Parton Beach

About Parton Beach

Parton is a small village just north of Whitehaven with a shingle beach below low cliffs. This stretch of the west Cumbrian coast was once lined with bottle works, breweries, collieries and iron foundries, which is the likely source of the glass. One visiting collector found it far more rewarding than Allonby further up the coast.

Sea glass at Parton Beach

Reported finds include aqua glass (possibly from Codd bottles), a white Codd marble, a worn glass stopper, purple and lavender glass, frosted art glass flashed with cranberry red or cobalt, plus white, green and amber pieces and sea pottery. Walk north along the shingle towards the low cliffs and the Lowca Beck outflow; banded blue slag also turns up.

Visiting Parton Beach

Getting there

Drive through the narrow railway tunnel to reach the car park overlooking the bay.

Parking

Free car park through the railway tunnel overlooking the bay; a second car park nearer the beach is reached by turning right before the wastewater treatment works.

Safety

Check the tide times before you go and head out on a falling tide, so you're never cut off. Keep away from the bottom of cliffs, wear sturdy shoes on rocks, and only take sea glass and other man-made rubbish: pebbles, sand and shells should stay on the beach.