emilywillisblogRedcar is located in North yorkshire and is a short drive from the neighbouring towns of Middlesbrough, Guisborough and Saltburn. Redcar beach is a fantastic location for those who like a long beach walk, though it is worth bearing in mind, there are not many amenities or toilet facilities nearby.
Best walks at Redcar beach
From the carpark take a left and walk along the beach. When the tide is out the strand at Redcar beach feels vast, and you can walk along the length of the beach for a good three hours at a moderate pace before you reach the pier that prevents you progressing any further (this means you’re looking at potentially a 6 hour walk). It’s a pretty straight beach and this can be deceptive when you are determining how far to walk – often you think it’s not far to get to the pier and 45 minutes later you realise it doesn;t look much closer. The beach is pretty flat and this makes it great for running for those with stamina who can stand running on sand.
The beach also has sanddunes which are fun and not too steep to climb. From the top of the sand dunes there are small paths which afford a better view of the beach and you can if you prefer walk along this path rather than the strand. From the top of the sand dunes you can also see across the dunes to the old blast furnace, which used to be a beacon lighting your way home along the beach in the dark, for those of you old enough to remember when the Redcar steel industry was booming. The furnace flame has long since gone out, but the building remains, a kind of majestic ruin, or empty museum, which has a ghostly poignancy that never ceases to arrest you when you crest the sand dunes and see it towering over the expanse of sand in the distance.
Is Redcar beach pushchaier friendly?
Redcar beach is pushchair accessible – there is a ramp down to the beach from the main carpark, so as long as you have a pushchair with decent sized wheels to get through the soft sand, the beach is pretty flat and you won’t need to cross any sand dunes or rock pools to traverse it. Alternatively, for those who are after less of a workout, there is a paved promenade along the edge of the beach you can take to admire the views.
Redcar beach is a great beach for children in general – there’s lots of space on the strand for them to run and play ball games, or fly kites, and there aren’t any steep drop offs in the shallow water for when children are paddling on hotter days.
Is Redcar beach accessible?
Redcar beach can be accessed directly from the carpark, where there is a ramp down onto the sand. As such this makes it easy to get to for people with mobility issues who may not be able to walk too far.
There are no public toilets at Redcar beach which means for those with certain health conditions you would need to factor in an alternative rest stop, perhaps at one of the cafes that can be found a couple of streets away from the beach.
History of Redcar
For those with an interest in culture and history, Redcar makes for an insightful visit. Redcar is a town on the North Yorkshire coast dating back to the 14th century. It has its roots as a fishing village and this heritage is still very much alive, with fresh fish sold locally, and a lifeboat museum, detailing the historical significance of fishing in the town. The lifeboat museum is worth a visit – there you can see the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world, maintained by a group of volunteers, who are more than happy to tell you about its history and all the lives its brave crews saved over its years of service. The museum also has a brilliant collection of old photographs and film footage of Redcar in the early 20th century.
Redcar for a time became a tourist hotspot in the 1800s when the development of the railways enabled people to travel further than they had previously. From the 20th century, steel making became the primary industry and employer in the area and is what Redcar is still known for today. In the 1970s, the blast furnace at Redcar was the largest in Europe. However, heavy industry declined in the North East since the closure of most of the coal mines in the area under Margaret Thatcher. Steel making continued in Redcar until the blast furnace was closed in 2015 due to global economic competition, and thousands of jobs were lost. This loss is still felt in the local community.
Food and drink at Redcar beach
Redcar beach is situated in the North East – it’s an area where the average life expectancy is 6 years lower than the national average, and many people live in difficult circumstances or with significant disadvantage. There aren’t as many gift shops and restaurants serving the area as some of the beaches I have written about which are located in places such as Cornwall, where a high number of tourists flock each year. However, there are a number of lovely cafes, with really friendly waiting staff. Such as Daisy Mae’s Tearooms, One Up, and the Stray Cafe, serving things like full cooked breakfasts, ice cream and huge hot chocolates, serving good northern portion sizes. The beach car park is also usually serviced by a burger van which serves your standard sausage and chips or burger and chips – after a long cold, blustery winter walk this kind of modestly priced, functional food is exactly what you need, and there’ll usually be a spare sausage for the dog.
What is there to do near Redcar beach?
Redcar is situated near the northern most edge of North yorkshire, and you are a relatively short drive away from the North york Moors, which afford spectacular views on the tops on a clear day, and are steeped in a rich literary heritage – think the Brontes, Ted Hughes, and Bram Stoker. You are also 10 minutes away from Roseberry Topping, one of the best hills to climb near Redcar, which also affords breathtaking views of the county from its summit. You are also close to the neighbouring beaches of Saltburn and Staithes, the latter being a small harbour village rendering the coastline very picturesque and quiet. All in all, Redcar and the surrounding areas make for a lovely weekend away where you have lots of natural beauty at your fingertips to explore.
Safety at Redcar beach
There is no lifeguard at Redcar beach which is something of which to be mindful if you plan to enter the water. Once you have walked for about half an hour along Redcar beach, on many occasions, especially in winter conditions, you don’t see another soul. This can be wonderful if what you crave is solitude, quiet, and headspace, but it is worth being mindful that there have been reports of anti social behavior in the sand dunes, and for some you may find this makes you wary of walking alone or in the dark on the beach.
