• START GR 221623 Metro Centre Overflow Car Park behind Federation Brewery.
• Exit the car park and turn right up a lane. Go under the A1 bypass and fork right to climb steeply up to the main road (220618). Turn right along the road, branching right into an estate road after 1km. This meets Whickham Bank at (202620). Cross the road carefully and join a bumpy lane which curves left then joins a steep tarmac climb past houses. At the top fork right onto a steep single-track which eases later. Follow this track between houses and fields and continue after it widens to a t-junction. Turn left and climb steeply to a road at (196597)
• Go straight across onto Hole Lane and continue until it meets an estate road. Turn right and wander through the housing estate to a t-junction. Turn right to traffic lights near the Potters Wheel (209587). Cross over and climb for 150m to a signed track right. This follows both sides of the railway line to the Tanfield Railway car park.
• Cross the A6076 and go along a concrete track which joins the line of an old railway (narrow & wet) to houses (220568). Cross the road and a barrier to continue along the old line to a road. Turn right for 1.5km. Opposite a left turn turn right past stones onto a track. This leads through woods and mud to Beamish Hall.
• Turn right and follow the road up two stiff climbs to Beamish village. Just after the pub & stone houses, go through a barrier on the left and bear left to join the C2C route (222536). After 1.5km turn right just before a barrier to descend to a minor road. Turn sharp left keeping right after 600m to High Urpeth
• Road for 1.7km. Just after end of houses on right, on downhill section, turn left through gate (252552). Follow track down, through gate then steeply up. Turn left onto tarmac at Riding Lane, then bear right and uphill to t-junction. Turn right for 500m then left onto disused railway line.
• Follow to road at (225568) then turn left, up then down keeping right at A6706 back to The Potters Wheel. Just before pub turn right down railway track. Cross one road to meet A692. Go straight across, through barrier then fork left round edge of woods. Down steep hill, over footbridge then bear left to skirt open fields. Left at corner to reach Whickham highway (215612). Turn left then first right to descend steeply. Fork right down steep loose track back to road. Turn right and retrace first section to the start.

OS Landranger Map 88—Tyneside

Some excellent sections stitched together with quiet lanes. Very hilly.

  

  

Great North Forest - 32km—Medium+

  

  

The site for off-road cycle routes

  

  

Cyclopaths