Consett to Sunderland (Roker)
Having
arrived at Lydgetts Junction from Durham,
there is a choice of two routes through Consett,
via town centre and stamping point or direct route avoiding the town.
At the Lydgetts Junction Millennium Mile
Post turn right passing the Smelt Wagon (L) and the "Terris Novalis"
sculptures (R) to roundabout.
Via
Town Centre
Turn
left on segregated cycle path to next roundabout - turn right by going
clockwise on cycle paths and into Front St.
(For Stamping Point turn right and cross road into Safeways Store.)
Follow NCN 7 signs through town centre to eventually cross the A692 on a ramped footbridge (direct route joins here) and follow track to next roundabout.
Direct
Route
Bear right anticlockwise around roundabout and
follow segregated cycle path - cross B6308 road and just before houses
turn right across open grassed area - cross road and pass houses (L) -
keep left towards footbridge (town centre route joins here) and follow
track to next roundabout.
Cross busy A692 and join railway path - under bridge and over B6309 road to Jolly Drovers (L) and roundabout.
On cycle path go clockwise around rbt. and enter the "Maze" at the start of the Consett to Sunderland railway Path.
Along this next section to the ECML there are many large and weird sculptures - part of the Ceslestial Railway click here to view.
Continue on obvious railway path for several miles passing the "Transformers" to end of railway path at an Industrial Estate on outskirts of Annfield Plain.
Follow cycle path for a short distance alongside A693 then bear right behind factory to passing a pond (L).
Then left & right across road (there is usually a mobile Snack Wagon here) and follow cycle track over new foot / cycle bridge over A693.
Ahead down Dodds Ter. & St. Aidens Ter. to main road, cross over and back onto railway path again.
Continue to follow the railway path - passing numerous sculptures - to eventually cross the East Coast Main Railway line (ECML).
Bear left then right over bridge over A6127 (old A1) - then under A1(M) and Picktree Lane - over A182 (Washington Highway) - pass school (L) and cross Biddick Lane.
Ahead on cycleway to a new roundabout and bear right to join a path downhill through the trees.
At bottom bear left and through tunnel under railway into James Steel Park - turn right and stay on path until a T-jcn.
Turn right down through barrier - pass houses (R) - left on to access road and almost immediatly turn right at small car park through trees then left to join riverside path.
Ahead to car park** - left - right - left in quick succession and uphill passing sewage pumping station (L).
** The original C2C route crossed the river here using the footbridge.
Follow path through trees and at path junction bear left - there should be a Not C2C sign on the path directly ahead - turn left again steeply uphill alongside a metal fence to top.
Turn right alongside hedge - pass over entrance road to Sewage Works and continue on path between trees towards a large electricity plyon.
Join road down then uphill passing carparks / entrance to the Washington Wetlands Centre.(R)
At acute jcn. - bear right on to off road track - passing Millennium Milepost - and follow track passing around the Scania lorry depot to tarmac lane.
Turn left gently uphill - where lane bears left, turn right through barrier onto off road path parallel to A1231 road along the base of the embankment.
Follow this path around fields with A1231 & A19(T) roads (L) to barrier - very sharp left turn downhill passing under A19(T) road to junction. Turn right for Shipwrights PH - 100 mtrs.
Turn left uphill and at Y-jcn, bear right - before underpass turn right to join off road path to A1231 Colina Ave. roundabout.
Sharp right staying on undulating off road path behind office buildings until you reach Timber reach Road.
Turn r ight on SUP to next Rbt. - bear right downhill on off road path keeping left at each junction until reach road again.
Right on SUP - cross road - right then bear left onto railway path again.
Continue ahead passing under two bridges - pass advertising hordings (R) to signed junction.
Choice of route
High Level via Stadium of Light (SAFC) or Low Level via Riverside.
High Level route
Continue ahead uphill bear left and right and join cycle path alongside Keir Hardy Way to Rbt.
Bear right to 2nd Rbt. and use crossing point passing SAFC Admin. building (R) effectivley straight ahead - ahead into Hay St. and turn left into Sheepfold Rd. and under rail bridge and cross A1018 at Toucan Crossings.
South to Middlesbrough - cross over Wearmouth Bridge.
Turn left down Bonnersfield to bottom - cross short section of rough ground and left onto promenade.
Low Level route joins from right.
Low Level route
Turn right down a short slope - left on road through barrier - right ahead through another barrier and down hill to join riverside promenade.
Pass Lime Kilns (L) and ahead on promenade to pass under the Wearmouth Rail and Road bridges towards the "Shadows in another Light" Artwork.
High level route joins here from the left along with NCN 1
Continue along promenade, passing University (L) and National Glass Centre (L) - at end bear left then keep right uphill to road.
Turn right downhill - through bollards and marina promenade.
Follow promanade around towards the river mouth, passing boat compound to the Millennium Milepost at the North Pier.
Continue to South Shields
Back to Consett
BUILDINGS AND LANDMARKS
Roker to Wearmouth Bridge
Wearmouth Bridge to Washington
Washington to Consett
Doug on the Tyne 2004