North East Running

To start right on the edge of the countryside, drive out to Sacriston - suggest parking somewhere near -  DH7 6AB . If it's windy, pick clockwise or anti-clockwise to suite, the valley is sheltered but the top of the hill is very exposed. I set off early to catch the sunrise by the wind farm at the top of the ridge. Once you get to Maiden Law there is a *huge* descent down to Lanchester - then the railway path to Langley Park/Witton Gilbert. A pretty cool route.    Selected photos... Took the drone up to get a sunrise wind farm shot Lovely spring morning Mining heritage Strava Segment of note : - Howden Drop - 1.8km of downhill speedyness -117m elevation! Useful links : Durham Railyways 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://northeastrunning.blogspot.com/2020/07/north-east-half-marathon-running-routes.html

Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2776497061663443326 A good place to park is the Hadrian Park Estate - somewhere near  NE28 9YB  - right on the edge of the Rising Sun Country Park. The route goes through the park and then west through to Killingworth. Take in the lake and then across the main road and into Gosforth Park. The Newcastle Racecourse (would make a good parkrun!) can be seen to the left, then it's possible to wind all of the way down to Jesmond Dene on nice tracks through fields and in between golf courses. Jesmond Dene is absolutely beautiful and this leads to the coast road. Then it's back through Heaton and eventually Rising Sun again. Selected photos... The entrance to Newcastle Racecourse in Gosforth Park The water was flowing through Jesmond Dene at some rate Love the area around the old mill in Jesmond Dene Strava Segment of note : - Jesmond Dene River Path - Beautiful section of Jesmond Dene Useful links : Rising Sun Coun...

 Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2772828984079196850 Easy car parking at New Herrington DH4 4ND - just in the housing estate. The run starts by winding through Herrington Country Park and up to Penshaw Monument. Stop for the view at the top and then down the other side to cross the picturesque bridge at Cox Green. It's then a nice wind through the housing estates of Washington before running through the Princess Anne Park. The route then goes back across the Wear and then up the side of the Lambton Estate (a nice place for a walk and a bit of lion park nostalgia ) and then wind all of the way back to the start again. Washington half marathon starting and finishing at Herrington Country Park A slight incline to the top of the hill ;) Penshaw Monument with sun coming up over the horizon Strava Segment of note : - Penshaw Monument: South Side - Get sprinting up those steps all of the way to the top Useful links : Herrington Country Park: -  ...

Check out the route on Strava -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2770053320151874970 I parked at Silksworth Sport Centre SR3 1PD . The runs starts with a lovely (slight) downhill all of the way down a wagonway to the coast at Ryhope. Then it's time to run up the coastal path towards the city. The coast line is not a 'polished' Tynemouth or South Shields - but a rough industrial coast that is pretty stunning in its own way. Even though it wasn't a stormy day the waves were really crashing off the old concrete piers. Mowbray Park into the city centre is a nice route and then it's back around to the coast again, but this time the regenerated sea front leading up to Seaburn. From Seaburn back through to Silkworth allows you to explore the edges of the city a bit - a nice tour of Sunderland with something of interest around every corner. Silksworth-Sunderland-Seaburn The 'industrial' sea front just south of the city has a strange beauty to it The famous walrus (wit...

 Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2763069315242615926 Plenty of parking around the Tees Barrage - TS17 6QB . The route starts at the Tees Barrage area (same place as the Tees Barrage Parkrun) - I ran out west and followed the River Tees. It's not long before you get into nature reserve area and it feels a long way from the town centre. Looping around at Ingleby Barwick you actually run into Yorkshire for a short while. Then it's back to Stockton, past all of the university buildings and on through to the Tees Transporter Bridge. A little loop around again and back to the start. Selected photos: The famous 'Tees Transporter Bridge' Cool looking bridge near the Stockton university campus Some countryside is found as the route went out west Strava Segment of note : run over - How fast can you sprint across the Transporter Bridge? Useful links : Tees Transporter Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tees_Transporter_Bridge Tees Barrage https:/...

Check out the route on Strava: https://www.strava.com/segments/26248649 This route was actually part of a RunNation organised race. That means that the route below is a lap that needs to be done twice to get to the half marathon distances. The main carpark in Bamburgh is at the post code  NE69 7BJ  - but if you look around the side streets you can get parked for free somewhere. The run starts just before the castle, it then goes up through the beautiful village of Bamburgh before turning left onto some narrow back roads. The day of the race I did it was very windy, but the hedgerow gave some great cover from the cross wind. The road eventually winds around the coast with views of the Farne Islands. Then back to the village again. Keep looping around a second time until you hit the 21.1km mark! Selected photos... Bamburgh Castle Each lap started and finished near the historic castle The Farne Islands Strava Segment of note : Bamburgh HM - One lap - A great little 10k route Use...

Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2759877585105340114   Parked for free by the side of the road at Bedburn - approx DL13 3NP . The way out is up-hill for 11km  - a slow climb for +350m through the forest. The 9th km in particular is a bit of a monster going up for around +100m. I went really early in the morning - but probably best making sure you keep well to the side of the paths to make sure descending mountain bikes don't give any cause for concern. You are deep in the countryside - so this also means that mobile phone coverage is really poor - so make sure you have your GPS working on an app like Strava. Also, with trail roads and a lot of hills - it'll feel like further than a HM - so make sure you have 30km in your legs. A proper outdoor run! Selected photos... Some nice artwork around the visitor centre Misty, damp, Autumn morning Mountain bike heaven Strava Segment of note : Hill from Hell - +84m in 850m - see if you can sprint up i...

 Check out on the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2737683312484083464 Warning - More than half of this route is on country roads - so run at a quiet time with high vis gear I parked the car in Edmundbyers - around DH8 9NL . It's worth saying that all of the way around, parking at the visitor centre is pretty much 10 miles. But as I'm trying to a half marathon each Sunday, I added a little bit extra on to the south east - a nice little starter on very quiet roads with cattle grids and sheep. Once you get the reservoir then the first 2-3 km of the route is on lovely forest trails, but then unfortunately you have to run on the road for a good portion of the loop. Around +300m of elevation - but no single climb is huge. Nice to run around a reservoir I have seen on the map - but probably not a route I'd do a second time. Selected photos... The reservoir wall Looking back to the reservoir wall from the opposite shore Beautiful County Durham hillside Cool statue...

 Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2740271790431958528 Park at the Blyth South Beach car park for free - NE24 3PL .  I actually did this half marathon route as my virtual Great North Run 2020 route. A - It is pretty flat and B - not many roads to cross. That said, there was a pretty horrible cross-wind from the west for the whole run, so it was pretty tough. Running along the cycle path through the sand dunes is a lovely start - as is winding your way round the back of Seaton Sluice along to St Mary's Lighthouse. Once you get to Whitley Bay, you can hug the coast all of the way to Cullercoats... then it's turn around time and run back. Either the same way, or follow the cycle path up along the main road back to Blyth. Traditional beach huts at Blyth The north east certainly has some lovely beaches St Mary's Lighthouse Strava Segment of note : - Links cycle path N-S - Great surface path through the dunes at Blyth - you'd have to be going a ...

 Check out the route on Strava: -  https://www.strava.com/routes/2735398496151995130 I parked in the new housing estate by the river at Newburn - close to postcode NE21 4SQ . The run is basically to Prudhoe and back, I did the south side of the River Tyne on the way out and then back along the north side. On the way out, the little village of Wylam is lovely and so is the river path approaching and then alongside Prudhoe. The first 2-3km coming back from Ovingham is by the side of a road, but then there is a nice long wagonway all of the way back to Newburn. Special challenge - Combine with this run to make it a full marathon! :) Selected photos... Looking down the hill to the bridge at Wylam Road bridges don't get narrower than this one at Prudhoe Back along the river to Newburn Strava Segment of note : - Rocket or Puffing Billy? - Slightly downhill mile - some very fast times in the top 10 Useful links : The route takes you to within 200-300m of Prudhoe Castle https://www....

 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. ...

 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: - ht...