A County Durham beach has been transformed from a 'grim sea-coal strewn area' to a 'wonderful spot for all of the family', according to people who remember it 40-50 years ago and still visit to this day.

Blackhall Beach might not be known as a beach to sunbathe on or go in the sea, but it has seen increasing visitors walking on its coastline over the last decade. 

Based between Crimdon Dene Beach and Horden Beach, Blackall boasts beautiful views of the coastline around it. 

Blending its industrial past with walking routes along the coastline, the spot is popular with people who want a walk or to explore the beach, and travel up and down the coastline of County Durham and look for sea glass in nearby Seaham.

While it may give some amazing views of the sea from the top of the cliffs around Blackhall, it wasn't always this way, according to several visitors who either live nearby or those that visited the area 40-50 years ago, before visiting over the last few years. 

According to those on TripAdvisor, they always knew Blackhall Beach as a 'grim sea-coal strewn area' years ago. 

Like much of County Durham, Blackhall, and Blackhall Colliery, was known for its mining heritage. 

After enjoying decades of successful mining in Blackhall, Blackhall's colliery closed in 1981 - drawing an end to an extensive mining industry and bringing hard times on the area. 

Despite the pit closure in 1981, it took decades for the coal, silt and many of the materials used and mined from Blackhall to pass through and become the beach area it is today.

The area looked so industrial in the 70, 80s, 90s and early 00s that films such as 'Get Carter' (1971) and Alien 3 (1992).

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But this look is a thing of the past it seems - with people praising Blackhall Rocks/Blackhall Beach on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: "No longer the grim sea-coal strewn coast portrayed in 'Get Carter' but now a rugged wild cliff top stretch with a few places to access the bays.

"Nature reclaiming back from the mining industry - a lot quicker than could have been hoped."

Meanwhile, another person said: "I had a wonderful walk on Blackhall Beach this afternoon.
A huge, clean beach. Hardly anyone about. Easy free parking, and nice paths down onto the beach. No litter. Signs of the coal heritage of the beach."