Guide Notes
Panel 3 - part 1
South Shields to Ovingham
with alternate start from Tynemouth
25 miles - 22 miles off road

Panel 3 has been split into two sections:-
Part 1 South Shields to Ovingham
Part 2 Ovingham to Haltwhistle

Hadrian's Cycleway starts from Arbeia Roman Fort - South Shields with an alternative start from the Spanish Battery car park at the Tynemouth.

This section of Hadrian's Cycleway follows a mixture of riverside promenades, railway paths, purpose built cycle tracks and shared use paths.

There are a few short on-road sections, some of these will be eliminated when new roads and promenades are built. Between South Shields / Tynemouth and Newburn the route passes through an urban landscape but affords good views of the River Tyne throughout.

At Newburn the route becomes more rural as it heads up river on the north bank until Wylam where it crosses over to the south bank until Ovingham Bridge.

This section is reasonable flat with some easy short gradients. The section between the Ferry landing to Royal Quays is on-road partly through a light industrial estate - this will be eliminated once a new road is built and the derelict dock site is redeveloped.

Most of this section is off road on hard paved surfaces - the Wylam Waggonway has now been resurfaced and no longer muddy after rain !!

There are some areas where the route is complicated but it is well signed in Northumberland and in North Tyneside - Newcastle signs are under review and being upgraded.

Start from Arbeia Roman Gatehouse

Brief guide notes below offer advice and highlight any problem areas along the route.
Click on the highlighted place names for more information.

For more detailed guide notes with sketch line maps of the urban section
between South Shields, Tynemouth and Ovingham Bridge
select start point and click direction NCN 72 sign.

Start from Arbeia Roman Fort - South Shields

Start from Tynemouth

Mile	Notes / Comments / Warnings
174.3	South Shields Start from the Gatehouse at Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum.
174.0	Tynemouth Start from the Spanish Battery Car Park - follow riverside promenade - through North Shields Fish Quay to join main HCW route at the Shields Ferry Landing at Mile 170.5
174.0	Sharp turn right downhill on River Drive - check for traffic coming up the hill. Sharp left turn at bottom of hill.
173.0	Cross river by Shields Ferry, Fare £1.10 single, Bikes free. Ferry sails at 15 and 45 mins past the hour. 7 min trip. Shields Ferry
171.5	Note: Route changed - follow directions signs which differ from the mapped route.
172.5	Line on HCW map vague - check and follow directions signs.
171.0	Link to North Sea International Ferry Terminal.
170.3	Dual Carriageway Road - take care crossing and watch out for fast traffic from your right.
169.6	Line on map vague - follow blue signs through Willington Quay. (subject to changes)
167.8	Segedunum Roman Fort and remains of Hadrian's Wall on both sides of the cycleway. Remains of Hadrian's Wall with Replica Bath House in background
166.7	Cross Malaya Drive and follow new path with new housing (R), at junction bear left and then right at next junction. Cross Pottery bank and ahead to large 3-way sign post.
165.0	To avoid a difficult access control barrier continue ahead to Toucan Crossing - left and right at cross roads to rejoin NCN 72. 3-way signpost at Byker Link
164.0 to 162.0	Newcastle Quayside - beware of wandering pedestrians veiwing the Millennium Bridge. Do NOT use the Bus Only lane. Beware of short black bollards scattered across the pathway. Click here for details of all the River Tyne Crossings. Tyne Bridge Bike Hire and Tea Rooms - in Guildhall just before Swing Bridge.
162.7	Link to Newcastle Central Station
161.4	Fishermen can block the promenade here at times on the section fronting the British Airways car park.
161.0	At traffic lights turn left along shared use path to next set of traffic lights before crossing over to north side of Scotswood Road. Bear right and join railpath and pass through 5-way junction - take care to follow the correct path. .
159.3	At large roundabout use Toucan Crossings to cross over to south side of Scotswood Road.
158.7	Keep left and follow shared use path over Lemington Bridge then turn left at white pylon to join the Newburn Riverside Trail. Turn left onto road through industrial estate - then bear right up ramp to rejoin the ofv road cycle track again.
156.4	Newburn Bridge - exit off-road track using left barrier and cross over road with care - traffic flow controlled by lights.
156.0	Cross small bridge and follow path around riverbank - across slipway to join multi user riverside path.
155.3	Turn away from river and up a rough lane and left to join the Wylam Waggonway.
153.5	Stephenson's Cottage NT
152.4	Hagg Bank Bridge where you cross over to the south bank until Ovingham. Short steep climb to Hagg Bank . Beware of loose gravel surface just before joining road.
152.2	Two cattle grids and a short narrow stony section just after passing farm.
150.4	Ovingham Bridges Leave riverside track and loop through car park and around up to the bridges. Note the road bridge is very narrow and has no room to pass - traffic flow is uncontrolled. and no cycling is allowed on the footbridge. If using road bridge ride down the middle to prevent cars trying to overtake and ignore the car horns !! If using footbridge - please dismount and walk across.

Ovingham Bridge to Haltwhistle