8k Run Seaham: Coastal Adventure to Chourdon Point

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 8.1km loop offers an invigorating coastal escape starting from the dramatic cliffs of Nose’s Point in Seaham. Runners will tackle a mix of terrain, primarily following the undulating coastal paths toward Chourdon Point. With approximately 66 meters of ascent, the route is classified as "hilly," providing enough elevation change to keep the heart rate up while rewarding you with sweeping views of the North Sea. The majority of the path is well-surfaced, though the sections looping around the lush Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve introduce a more natural, trail-like feel that requires a bit more focus on foot placement, especially after a typical British rain shower.

Steeped in industrial heritage and natural wonder, the area around Nose's Point was once the site of the Dawdon Colliery, one of the deepest coal mines in the world. Today, the landscape has been beautifully reclaimed by nature, forming part of the Durham Heritage Coast. As you run toward Chourdon Point, you're traversing a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), home to rare wildflower species like the Durham Argus butterfly. The turn inland through Hawthorn Dene takes you through the second-largest magnesium limestone woodland in the county, offering a peaceful, sheltered contrast to the rugged, salt-sprayed cliffs of the outward leg.