South Shields - Town & Promenade

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around South Shields Town & Promenade, with Explorers joining an intrepid team sent to follow clues after a scroll recovered from Arbeia Fort reveals a map linked to the disappearance of a prize casket of gold coins.

The quest covers approximately 2.5 miles and should take around 3 hours to complete. You'll start at Haven Point, explore South Shields seafront promenades and parks, cross South Marine Park, pass Arbeia Fort and reach The Lawe for views over the River Tyne before circling back towards the start.

The route is mainly along a promenade and through parks, and is mainly along level paths. This Trail is marked as wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible, although a wheelchair user would need assistance for two steep inclines encountered along the route. There is also one steep bank to tackle.

Cross roads carefully at the stated crossing points. Take care where the route runs next to a drop down to rocks, around the boating lake edge where there are no railings, and near the harbour and river views.

Getting There

By car: Start your treasure-seeking expedition at Haven Point (NE33 2JS). The recommended parking is Harbour Drive Car Park (NE33 2LF), which is near the start and finish points of the adventure.

By public transport: Make your way to Haven Point (NE33 2JS) to begin the quest. The circular route brings you back towards the start once the prize casket mystery has been tracked around town and promenade.

Need the Loo?

Useful comfort stops are available near the EYE clue at Clue 04, near Sandhaven fountain at Clue 07 and in South Marine Park at Clue 09.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can come along for the treasure hunt 🐾

The route includes promenades, parks, road crossings, steep sections, harbour and river views, a drop down to rocks and a boating lake edge with no railings, so keep canine companions close where needed and take extra care around traffic and water.

Food & Drink Stops

Gold-coin hunting is hungry work, but there are many places to pick up refreshments along the route.

If your crew prefers to bring its own supplies, there are also many places for a picnic along the way, so you can pause the search and refuel before the next stretch of clues.

Want to Make a Day of It?

South Shields seafront promenades and parks

The Trail takes you along the promenades and through the parks of South Shields seafront, with mainly level paths, views and scenic stretches along the way. It's a natural place to slow the pace once the treasure map has been properly interrogated.

South Marine Park

The quest crosses South Marine Park at Clue 09, where toilets are available and the route passes the boating lake. It's a good family pause point, but keep everyone close by the water as there are no railings at the edge.

Arbeia Fort

Arbeia Fort is woven right into this adventure. The route passes it, and the Trail's backstory is tied to recent excavations there, which uncovered the story that sets the whole search in motion.

The Lawe

At The Lawe, look out over the River Tyne and spot the two white towers on the opposite side of the river. These are the high light and the low light, which acted as navigational aids for ships approaching the river - very useful intel for Explorers following a suspiciously ancient map.