Marsden Bay and Marsden Rock
Natural Phenomenon in South Shields
Marsden Bay and Marsden Rock is located just on the outskirts of South Shields, north-west of Lizard Point and close to Souter Lighthouse.
The Magnesian coastline of the cliffs date back 250 million years and have been eroded by the sea to form stacks like Marsden Rock. Marsden Rock, home to one of England’s most important seabird colonies and stands almost 100 metres from the cliff face and rises to the height of 30 metres. The rock’s pitted faces provide a habitat for thousands of seabirds like cormorants, gulls, fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes. The Rock once featured a stunning arch before it sadly collapsed into the sea .
In the cliff opposite Marsden Rock is the Marsden’s Grotto, which is and is a rare formation known as a cave bar, once used by smugglers.
At low tide you can also wander out to check out the sea life collected by the beach’s many rockpools.
The Marsden Bay and Marsden Rock appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting South Shields!
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Nearby Attractions
- Souter Lighthouse (1.0) km
Lighthouse in South Shields - Frenchman’s Bay (1.7) km
Walk in South Shields - Sandhaven Beach (3.5) km
Beach in South Shields - South and North Marine Parks (3.8) km
Park in South Shields - South Shields Museum and Art Gallery (4.3) km
Gallery in South Shields - The Word, National Centre for the Written Word (4.6) km
Library in South Shields - The Customs House (4.6) km
Historic Building and Arts Venue in South Shields - Shields Ferry (4.7) km
Ferry in South Shields - Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort (4.7) km
Museum and Roman Site in South Shields - North East Maritime Trust (5.0) km
in South Shields
