North East Running

 Check out the route on Strava -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2709819145490124852 Park at the Engine Room pub at Eighton Banks NE9 7XR . The run follows the Bowes Railway paths to start off. A nice 100m+ descent to ease into the run (however - this does means that it's a horrible finish!). Once you run through a tunnel under the A1(M) then it is a long, long slog up the hill for 3.5km. At the top of the hill you get some nice views of Gateshead/Team Valley and before long you are at the Tanfield Railway - definitely worth going 'off piste' for 300m to get a view of the old railway station. Then it's down the road to the Causey Arch - again - definitely worth going down into the gorge to see the arch from underneath. There is a lovely path that follows the valley around and then a few nice little footpaths around the back of Beamish Hall. The final 6-7 km starts with a nice relaxing descent back to the A1(M) - then a tough, tough couple of km to get back to the start.

A very brief blog post giving a shout out to the website  http://www.northeastraces.com/ - this summarises all of the upcoming road and trail races coming up in the North East of England. Check it out: -  http://www.northeastraces.com/ Update, another good website to check on is the official RunBritain website. It doesn't list as many races, but it's a little more official. You can filter the upcoming runs to any month or any region. -  https://www.runbritain.com/races?&region=0001300000100004

 Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2727610994632759686 Park at Brawns Den Brandon DH7 8UG . Start off on the railway path to Willington. After 2-3km then run up the minor road to Stanley Crook. A bit of a steady start, but the descent to Crook and then the uphill back up the hill are very picturesque. Then there is a lovely forest track all of the way to Esh Winning. With tired legs, then you wind your way through old mining roads through the trees and fields back to Brandon. Selected photos... Brandon to Willington railway path Running up the hill out of Crook, some of the old tracks Paths around Esh Winning Strava Segment of note : Crook to Waterhouses - Just less than 5km. Challenging first 1.5km up out of Crook then a nice downhill for rest of segment Useful links : Durham Railway Paths: -  https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/3691/Railway-paths Series : For a list of different half marathon routes around the North East of England see: - https://northeas

Check out the route on Strava -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2718390967227736172   Park at Honest Lawyer Pub Durham carpark  DH1 3HP . Then get the first 3km or so out of the way running on a minor road to Brandon. Once at Brandon then it's a lovely railway path all of the way through Willington and down to the River Wear. Then it's back along the River Wear all of the way back to the pub. Be careful if it is summer as the narrow path has a few nettles - so long pants may be the choice of champions :) Selected photographs... River Wear 10km upstream from Durham A lovely still morning with blue sky Railway bridge at Croxdale (start and finish) The old road bridge at Croxdale Strava Segment of note : - Brandon to Brancepeth - looks like a good local battle is going on for the fastest time  Useful links : Durham Railway Paths: -  https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/3691/Railway-paths Learn more about the old coal mines: -  http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/w048.htm Series : For a li

Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/26736110 This one isn't a circular route. So it only really works if you have someone to pick you up or drop you off. I started just to the west of Jarrow town centre - not far from Monkton Athletics Stadium NE32 5NJ . Then it is a case of making your way onto the old Bowes Railyway route - now a nice cycle path. It's a steady uphill (false flat) all of the way up to Eighton Banks. Some nice historic stuff from the old railway on the way. Then there is a nice descent of 7-8km all of the way down to the Chester le Street roundabout. From here I went a bit of an unusual route to find my way to the edge of Durham - mainly because the A167 cycle path is so boring. So it was along a path by the old Lambton Lion Park, then up to Great Lumley, then down to the beautiful Finchale Priory before winding along to the edge of Durham. Selection of photos... Parts of the Bowes Railway are still in place Graffiti art under a brid

Check out the route on Strava -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2722395998342465756 I parked the car a couple of miles into the Harthorpe Valley . In terms of a nearest postcode - NE71 6RD Middleton Hall nr Wooler. It's a very narrow road - every 500m or so there are parking spaces on the grass openings. The run is around 10km out along the Harthorpe Burn stream. The surface turns from tarmac to pretty much a mix of stream and bog. All up hill. Forget any thoughts of clocking your usual time. Forget any thoughts of running the entire route - you'll have to walk sections. Once you start to climb up to the top of the ridge the path gets stony and dry, but very steep. Make sure you have the right clothing for the weather conditions too. Even though I did it in the summer, it was windy and cold on top. Once on top of the ridge, the hard bit is over - the top of the ridge is actually paved with large paving slabs. Then the descent is quite nice on soft springy soil. I finished the r