Easington
Easington is just two miles inland from the Durham Heritage Coast, and the beach with its name on it is halfway between Sunderland and Hartlepool. Easington the village and Easington the colliery have joined forces, and with mining in their history and heritage, they’ve kept their community spirit and taken a place today, as a base for commuting to the larger towns in this part of the Northeast. The A19 runs past the town, giving a new home a great connection with Sunderland and Newcastle to the north, and Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough to the south.
Getting around
The A19 is the main link for Easington and the other villages along the heritage coast. It takes around 20 minutes to drive to Sunderland and around half an hour to drive to Newcastle or to Middlesbrough. The historic cathedral and university city of Durham is 10 miles due west. Newcastle International Airport is 28 miles to the north, taking around 45 minutes by car. The nearest train stations are at Horden, Seaham and Sunderland along the coast, or at Durham inland. Bus services link the town to its neighbour, Peterlee, for more local connections throughout the area.
Shopping list
All the basics for family life are on hand as the town’s local shops and services include a Post Office, newsagent, a couple of convenience stores, a pharmacy and a fish & chip shop. Nearby Peterlee and Seaham have more to add to the list, with Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Asda and Tesco. There’s a Morrisons at Murton. A trip into Durham will treat you to shopping malls, high street brands, a famous indoor market, an outdoor market and plenty of great places to eat out – the best of city shopping on a friendly small scale. For a full-on city experience, Newcastle-upon-Tyne has the lion’s share of retail, eating out and entertainment.
Going to school
The other great aspect of family life is well-covered here too. Rosemary Lane pre-school, Easington Village C of E Primary School and the Easington Academy will keep your children busy. The Hope Wood Academy is a special education school in the Easington Colliery area of town.
Going out
There’s quite a contrast of choices here, with coast, city and countryside to explore from your home base. The Durham Heritage Coast takes in the long sandy beaches at South Shields, Roker Beach in Sunderland, the harbour and seafront at Seaham, and the chain of smaller beaches as you head south towards Hartlepool. Durham’s historic centre adds a cathedral and a castle to an outing, as well as great shopping, and beyond it, the Durham Dales lead you uphill into the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.