Holiday apartment in Sunderland – history, coast and trails

Culture

At Roker Pier & Lighthouse, architectural history and the coast come together. The pier and lighthouse were built between 1885 and 1903; comprehensive restoration of the pier, tunnel and lighthouse began in 2012. Guided tours provide the public with access to the tunnel and Roker Pier Lighthouse.

Hylton Castle is an elaborately decorated gatehouse tower of a castle, built shortly before 1400 by Sir William Hylton. Guided tours of Hylton Castle are offered on selected days by prior booking. Parking is available on the grounds.

The collection at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens dates back to 1846 and includes Wallace the Lion. The Winter Gardens house more than 2,000 plants and koi carp; there is also a treetop walkway.

Further historical points of interest lie in Roker and its surroundings: Bede’s Cross was erected in 1904 as a memorial to the monk and scholar Bede the Venerable. St Andrew’s Church in Roker was built in 1907 and has a decorative interior designed by Eric Gill, Ernest Gimson and A.H. Payne. Roker Lighthouse was originally built in 1856 at Sunderland’s South Pier and moved to its current location in 1983.

Nature

Roker Park opened as a recreational area on 23 June 1880; Roker Ravine runs along its northern end. In Herrington Country Park, marked routes of 1, 2 and 3 kilometres lead through the grounds.

Trails

Sunderland has 100 kilometres of designated cycling routes, more than 80 kilometres of which are away from road traffic. National Route 7, the C2C Cycle Route, runs westwards from Roker along the north bank of the River Wear.

The Roker Seafront Circular is also clearly defined: the circular route is 1.9 miles or 3 kilometres long, takes around 40 minutes and starts and ends at Bungalow Café. The route is suitable for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs.

History

Ryhope Engines Museum is located in a pumping station built in 1868, which served the water supply of the Sunderland area. The two beam engines each produce 100 horsepower, are kept operational and are regularly put under steam for visitors. The museum also includes three Lancashire boilers dating from 1908.

At the Church of St Peter, the west wall and the lower tower levels of the first church, dating from 674–675, have been preserved. In the north transept, display panels and artefacts illustrate archaeological excavations. The grounds contain underground remains of the Anglo-Saxon monastery of Monkwearmouth and the medieval Benedictine priory. At Monkwearmouth, a gallery at least 32 metres long was uncovered; it served as a covered passageway between the church and the southern edge of the grounds.

Culture

Sunderland Empire presents West End shows. Sunniside Food Market takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month.

A listed building was erected in 1844 in honour of John George Lambton, the first Earl of Durham.

Other places

For further options at this destination level, Sunderland, Castletown and Houghton Le Spring are among the available locations.

For the higher-level travel overview: North East England.

Other destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Stockton-On-Tees, Hartlepool, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear, South Tyneside.