Area: Holywell / Seaton Sluice (just north of Whitley Bay — several North Tyneside dog walkers, including Woofus and Wagging Tails, cover this area)
Distance: A longer circular route, roughly 5–6 miles depending which version you follow — allow 2.5–3 hours at an easy pace. A good option for fitter dogs and walkers wanting more than a quick lead-stretch.
Terrain: A mix of wooded dene (following the Holywell Burn stream), open farmland, and a clifftop coastal stretch into Seaton Sluice harbour. Paths and tracks throughout, with some short ascents/descents and occasional muddy sections after rain.
Dog notes: Generally considered a dog-friendly route by local walkers, but livestock fields (horses, donkeys, cattle) sit along parts of it, so keep dogs on lead there and around Holywell Pond Nature Reserve, which attracts ducks, geese, lapwings and other waders. Note: this is a different route from the National Trust’s own signposted ‘Holywell Dene and Old Hartley’ heritage trail from Seaton Delaval Hall, which the Trust itself flags as not suitable for dogs (it crosses working farmland with stiles) — don’t confuse the two when directing people.
Parking: Start at the roundabout where Links Road (A193) meets Fountain Head Bank (A190), just north of Seaton Sluice village. Car parking is available there, with nearby bus stops too.
Nearby stop: Several local write-ups point to Harbour View at Seaton Sluice harbour, roughly the halfway point, for fish and chips — worth confirming their own dog policy before recommending it as dog-friendly specifically.
Source: Scotland Off the Beaten Track — Holywell Dene / Seaton Sluice circuit; National Trust — Holywell Dene and Old Hartley walk (for the contrasting non-dog route)