Blackhall Rocks Nature Reserve and Picnic Site

About the Site

Blackhall Rocks comprise a two kilometre section of coastal cliffs and shore platforms on the Durham coast, approximately eight kilometres northwest of Hartlepool.

This 29 hectare site is a splendid natural exposure of reef-limestone. The 60 foot high cliff consists of 20 feet of glacial boulder clays, separated by a bed of gravel.

Below this, the cliffs and rocks exposed, form part of the reef-top faces of the middle Magnesian Limestone barrier reef. The caves at the southern end are the largest caves in Durham’s Magnesian Limestone region.

The associated Magnesian Limestone grassland includes species such as quaking grass, cowslip, and bloody cranesbill, the later of which is confined to the coast in Durham. The wet gullies contain many locally rare plants such as butterwort, so called because of its greasy-looking leaves, grass of parnassus, yellow flag and round leaved wintergreen. A rare fern, sea spleenwort, grows in several places on the cliffs.

As the beaches become cleaner, some salt-marsh species are colonising the shore and four species of sea anemones have been noted.

The slopes of Blue House Gill have areas of low-growing scrub with privet and willows, providing breeding sites and shelter for birds.

The insect fauna is also of interest with 15 species of butterfly recorded, including the Northern Brown argus and the cistus forester, a rare green moth that breeds on the cliff tops. The Northern Brown argus butterfly is a variety of the northern argus, but is only associated with Magnesian Limestone grasslands in County Durham and Tyne and Wear.

This part of the coastline attracts turnstone, purple sandpiper and others waders during winter. From the latter part of August through to October various divers and sea duck might be seen offshore.

The plants on the site are at their most beautiful from May to July, but the geological features of the cliffs are stunning at low tides all year round.

Blackhall Rocks

Location

From the crossroads on the A1086 at Blackhall Rocks Village, a minor road leads east under a railway bridge and down towards the beach. A right fork leads to the car park and picnic site. The more popular left fork (Deadmans Bank) leads down closer to the shore. In either case there is a steep footpath down to the sea. The northern part of the reserve is entered from the beach, the southern part from the cliff top footpath.

There is a danger of being cut off by the tide near the caves.

Grid reference: NZ 467394-477382

Facilities

Car park, picnic area and interpretation boards.

See Also

Biodiversity Action Plan
Coastal Habitats
Durham Wildlife Sites
Durham Wildlife Trust
Turning The Tide

Enquiries

Nature Reserve
Durham Wildlife Trust
Rainton Meadows
Chilton Moor
Houghton-Le-Spring
Tyne and Wear
DH4 6PU
Tel: 0191 5843112

Car Park and Picnic Area
Countryside Group
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 3833594

Information kindly provided by the Durham Bird Club.