Section1: Tynemouth to Ponteland

Related pages: | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5 | Section 6 |

The spectacular Tynemouth start point with views across the mighty Tyne estuary provides ample inspiration for the route ahead. The industrial, urban parts of North Tyneside contrasting with the quieter rural pastures of South East Northumberland adds considerable variety to the section. Extensive traffic-free cycle paths and back roads comprise the majority of the terrain. This is by far the most built-up part of the route but the terrain and inclines are benign and make this the gentlest section of the route.

Tynemouth Priory

Route Details

A good place to start
With the mouth of the Tyne facing you and the remains of the splendid Priory and Castle looking down on you, Tynemouth provides an excellent setting for the start of the route. After the obligatory ceremonial dipping of the wheel into the chilly North Sea, you head up river following the C2C Route for the first two miles or so. The next time you will join the C2C will be in 150 miles time so enjoy it while you can. The route becomes fiddly at this point as it takes you through urban landscapes but it is well waymarked.

Along the old waggonway
The Reivers splits from the C2C at Royal Quays Shopping Centre and takes you onto the long, straight waggonways that used to transport coal to the quays in days gone by. Along the waggonway is the Stephenson Rail Museum. There are many tracks and paths en route - just keep going straight ahead towards Shiremoor.

One of the new Waggonway signs
placed along this section of the route

Coming off the waggonway there is a short section of main road to negotiate through Backworth but soon returns to a mixture of cyclepath and cinder track, eventually bringing you onto the bridleway which will take you to the somewhat inappropriately-named Wide Open. Heading out of Wide Open on a mixture of tarmac and cinder tracks you will cross the A1 and pass close to the Big Waters Nature Reserve - an excellent place to stop off for a spot of birdwatching if that grabs you.

Into Northumberland
The cinder track will take you to to the small settlement of Dinnington.The Bay Horse pub in Dinnington may tempt you with its bar meals and refreshments. From there you will follow minor roads to join a cinder track which, after a short distance takes you past a golf course. This is a lovely section of the route. You then come upon the pretty hamlet of Elland Hall and after a short stretch of tarmac, you enter the attractive upmarket environs of Ponteland located on the River Pont.

The town has grown significantly over the years and is now a dormitory settlement for Newcastle. There are plenty of shops and banks to replenish your provisions/finance and a number of good pubs. The splendid Blackbird Inn, a 17th century manor house, serves good beer and meals and is built onto a fortified Pele Tower - a visible reminder of the warring Border Reivers period. There is also the Diamond Inn serving drinks and meals.

Facts & Figures

Places en route

The table below summarises the main locations along this section of route. Hyperlinked place names link to pages containing additional information about the location including accommodation.

Route Options

Whitley Bay change
Although Whitley Bay was an optional start point in earlier incarnations of the route (see 1998 RCR map) this has now been dropped from the official route.

Whitley Bay is a popular start point for riders given the plentiful accommodation available. However, if you wish to follow the official route then you should cycle down the coastal path for three miles to the start point in Tynemouth. This follows the NCN1 Coast and Castles route.

The C2C and Reivers routes diverge at
Royal Quays, North Shields