Black Middens, UK
Also within 20 km of Tynemouth
- Tynemouth Sailing Club Sailing spot · 0.5 km from Tynemouth
- Tynemouth (Longsands) Surf spot · 0.9 km from Tynemouth
- South Shields Surf spot · 2.2 km from Tynemouth
- Hartley Reef Surf spot · 5.5 km from Tynemouth
- Seaburn Surf spot · 9.9 km from Tynemouth
- Roker pier Surf spot · 11.5 km from Tynemouth
- Blyth Beach Surf spot · 13.3 km from Tynemouth
Watch this spot We email you when Black Middens is worth the trip.

About Black Middens
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (84°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (264°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.3 km out (1 in 125). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 7°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 15°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). The town to stay in is Tynemouth, 0.7 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots and 2 wind sports spots.
Water about 12°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 15 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to EDI, direct.
See flights ORD → EDI · Skyscanner from about £375 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 05 from the airport to Black Middens.
Accommodation.
Stay in TynemouthAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Tynemouth (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Tynemouth 1 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 35 places to stay · where Black Middens stays
Places to stay in Tynemouth · Booking.com AdSouth Shields 3 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 45 places to stay
Places to stay in South Shields · Booking.com AdWhitley Bay 6 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 50 places to stay
Places to stay in Whitley Bay · Booking.com AdSunderland 21 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 24 places to stay
Places to stay in Sunderland · Booking.com AdBlyth 24 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 7 places to stay
Places to stay in Blyth · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Tynemouth · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Tynemouth · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Black Middens on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 11, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 62kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 7 knots | 11°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 14, too small | 4 ft5 smushy | 83kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 10 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 7, too small | 4 ft5 smushy | 68kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 12 knots | 12°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 24, too small | 4 ft6 smushy | 131kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots | 12°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 10kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 6 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 21, too small | 4 ft5 smushy | 64kJ | offshorewind from the west, 17 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 33kJ | offshorewind from the west, 13 knots, offshore | 10°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 10kJ | offshorewind from the west, 17 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 1, too small | under 1 ft3 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 15 knots, offshore | 14°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 5, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 46kJ | wind from the south, 13 knots | 13°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to EDI, then 3h 05 by road. About 15h door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to EDI, then 3h 05 by road. About 15h door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Tynemouth each day: Black Middens, Tynemouth (Longsands).
Rough cost
About £1,105–£2,055 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to EDI, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £375–£780 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £105–£175 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £250–£420 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £240–£445 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£170 |
| Total | £1,105–£2,055 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Tynemouth
- Undal Curry HouseIndian · in the centre
- Buddha LoungeAsian · 0.1 km from the centre
- DavantiItalian · 0.1 km from the centreFood hygiene 5 of 5, Jul 2026
- Gulshan Indian Kitchen, Grill & Cocktail BarIndian · 0.1 km from the centreFood hygiene 4 of 5, May 2025
- Lola Jeans TynemouthBurger · 0.1 km from the centreFood hygiene 4 of 5, Dec 2025
- Longsands Fish KitchenSeafood · 0.1 km from the centreFood hygiene 5 of 5, Aug 2026
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation; food hygiene ratings from the Food Standards Agency (Open Government Licence). Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.