Exploring Tynemouth and its golden beaches next to Newcastle upon tyne .

I arrived just yesterday to start my new life in Newcastle after eight years in the capital and three years in Bristol.

Practically in eleven years i was so lucky to discover lots of green and fascinating places in south west of England like Bath, Marlborough, North Devon , Surrey , Somerset , sputh Wales , a bit of Cornwall and Cotswold .

Also London offered me beautiful sceneries , specially while i was living and cruising all alone along the canals of the capital with my old but fascinable narrowboat “ Summer Place “ .

Those places will stay forever in my heart for the beauty of the nature and the landscapes …but because i am a sort of explorer and no too young to wait too much , I have decided to do a big step and start a new life in Newcastle .

Therefore this morning thanks to a shy sun , I decided to do a short trip to see the North sea , 30 minutes by train from the centre of Newcastle .

Metro train .

There is a good train called Metro crossing many areas of Newcastle reducing the traffic of cars and speeding the travel of commuters .

I took my train in West Jesmond at 10.30 am and in 30 mimutes i was in this village called Tynemouth .

For a day ticket i paid only £5.40 compared at the expensive London and it is not difficult to do a ticket and understand the Metro system

Tynemouth

Very interesting with its scenery , beaches and castle .

History

The Romans may have occupied it as a signal station, though it is just north of the Hadrian ‘ s wall frontier (the Roman fort and supply depot of Arbeia stands almost opposite it on the southern headland of the Tyne). In the 7th century a monastery was built in Tynemouth and later fortified. The headland was known as Pen Bal Crag.

The place where now stands the Monastery of Tynemouth was anciently called by the Saxons Benebalcrag but John Leland at the time of Henry VIII.

The monastery was sacked by the Danes in 800, rebuilt, and destroyed again in 875, but by 1083 it was again operational.
Three kings are reported to have been buried within the monastery: Oswin , King of Deira (651); Osred II , King of Northumbria (792); and, for a time, Malcom III , King of Scots (1093).
The queens of Edward I Iand Edward II stayed in the Castle and Priory while their husbands were campaigning in Scotland . King Edward III considered it to be one of the strongest castles in the Northern Marches. After the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Edward II fled from Tynemouth by ship.
A village had long been established in the shelter of the fortified Priory, and around 1325 the prior built a port for fishing and trading. This led to a dispute between Tynemouth and the more powerful Newcastle over shipping rights on the Tyne, which continued for centuries.
Prince Rupert of the Rhyne landed at Tynemouth in August 1642 on his way to fight in the English civil war .

Modern history
Tynemouth was listed in the 2018 Sunday Times report on best places to live in Northern England.
The weather usually is mild being influenced by the sea but this morning it was cold , very cold and windy.

By the way i was surprised to see a few young people enjoying the ocean.

It seems people of this country are genetically created no to feel cold !

During my walk around Tynemouth i was surprised to discover an house where Garibaldi , the Italian patriot, stayed for a while when traveling around the world .

At those times there were no trains so i imagine the travel for Garibaldi must have been long cold, dangerous and uncomfortable .

But this is the proof my anchestor are calling me!

Beautiful scenery with its ocean waves and its beaches .

Prior’ Haven small and sheltered between the Priory and the Spanish battery .

King Edward’ s bay is a small beach on the north side of the Priory.

Longsands a long sand beach 1.200 yard ( 1.100 m) long lyimg between the former outdoor swimming pool ( opened in 1925) and Cullercoat in the north.

There is also a Pier and a lighthouse .

Collingwood monument.

My visit ends in taking pictures at the Collingwood Monument a memoriall to Lord Collingwood who was Nelson ‘ s second in command during the battle of Trafalgar , who completed the victory after Nelson was killed in action .

The monument was erected in 1845 , designed by John Dobson and the statue was sculpted by John Graham Lough . The statues is 23 feet ( 7 mt ) tall

Tydemouth market

After this long walk i decide to have a visit at the market inside the station selling antiques , art and vintage staff (An huge community of enthusiasts of art and craft and vintage) , without forgetting

A good fish and cheaps before taking the train towards Newcastle , ready for a new adventure .

Thanks for reading.