Blackhall Rocks is the coast you see from the park. Step out of the gate and within a few minutes you are on the cliff top, looking down on a beach that most people driving along the A19 never know is there.
Cliffs and caves
The cliffs here are magnesian limestone, a pale yellow rock laid down about 250 million years ago as a reef in an ancient sea. The sea has worn it into arches, stacks and caves, and the caves in the southern part of the cliffs are the largest on the whole of the Durham limestone coast. You can walk into them from the beach, but only at low tide, so check the tide times before you go down, and give yourself time to get back.
A nature reserve on the cliff tops
The grassland along the top is a nature reserve, cared for by Durham Wildlife Trust. In summer it is covered in wildflowers, rockrose, bloody cranesbill and quaking grass among them, and it is one of the best places in the county for butterflies, including the Durham brown argus. June to September is the time to see it at its best.
The Get Carter beach
Film fans will know the beach already. The end of Get Carter, the 1971 film with Michael Caine, was shot here, when the shore was black with waste from the coal mines. That coal is long gone. The coast has been cleaned up so thoroughly that it is now a protected Heritage Coast, and the sand you walk on today would be unrecognisable to anyone who saw the film.
Getting down to the beach
There is a car park at Blackhall Rocks, reached by turning off the A1086 under the railway bridge, with steep steps down to the beach. From the park itself you can simply walk along the coast path. Dogs love it down here, and it is quiet enough most days that you will have long stretches of it to yourselves.
Owning a home nearby
Having this on the doorstep is the main reason people choose Denemouth. Denemouth Park is a family run, owners only park at Blackhall Rocks, with homes for sale on the Durham coast, every price shown up front. Come and see how much is on the doorstep.
How far is Blackhall Rocks from Denemouth Park?
It is right beside the park. The cliffs and the coast path are a short walk from the gate.
Can you go in the caves at Blackhall Rocks?
Yes, from the beach at low tide. Always check the tide times before you go down, as the sea comes right up to the cliffs.
Is Blackhall Rocks where Get Carter was filmed?
Yes. The climax of the 1971 film with Michael Caine was filmed on the beach here, when it was still covered in colliery waste.
Are dogs allowed on the beach?
Yes, it is a popular spot for dog walks. Keep an eye on the tide, and on signs for any seasonal restrictions along the coast.