Seaglass is a popular thing for people to try and find on beaches across the world and in the UK, there are plenty of beaches where sea glass can be found in abundance. Seaham Beach, also known as Glass Beach, within County Durham and not far from Sunderland, is a great place to find the beautiful sea jewels. Head there just after high tide, as the sea is starting to retreat again, and you’ll be able to find yourself a nice little collection of sea glass. Find out everything you need to know about sea glass and Seaham beach in the guide below.

 

Seaham Beach at a Glance

Parking: Plenty of parking within Seaham town and also in multiple car parks near the beach

Tide times: Plan your visit with the end of the high tide times here

Dog friendly: Yes, there are no dog restrictions on Seaham Beach

Facilities:Plenty of cafes, places to eat and shops in Seaham and public toilets at the marina

Walk time: As long or short as you want! Seaham Beach stretches for approximately one mile from one end to the other. 

What is sea glass?

Sea glass is broken glass (from bottles, jars or other glass objects) that ends up in the sea. The waves and sand wear down the glass over time and the glass ends up becoming smooth and frosted with round edges. This can take anything between 20-200 years and at high tide, the sea will deposit the sea glass back onto the beach for you to find. It comes in all different colours, depending on the colour of the glass that was discarded into the ocean. The most common colours are white, brown and green and the least common are red, yellow and purple. 

What is the best way to find sea glass?

• Sea glass is easiest to find a couple of hours after a high tide when the sea deposits the smoothed coloured glass back onto the beach. 

• After storms, you’ll have a higher chance of finding sea glass

• Pebble or stone beaches have a higher chance of finding sea glass or in coves where the tide traps glass and rocks together

• Look for beaches with lots of debris on. The tides are stronger here so there is probably more debris in the water and therefore more sea glass

Once you’ve identified your beach for sea glass hunting, take your time walking along the beach, combing between the pebbles and shells looking for the sea glass. You’ll need to look carefully because sea glass comes in all different sizes and it can be tricky to find sometimes.

I'd definitely recommend a good pair of durable and flexible leggings like the Trailblazers as their stretchiness will help you when you're hunting for all the sea glass between the stones!

Why is Seaham Beach so good for finding sea glass?

During the Victorian Era in 1850 and until 1921, Seaham was home to a glass bottle factory. The waste from this factory was thrown into the sea in large quantities. It produced millions of glass bottles in all different colours and after being dumped into the North Sea, Seaham beach is now home to large numbers of the little sea jewels. The beach here is a mix of sand and pebbles which creates the perfect conditions for sea glass. Some reviews online even say that Seaham Beach is the best beach in the UK for sea glass.

Where is Seaham Beach?

Seaham Beach is in the north east of England, in County Durham. The beach itself is alongside the coastal town of Seaham and is roughly one mile long. The beach is a mix of sand, pebbles and rocks, backed by a promenade next to the town.

Where is parking for Seaham Beach?

There is a large car park right next to Seaham Beach. However, with this being a popular spot, on a nice day or a weekend, this car park is likely to get full so arrive early. 

There is also a large car park at Seaham Hall Beach with a coffee bar and a bus stop right next to it. 

Parking in these two car parks is £3 for 2hrs+

There are also a few car parks dotted around Seaham itself and some roadside parking too on North Road.

Is there public transport to Seaham?

Yes! Seaham has a train station served by the Durham Coast Line running between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. It also has bus routes from Sunderland and along the east coast.

Are there facilities at Seaham Beach?

The beach itself doesn’t have facilities but you can find lots of facilities in the town and public toilets at the marina.

What else is there to do in Seaham?

Seaham is a busy little coastal town and a popular place for tourists during the holidays and with day trippers at the weekend. Luckily, this means there’s lots to do in the area. 

• Visit one of the oldest surviving churches in the UK; St Mary the Virgin Church. This is an Anglo Saxon church located slightly north of Seaham
• Take a walk along the coastal footpath which forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path)
• Visit the Heritage and Lifeboat Centre where the historic lifeboat The George Elmy is on permanent display.
• Try out some watersports like paddleboarding, kayaking and Dragon Boating with Adventure Access at Seaham Marina

Other best beaches in the UK for sea glass hunting

The UK is home to lots of incredible beaches for finding sea glass, so if Seaham Beach is a bit too far from you, check out some of these other beaches around the UK;

• Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
• St Ives Harbour, Cornwall
• Fortuneswell Beach, Dorset 
• Morfa Beach, Conwy
• Portobello, Edinburgh

For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild\_0utdoors on Instagram.

Happy adventuring! 

Izzy