Souter Lighthouse and The Leas

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas is a National Trust heritage attraction on the coast at Whitburn, between South Shields and Sunderland. The striking red-and-white lighthouse, one of the first to be powered by electric light, sits within open coastal grounds offering clifftop views, history and sea air. Dogs are welcome on leads throughout the lighthouse grounds and inside the Lighthouse Café, making it easy to keep everyone together while you explore the site.

The lighthouse tower itself is open to assistance dogs only, so the main draw for ordinary dogs is the outdoor estate and the chance to settle beside you with a coffee. Do keep leads short near the cliff edges. The café opens from 10:00 to 17:00 and the lighthouse interior from 11:00 to 17:00 daily between mid-February and October, then weekends only through winter.

Parking is on site with charges for non-members. The car park opens 9:00 to 20:00 daily, closing at 18:00 between November and March.