Sunderland Echo

Pedal back to fitness and see the sights on three fab cycle routes

- Tony Gillan tony.gillan@jpimedia.co.uk @Sunderland­Echo

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.

 ?? ?? Souter Lighthouse features on these routes. Picture by Stu Norton.
Souter Lighthouse features on these routes. Picture by Stu Norton.
 ?? ?? Pedal past historic St Peter’s Church. Picture by Frank Reid.
Pedal past historic St Peter’s Church. Picture by Frank Reid.
 ?? ?? Fitness, fun and sightseein­g. What’s not to like?
Fitness, fun and sightseein­g. What’s not to like?

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