South Shields loop - Half Marathon Route

Check out the route on Strava:
- https://www.strava.com/routes/2701333318819795686

Park at Temple Park car park - NE34 8QN. Head north into South Shields centre and then along to the River Tyne - this first 5km is a pretty average run along the roads in and out of the town. But once you hit the river, the rest of the run is fantastic. A full 10km stretch down the coast seeing the pier, the beach, behind the dunes and then up on the National Trust cliff tops that take in the views of Souter Lighthouse and Marsden Rock. This coast line has become pretty famous this summer (2020) for spotting pods of dolphin too! Then the surprise of the route is how nice the last section from Whitburn back to Temple Park is, undulating tracks past historic windmills and water towers. A lovely run.

Selected photos...
Marsden Rock

The beautiful north east coast

Souter Lighthouse
Whitburn to South Shields trail
Strava Segment of note:
Trow Rocks to Souter Lighthouse - All of the way along the cliff tops

Useful links:
Marsden Rock
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_Rock
Souter Lighthouse
- https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/souter-lighthouse-and-the-leas

Series:
For a list of different half marathon routes around the North East of England see:
- https://northeastrunning.blogspot.com/2020/07/north-east-half-marathon-running-routes.html

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