
The Keelman's Way now forms part of National Cycle Network route
14
The section between the mouth of the River Derwent to the Swing Bridge will be improved over
the next few years with the cycleway eventually running along the south bank of the Tyne.
After
crossing the River Derwent
alongside the rail bridge continue on the track alongside the railway line fence (L) and pass under the concrete
road bridge - where the surface changes to smooth tarmac.
Follow
this path - which lies in a cutting between the Railway (L) and the Metro
Centre ring road (R) - under a large red footbridge (Metro Centre link
to Rail station) and new concrete flyover (bus only link into Metro Centre)
and ahead on a narrow path beside the railway embankment (L) to junction with Cross Lane road.
This road can be very busy with traffic to and from the Metro Shopping Centre
especially at weekends.
Link to MetroCentre Cycleway
Link to Cross Lane Cycleway
Turn
left under low rail bridge - (note the footpath
is extremely narrow here) and before junction turn right and then left using the light controlled crossing points to join cycle track on north side of Colliery Road. Observe "No Cycling" sign and use cycle track NOT footway.

Traffic light crossing point at Cross Lane / Handy Drive Junction
Note - there are separate phases at these traffic lights for Buses (accessing the flyover to the Metro Centre) and for other vehicles - wait for the correct pedestrian / cycle phase before crossing.
Turn right and follow the off road
cycle track then shared use pathway (SUP) along Hardy Drive.
After
passing behind the hotel - turn right then left onto
SUP passing alongside new housing estate tall brick wall to Tudor Rose
PH.
Bear
right and follow SUP alongside River Team - under large footbridge (out
of use) and bear left on SUP along Team Street to traffic lights.
This footbridge will eventually form part of the Tanfield Railpath cycle route linking with NCN 14
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Link to Teams Cycleway and Tanfield Railpath |
At traffic lights turn left to join estate road down towards the river and turn right onto wide new riverside promenade in front of housing, with Dunston Staithes (L) - keep ahead following riverside path down river.

Continue down river passing under all the high level bridges to the end of the path at Pipewellgate carpark and join Pipewellgate road.
Look
out for the sculptures located bewteen the the Redheugh and Swing Bridges
- see link below.
Continue
on road - passing between night clubs (L+R) towards junction with the
Swing Bridge approach road.
Cross river link to NCN 72 Hadrian's Cycleway via Swing Bridge
Turn left over Swing Bridge and follow road around left to join promenade below High Level bridge
(links to Hadrian's Cycleway website which will open in a new window) |

Up river to Scotswood |

Down river to Tynemouth |
 
The
Swing Bridge approach road can be very busy and difficult to cross.
Use shared use pathway (SUP) and the Toucan crossing.
Just
before T-jcn - turn right onto the shared use path (SUP) up to traffic
lights - and cross over at Toucan Crossing.
Bear
right on SUP then left into South Shore Road and continue on road passing
under the Tyne Bridge.
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Continue down river to Bill Quay |
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Back up river to Blaydon |

Places
of Interest
The
Tyne Crossings
Redheugh Road Bridge
King Edward VII Rail Bridge
QE II Metro Rail Bridge
High Level Road / Rail Bridge
Swing Bridge
Landmarks
Dunston Staithes
Riverside Sculpture Trail


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