Hyem @ Cullercoats
About Me
Our Story
The Full Story
Always a music lover and having lived in the North East for several years, I was soon drawn into the local music scene as a self-proclaimed, albeit talentless, wannabe roadie. My friends, often busking in coastal venues like Surfers (then known as Surf Cafe), invited me to join a "yoga and surf" session on Longsands beach.
"Me?! Surfing?!" The idea seemed exotic and outrageous to someone born in a landlocked county who had never properly stepped foot in the North Sea. I'm 'yes man', so it didn't take much to convince me. I donned a wetsuit for the first time and had an absolute blast, getting thrashed about by the summer swell.
Fast forward a few years, and surfing—and the dare to try something new—became central to my life. As a lead volunteer for the local charity Wave Project (North East), I describe surfing as an experience of joy and challenge that echoes our work with the charity.
I embraced the coastal lifestyle wholeheartedly, driving up and down the coast road multiple times a day for a plodge, SUP, surf, or to enjoy the local music and food scene. Immersing myself in this beautiful part of the world, I made countless friends along the way.
Plodge
noun; To wade or splash around especially in the sea, or in puddles or mud.
Geordie
In 2019, I purchased a fixer-upper under the guise of needing storage for my expanding collection of surfboards and fully renovated the flat. It took me months, if not years to complete and I did a lot of it myself (so go easy on me, Okay?)
The following year brought COVID-19, and the distance from family felt greater than ever as I celebrated two birthdays under lockdown. However, living in Cullercoats was a blessing. Daily sunrise SUPs with just me, my coffee, and the local pod of dolphins brought immense joy. Friends and neighbours invented creative ways to entertain ourselves online, many of which have become part of our daily coastal routine. I founded a Community Interest non-profit (Cullercoats Collective) to Keep Cullercoats a positive place to live, work and play and I got involved in the Wave Project charity for a pilot year in 2020 to provide Surf Therapy to children aged 8-18 in our local area. I love what I do, and I love Cullercoats.
In 2021, I met my partner, who shares my love for the coastal lifestyle. Cullercoats born and bred, we started traveling again post-COVID, always seeking surf breaks. We founded and run our local Surf Club to allow us to share the stoke further with our local community, with Clive getting qualified as a Surf Instructor, both trained in Adaptive Surf to assist people with physical impairments, and both qualifying as Stand Up Paddle instructors. We're now on the lookout for our forever home, one with enough space for our full quiver of boards, our Surf Club's equipment, and hopefully a couple of cats. Clearly, Hyem @ Cullercoats is starting to feel a bit too cosy!
New for 2024, I am delighted to present Hyem | KathyAthy @ Cullercoats. I want to share my home with you, offering an experience that feels like "putting on an Old Shoe". You will find influences of both local coastal living (Hyem) with touches of 'curiosities' from our travels (Away) - particularly our favourite; South Africa. You'll discover the charm of the area and its people.
Like other coastal communities, we're seeing more homes bought solely for Airbnb. Through this venture, I hope to strike a balance—sharing the stoke and offering an authentic coastal experience while supporting my local community and causes close to my heart.
