Marsden Rock
Crag, Rock And Cairn South Shields Tyne And Wear

Marsden Rock

Crag, Rock And Cairn In South Shields, Tyne And Wear

A huge rock standing on the beach at Marsden, South Shields that has collapsed into an arch an then to a single rock.

If you are enjoying the LJ Ross books, and like me, want to venture out and visit the places in the novels, then this is from the latest “The Rock” book.

The Rock refers to Marsden Rock and you will probably be familiar with it if you live in the North East, especially south of the Tyne.

There are fine views of it from the clifftop, but if you fancy a closer look you have a couple of options.

You can use the lift in the Marsden Grotto (you'll probably have to buy a drink or a snack though) or brace yourself for 130 steps down and back up again if you take the stairs.

If you head down at low tide you can get right up to the rock (it's around 100m from the cliff) and have an explore of the nearby rock pools. At high tide it's totally surrounded by water. The rock stands 30m tall and is made of periclase and Magnesian Limestone for you budding geologists..

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a wooden staircase attached to the rock and you could venture to the top to take in the views.

In 1911 the rock was reduced to an arch when a large portion of it collapsed into the sea. (We're hoping that one our fabulous members has an old picture of it somewhere!)

Then after years of being eroded by the tide the arch eventually collapsed in 1996 leaving the big rock and a stack next to it. But a year later the smaller stack was demolished as it was deemed unsafe to the public.

There are also cool rock formations nearby on the beach too.

Due to the geology of the bay having high cliff faces, these provided excellent cover for smugglers to bring in their illegal supplies!

The rock is also home to a menagerie of seabirds including kittiwakes, gulls, cormorants and fulmars.

And finally a view from the clifftop. Yep that's me heading towards the rock to take the photos you see above!

Good luck if you take the stairs!

And if you wanted to see what it looked like before it collapsed, our Fabulous North friend Bob Tame has sent in this beauty.

  Add To Bucket List   I Have Visited This Place

Get 2 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 242 VIPs.

Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.

How To Find Marsden Rock

Where Is Marsden Rock?

Show Place On Google Maps

Lat / Long

54.977347, -1.375634

What three words

backed.future.boost

Where To Park For Marsden Rock?

Show Parking On Google Maps

Lat / Long

54.976674, 54.976674

What three words

stages.deal.excuse

There is a car park for Marsden Grotto on the clifftop above the rock.

Contributed by Simon Hawkins

Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue pele tower up a remote hill, a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.

More Places from Simon
Simon Hawkins

More Places In South Shields

Find more fabulous places in South Shields, Tyne And Wear and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.

Trow Rock Disappearing Gun
Trow Rock Disappearing Gun
Military South Shields Tyne And Wear

A unique gun that would disappear into its turret to reload, devised during the Crimean War.

South Shields Lifeboat Memorial
South Shields Lifeboat Memorial
Statue South Shields Tyne And Wear

A monument built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee and also celebrate William Wouldhave and Henry Greathead, two of the people credited with the design of the first self-righting lifeboat.

Mill Dam and Customs House
Mill Dam and Customs House
Building South Shields Tyne And Wear

An urban conservation area, with grand buildings, cobbled lanes, River Tyne views, and a few pubs.

More Crags, Rocks And Cairns

So this crag, rock and cairn wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.

Langlee Crags
Langlee Crags
Crag, Rock And Cairn The Cheviots Northumberland

A stunning double headed crag on the north east banks of Hedgehope Hill.

Great Wanney Crag
Great Wanney Crag
Crag, Rock And Cairn Ridsdale Northumberland

A spectacular sandstone rockface in Ridsdale used for bouldering and climbing, with breathtaking views across Northumberland from the top.

Auchope Cairn
Auchope Cairn
Crag, Rock And Cairn The Cheviots Northumberland

A cairn on the cusp of the Cheviot and right on the border of England And Scotland.

Never Miss A Fabulous Place

If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.

Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.

Sign Up To Alerts
Sign up to newsletter
Fabulous North On Facebook

Find Us On Facebook

We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.

Join Our Facebook Group

Marsden Rock was listed in Crag, Rock And Cairn // Tyne And Wear // South Shields