Sunderland is a relativly small city in the North East of England. And although sometimes it does feel like there is no where left to be explored, another place crops up that I have never heard of and cannot understand why. Sunderland has many places like this. It wasn’t untill I started research for this post that I realised just how many hidden gems their are in this city.
So here are my top places that I truly believe to be a hidden gem in this City of Sunderland!
Hendon Beach
I wanted to start on a contraversial opinion. Hendon Beach has an overpowering reputation for being a very rough, run down and dangerous place to be. And while it is not very well maintained and has been left to ruin by the council, the natural beauty of this beach cannot be ignored. If you like going off the beaten track (or any track for that matter), being away from crouds and don’t want any food/drinks/toilets/anything, then Hendon Beach will be a perfect place to visit.
It deeply saddens me that all the money in our city seems to being elsewhere. And I know the regeneration the areas desperately needs would be incredibly expensive, it would make a huge difference to the city overall. For a place whose tourist slogan is ‘a city by the sea’, but the cities nearest point of sea is advised against visiting is an utter disgrace.
See also, 40 Places for Daily Walks in and Around Sunderland
When I first saw a photo of the seven sisters on Instagram, I was in utter disbelief that it was in Sunderland. It is an astonishingly beautiful place and utterly surreal. There is rich history on the site which makes it even more amazing. Not to mention the amazing view from the hill you get. If you are planning on going, try and time it with a clear day because you can see for miles!
When we visited, it felt like we were in a different world when walking up to it. It really feels like something from a film because you can just sense the significance of the site.
See also, Guide to the Seven Sisters and Copt Hill
The River Wear is a staple of this great city. And while the river is in no way a hidden gem, there are paths along it that are very bespoke and intriguing. I am particularly talking about the boardwalk part on the north side of the river to the east of the Northern Spire Bridge. I have seen so many photographs from this spot and have had no idea where it is. However I am determined to find it!
In my opinion, the river is very underapreciated. And I know its not the most beautiful cristal clear waters, but it is still an astonishing spectical that we shouldn’t take for granted.
See also, Sunderlands Heritage and Where to Experience it
Although, if you follow me on Instagram, then this perhaps isn’t that hidden. Its incredbily close to home and where we go for our daily walks most of the time. Despite this I have still included it in this list. The reason for this is simple, it is incredibly understated. I feel like between Seaham which is incredibly popular and Hendon which is commonly known as a rough place, Ryhope is just cast aside. But it is a truly beautiful place!
Regardless of the fact that I have spent so much time thete in the last year or so, I am still in awe of the landscape here and cannot reccomend it enough. I really home that this patch of coastline gets some much needed attention to bring it up to the sam level as Roker and Seaburn.
See also, Guide to Ryhope Beach and Clifftops
Victoria Viaduct
This is another place on this list that I discovered on Instagram. I haven’t actally visited yet as it is too far from home to be considered local right now. However, as soon as restrictions are lifted, it is up on my list of places to visit! I don’t even have any of my own photographs so I have had to borrow a couple from Instagram.
This viaduct was an important part of local history. However, I am not going to spoil it for you because when I eventually get there, no doubt there will be a blog post about it!
I hope you have enjoyed this post, and while these might not necessarily be hidden gems to you, these are all are in my eyes. Thank you for reading my post and if you enjoy my blogs then drop your email address below to be notified everytime I upload a new blog post!
Stay Safe and Happy Adventuring
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