Walking and Cycling - Visit NewcastleGateshead

Walking and Cycling...

cycling over Gateshead Millennium Bridge Walking and cycling around this region provide a perfect way to explore the best sights, attractions, buildings and scenery on offer, whether you are visiting the region or live here but want to discover more about where you live.

Click on the links below to access a variety of walks which are easy to follow; there is a map to help guide you around the route, a description and some interesting facts and historical information about the locations you will see along the way.

Public Art Walks

The North East of England has developed an acclaimed reputation for public art and these maps will help you to explore public art across Tyne and Wear, discover great museums, new art galleries and see how artists have contributed to the area from Victorian statues to contemporary art.

More cycling and walking routes.....

Stroll along NewcastleGateshead Quayside
Strolling by Quayside The regeneration on both sides of the River Tyne is as stunning as the famous bridges which span it. The latest bridge is The Gateshead Millennium Bridge (known as the 'blinking eye' due to its unique opening mechanism), which has swiftly gained iconic status. The Quayside also boasts an array of excellent bars and restaurants, has much public art to enjoy and is the perfect place for a stroll.

Hadrian's Wall Trail
The 84 mile National Trail takes walkers along the riverside route in Tyneside, through farmland in Tynedale and the grazing upland section dominated by the Whin Sill enscarpment. It then gradually descends to the rich pastures of Cumbria and finally the salt marsh of the Solway Estuary. There are smaller sections that can be walked in a day or even a couple of hours.
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall

River Wear Trail, Sunderland
This walk takes you along the footpaths on both banks of the tidal River Wear, as it meanders for 16 km/10 miles from Fatfield at the heart of the Great North Forest to the sea.The Trail is linked to a network of paths, cycleways and bridleways. These offer you short, circular walks as well as links to long distance routes such as the Stephenson Trail, C2C Cycle Route and the Weardale Way.

W2W (Walney to Wearmouth)
Inspired by the pioneering Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C), the W2W route passes through a variety of wonderful countryside further south. It stretches between Walney Island, just outside Barrow-in-Furness on Cumbria's Irish Sea coast, and both Wearmouth in Sunderland (151miles) and Whitby (176 miles) on the North Sea coast. It's an ideal 'coast to coast' cycle touring break or longer holiday. Mostly on quieter roads, country lanes and cycle paths, it does have a few sections of off-road track, but nothing that a well-shod touring, trekking or hybrid bike can't cope with. It's a challenging route all right, but really quite achievable and gives great rewards for your effort.
W: www.cyclingw2w.info

Arbeia West Gate Hadrian's Wall Cycle Way
A magnificent coast to coast cycling route which stretches the length of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. This 174 mile route takes you along the Cumbrian Coast from Ravenglass, through the Northumberland National Park and along the River Tyne to the finish at Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields.
w: www.cycle-routes.org/hadrianscycleway/

C2C Coast to Coast Cycle Trail
The Coast 2 Coast Cycle Route is Britain's most popular long distance cycle route, with an average of between 12000 and 15000 cyclists completing it every year. The 140 mile ride travels along minor roads, disused railway lines, off-road tracks and specially constructed cycle paths and crosses the North of England. Start or finish at Workington or Whitehaven in Cumbria then choose to finish/start at one of the points on the North East coast; Tynemouth in North Tyneside, South Shields in South Tyneside or Roker in Sunderland. Traditionally you finish when you dip your front wheel into the North Sea.
C2C and W2W Cycle Routes
T: 01207 281 259 W: www.sustrans.org.uk

Keelman's Way (Cycling or Walking route)
The Keelman's Way is a 14 mile off-road route for cyclists or pedestrians following the south bank of the River Tyne from Wylam to Bill Quay. This route takes you through a varied landscape, with fine riverside views following in the wake of the Keelmen. They sailed in flat-bottomed boats called keels which were used to carry coal to larger ships at the mouth of the Tyne. The route can be cut short by crossing the river at Newburn bridge and following the north bank of the Tyne. This route also forms part of the National Cycle network route 14 and the Sea to Sea (C2C) route. There are also several cross-river links to Hadrian's Cycleway (NCN 72) via the Wylam, Newburn, Scotswood, Swing and Gateshead Millennium Bridges and connections to other cycle routes.
(Continues eastwards to South Shields as the South Tyne Cycleway - NCN 14)

St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay North Sea Cycle Route
The North Sea Cycle Route passes through North Tyneside following the coastal section of the borough with picturesque scenery and rugged cliffs. The section starts/ends at St Mary's Island, taking in Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth before following the River Tyne, crossing either via the Shields Ferry or through the pedestrian tunnel. The route can be cycled as part of the North Sea Cycle Route, a smaller leg of the route or as a day cycle ride in North Tyneside.
www.northsea-cycle.com

www.visitnortheastengland.com/walkingmicrosite will give you details of other walks around this beautiful area and Newcastle Tourist Information Centre (Tel: +44 (0)191 277 8000) stocks a variety of cycling guides including the Tyneside Cycling Map (free) and Northumbria's Cycling Kingdom, with 220 miles of waymarked cycle routes in Tyneside and Northumberland.