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7th Aug 2026
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Here’s where to watch the rare solar eclipse in the North East next week

Mark your calendars, because a solar eclipse is heading for the North East next Wednesday 12th August, and it’s the deepest one the region has seen since 1999.

The Moon will slide between us and the Sun, and while total darkness will appear for Spain, Iceland and Greenland, we’re not missing out entirely, as around 90% of the Sun will disappear from view right here at home.

That’s such a rare experience, and with the right spot, you’ll have a front row seat. Grab a blanket, round up your friends and family and head to some of the best places across the region to watch the sky do something it hasn’t done in almost 30 years.

Quick facts

Date: Wednesday 12th August

Eclipse begins: around 6.10pm

Peak: around 7.07pm

Ends: just before 8pm

Coverage from the North East: around 90%

Best direction to face: west

SO WHEN SHOULD YOU LOOK UP?

The solar show kicks off at around 6.10pm, builds to its dramatic peak at 7.07pm, and wraps up just before 8pm.

Because the eclipse happens as the Sun dips toward the horizon, it’ll sit only 9 to 11 degrees above the skyline at its peak, so where you stand really matters. Look for somewhere with a wide, open view to the west, with nothing blocking that low evening light.

NORTHUMBERLAND COAST: THE STAR OF THE SHOW

If you only chase one view, make it this one. The long, open stretches of coastline here give an uninterrupted line of sight to the western sky, exactly what’s needed for an eclipse sitting this low.

Closest to Newcastle, Seaton Sluice makes for the easiest sunset dash if you’re short on time. The harbour here faces west, meaning you can watch the eclipse unfold right over the water, with the old harbour walls framing the view. Grab a spot along the pier or up on the rocks at Collywell Bay for the clearest sightline, and time it right and the boats moored in the harbour will catch the last of the light too.

Further north, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea offers a similarly open outlook, its long promenade and bay giving you plenty of room to spread out with friends and a flask of something warm.

Bamburgh beach is one that’s hard to beat, with Bamburgh Castle standing sentinel over a wide sweep of golden sand. Watch the Sun sink behind the dunes as the eclipse reaches its peak, with the castle’s silhouette adding real drama to your photos.

Holy Island, reached across the tidal causeway, adds a properly atmospheric edge, with Lindisfarne Castle rising above the water and centuries of history in the air. Just check the tide times before heading over, as the causeway floods twice daily, cutting the island off from the mainland.

SIMONSIDE HILLS AND HADRIAN’S WALL: HEIGHT HAS ITS PERKS

Prefer solid ground under your feet and a view for miles? Head up into the Simonside Hills, where the elevated, west-facing outlook lifts you above the tree line and the crowds altogether. The rust-coloured heather and jagged sandstone crags make a striking foreground for the darkening sky.

Similarly, the high ground along Hadrian’s Wall rewards you with sweeping countryside panoramas, Roman history included. Steel Rigg is a favourite for a reason: from here, the wall snakes off into the distance while the eclipse unfolds directly ahead of you.

NEWCASTLE AND TYNESIDE: YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY

Living in town doesn’t mean missing out. The Town Moor is your best bet close to the centre, because there’s nothing tall enough nearby to block the view. Find a patch of open grass, face west, and let the city hustle buzz around you.

Fancy a bit of a walk instead? The hillside around the Angel of the North offers another cracking vantage point, letting you take in the eclipse with one of the North East’s most recognisable landmarks stood beside you.

Weetslade Country Park and Northumberlandia, the striking earthwork near Cramlington, both offer rolling, open and raised ground away from streetlights and traffic, ideal if you want a bit of peace and unrestricted views.

WEARSIDE’S BEST SEAT: PENSHAW MONUMENT

Over in Sunderland, Penshaw Monument is the obvious choice. Perched high above Wearside on its hill, this Grecian temple folly gives you sweeping views for miles around, and it’s an easy, atmospheric spot to gather with friends and watch the sky do its thing.

HEADING SOUTH: SEAHAM AND ESTON NAB

Don’t rule out the southern end of the region either. The Durham Heritage Coast around Seaham offers clean, open sea views, with Roker Lighthouse just up the coast adding a handsome red and white landmark to your photos.

Further south still, Eston Nab near Guisborough climbs to one of the highest natural points around, looking straight out over the Tees Valley towards the setting Sun.

A BONUS FOR NIGHT OWLS

Here’s a nice bit of cosmic timing: once the eclipse fades, the Perseid meteor shower will be hitting its peak. Stick around after dark and you might catch shooting stars streaking across a moonless sky, a proper two for one skywatching night.

PLEASE, DON’T SKIP THE EYE PROTECTION

However tempting it is to glance up, never look directly at the eclipse without proper protection, even with 90% coverage. The UK Health Security Agency is clear that genuine eclipse glasses or solar viewers meeting the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) safety standard are essential; regular sunglasses won’t cut it.

If you’re using binoculars, a camera or a telescope, make sure it has a proper solar filter fitted first. No kit handy? A basic pinhole projector made from a bit of card is a safe, simple way to watch the eclipse’s progress without ever looking at the Sun directly.

Wherever you end up standing next Wednesday, glasses on and phone charged, this is one North East sky not to miss.

Rachael Ellis

Head of Content

After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…