Having arrived from Durham at Lydgetts Junction there is a choice of routes for NCN 14.
Via Berry Edge - which is only suitable for mountain Bikes due to rough stony track or
via Consett passing west of the town centre and stamping point at Safeways Store.

Smelt Wagon at Lydgetts junction - after repainting.
photo by David Grey - Sustrans

Via Berry Edge - suitable for Mountain Bikes ONLY - the track is very rough in places
Pass the Smelt Wagon (R) and follow narrow rough path to cross the A692 road.

Take Care when Crossing - fast traffic

Up a short steep stony track and then along Berry Edge, continue to follow this rough track to new road.
Over another rough section to road - passing factory (R) to road.
Cross road to join tarmac track through a green corridor to A691 - (route via Consett Town joins from the right here).

This area subject to change as new housing is built

Via Consett Town and Stamping point. - suitable ALL bikes
At Lydgetts Junction turn right passing Smelt wagon (L) on wide smooth track, at the "Terris Novalis" sculptures bear left to roundabout.
Turn left on segregated cycle track to next roundabout.

Terris Novalis by Tony Cragg Two stainless steel artworks, one a theodolite and the other an engineers level situated on the site of the old Consett steelworks. The design is inspired by the regions industrial past but the sculptures boast feet of  various animal designs which may suggest a site returning to nature in the way that the site of the steelworks is now restored to gently rolling pasture and woodland. Photo shows the cycleway from Lydgetts Junction passing around the two sculptures towards Consett. NCN routes 7 and 14

For Stamping point use cycle lanes and go clockwise around roundabout
and cross road to Safeways Store - retrace to join NCN 14 again.

For Rowlands Gill / Blaydon - continue ahead on segregated cycle lane and after approx. 200m - cross to other side of road - and ahead to Park Road B6322.

Use safe crossing point and enter Blackhill Park, bear left through park to exit opposite St. Aidan's Church.
Cross road and down St. Aidan's Street to end - and turn right to join off road tarmac track.

Berry Edge route joins from the left.

Continue up to A691 road and cross at the Traffic Lights to join off road cycle path alongside cemetery, cross school entrance road and then bear right to join the Derwent Walk to Rowlands Gill.

The Derwent Walk (Railway Path) runs along the east side of the valley - where the two bridges over the B6310 have been removed the path steeply descends to cross the road and up steeply on other side.

Cyclists approaching the B6310 crossing.
Picture courtesy Gateshead Council

Take care at these two road crossings

After the second crossing of the B6310 the path crosses two high viaducts above Hamsterley Mill - with some magnificent views of the valley below.

Then on to cross yet another viaduct - this time over the River Derwent into Rowlands Gill - Gateshead - and the end of this section of railway path and into Gateshead

The route is well signed as NCN 14 from this point through Gateshead.

Blaydon and Keelman's Way
Continued on the Cycle-Gateshead web site (opens in a new window)

Back to Consett

Places of Interest / Landmarks

Bridges

Doug on the Tyne 2004