Today we decide to turn right out of the campsite along the coastal path towards Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, rather than left to Seaton Sluice.

It’s a decent path along the what looks like a crumbling coastline above the sea. We divert down towards St Mary’s lighthouse which is attached to the mainland via a causeway currently under water at high tide. As we approach we are bemused by the ranks of memorial benches in a line facing the sea. Never seen quite so many in one place before.

The lighthouse serves as a visitor centre now but currently only opens at the weekend .T has his binoculars with him so we can see lots of seals lying on the rocks and beach at the back RHS of the island.

The coastal path has now turned into a wide promenade at sea level. Luckily we spot a couple of seals in the water not too far out.

We continue walking until the path takes back up across a muddy municipal golf course and then down again to a second promenade. We can see the dome of the Spanish City building in the distance.

A cuppa in the Rendezvous Cafe is very welcome before walking into Whitley Bay.

The Spanish City centre is mostly closed today so we don’t get to see inside post a refurbishment in 2018. We buy our second Christmas decoration of the holiday and then treat ourselves to a bag of chips which were hugely disappointing. Wander around and find a pub The Fox & Finch for a half before taking the bus back to the campsite.

The Delaval Arms just outside the site is open today so we quaff a beer, T’s enjoying a pint of Ragnar’s Revenge brewed onsite in a micro brewery, before wandering back to the van.

Dinner of South Korean chicken a la M&S and an evening with Law and Order to entertain us. We did threaten to go back out to the pub but rain stopped play.

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