Pedal back to fitness and see the sights on three fab cycle routes
Anyone who has been making excuses to avoid getting the bike out of the shed, or wants to shed the weight put on over Christmas, can have great exercise and even better fun without pedalling far.
Here are three cycling routes in Sunderland and South Tyneside which experienced cyclists swear by.
You need to be reasonably fit, although we’ve omitted the hillier routes. It’s supposed to be a pleasure after all and you can chop bits out if you want to make it easier. We’re not all 21.
SUNDERLAND/SOUTH SHIELDS LOOP, ANTICLOCKWISE: 27 MILES
This route is 27 miles long andnormallytakesaroundtwo hours, 40 minutes. Most of it is paved and includes about 17 miles of cycleway with the rest being street or road.
StartattheStadiumofLight then along Mackem Way (behind the Aquatic Centre). Follow the cycleway parallel to Keir Hardie Way and Wessington Way. You’re off.
Turn right at the north end of the Northern Spire, then throughRedHouse,pastTown EndFarm.Adjacentto(butnot on)theA19,northonFerryboat Lane and Washington Road, over the River Don.
CrosstheA19atBoldonCollierytoHedworth.Headwestto
JarrowcrossingtheA194Leam Lane.Soonyou’llbeatHebburn and cycling along the Tyne.
Follow the path to Jarrow, past the mouth of the Tyne Tunnel, then on to the ancient St Paul’s Monastery. East to the coast of South Shields, then south along the coast of Seaburn and Roker, back west past St Peter’s in Monkwearmouth before returning to the stadium.
SUNDERLAND/WHITBURN LOOP, ANTICLOCKWISE: 15 MILES
Thisroutelasts15milesand normally takes a little over an hour-and-a-half. Most of the route is paved with about seven miles of cycleway and eight miles of street or road.
StartattheStadiumofLight then along Mackem Way. Follow the cycle path parallel to Keir Hardie Way and Wessington Way.
Turn right at the north end of the Northern Spire, through Red House, Downhill, along Hylton Lane then eastthroughtheBoldons.Then it’s a straight-ish run through Cleadon and on to Whitburn. Head south along the coast of Seaburn and Roker, back west through Monkwearmouth returning to the stadium.
SUNDERLAND/NEWCASTLE/ SOUTH SHIELDS LOOP, ANTICLOCKWISE: 35 MILES
Geting daring now. This route usually takes three and a
half hours and includes a ferry crossing. Mostly paved, it’s 25 miles of cycleway with the remainder street or road.
Start at the cycleway, north of the Wearmouth Bridge heading east along the River Wear. Follow the cycleway all the way, parallel to Wessington
Way, Washington Road then to Washington including Barmston and Sulgrave.
Over the A194 to Springwell, eventually over the A1 at Gateshead, right (north) to the Harlow Green roundabout. Keep going past the Angel of the North, along the A167 DurhamRoad,forklefttotheB1426
cyclewayHighStreetthenhead for the High Level Bridge.
Loop around (behind, then in front of ) Central Station, head east along the A186 City Road, then the cycleway along the Quayside. Continue the route along the Tyne to
Wallsend, to the North Shields Ferry Landing.
Hop on the Shields Ferry to South Shields (check times first).Headforthecoastalroute back to Sunderland.
Visit www.komoot.com/ guide/672101/cycling-aroundsunderland.