Walk: Holywell Dene – Seaton Sluice circuit

📌 Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
★★★

Water provides the main scenic interest of this flat part of southern Northumberland – whether its the North Sea or the wooded water courses locally known as denes. This varied, straightforward circuit uses both to make a loop around the coastal village of Seaton Sluice, which boasts a picturesque harbour, sandy beach and cliff path. The last section upon leaving Holywell Dene is through less interesting farmland, but offers the chance to detour to a bird hide at Holywell Pond where you can watch ducks, geese and waders.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on Links Road (A193) at roundabout with Fountain Head Bank (A190), north side of Seaton Sluice village

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NZ 332771

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.087080,-1.481226

🚌 Bus stops near roundabout at walk start

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 130 m | ⌛ 2.5-3 hr

Features: ⛵ Seaton Sluice Harbour & Beach ★★★; 🌊 Collywell Bay coastline; 💧 Holywell Dene; 🦢 Holywell Pond Nature Reserve

⬤ Easy | Good paths & tracks throughout, short sections of ascent / descent.

➡️ Clockwise circuit with minor extensions: start & Seaton Sluice Beach – Seaton Sluice Harbour (south side) – Rocky Island – Collywell Dene – Hartley – Holywell Dene (upstream of Hartley) – Holywell Pond Nature Reserve – track to east – Holywell Dene (lower part) – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Horses, donkeys, cows (the latter in same field as path). Mallard ducks & seagulls by the coastline & harbour; lapwings, seagulls & moorhens at Holywell Pond. Redshank in tidal lower section of Holywell Dene. Ripe blackberries.

Weather: 20°C, often sunny, breezy.

August 2021