High above the harbour, the street enjoys unparalleled views across the North Sea.
As well as the sights of Seahouses, you can spot other Northumberland favourites from this hidden vantage point.
Look left, and the iconic Bamburgh Castle stands tall on the horizon. Look out to sea, and the windswept Farne Islands rise above the waves. All the while, the colourful scenes of Seahouses Harbour provide unforgettable views for days.
How to find Crewe Street: Walk south from Seahouses Harbour. Stroll along the steep ramp to the benches before following the road to the right. If in doubt, follow the route on this map.
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4. The sweeping sands of the beaches at Seahouses
Best for: Deserted dunes and the sound of the waves.
For those looking to get close to the sea, the vast Seahouses beaches make for a wonderful place to watch the sunrise.
To the north of Seahouses, the beach stretches to the charming village of Beadnell. To the south, the sands lead to Bamburgh Castle and beyond.
If you choose the southern beach, you can gaze at the outline of the harbour silhouetted against the golden sky. All the while, the outlines of the Farne Islands peek above the ever-changing seascape.
Flanked by rolling dunes, the crashing waves provide the soundtrack to your beach sunrise. Sublime.
How to do it: The beaches around Seahouses can be easily accessed from the village. Simply follow the coastal path in your chosen direction.
Read next: The best things to see and do during a weekend in Seahouses.
5. Bamburgh Castle
Best for: A beautiful view of one of England’s finest castles.
Just a three-mile walk or drive from Seahouses is the striking Bamburgh Castle, an 11th-century fortress built by Normans. The site’s history stretches back even further, when Bamburgh hosted the Anglo-Saxon Kings over 1,400 years ago.
Set on a small, 150-foot hillock overlooking the golden dunes and deserted beaches, Bamburgh Castle is one of England’s most impressive seaside strongholds.
Unsurprisingly, the castle’s historic walls are an ever-popular subject for landscape photographers seeking to capture a glorious Northumbrian sunrise. With endless rocks, grasses and sand to use as a foreground, this is a sunrise spot to savour.
How to do it: To avoid walking along the beach in the dark, we recommend driving from Seahouses to Bamburgh. Choose a car park next to the beach and pick your favourite view of the castle.
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