Acomb, where South and North Tyne meet

Start from the Sun Inn pub.

(S/E) With your back facing the Sun Inn pub, walk right (South-West-West) down the Main Street. Follow the road as it curves past Acomb Post Office(now permanently closed) on your left-hand side and carry on the same road until you reach A6079.

(1) Head down the hill to A6079 and be careful crossing the road as cars from the right can appear quite quickly. Carry straight on (West-South-West) following Howford Lane.

(2) When you reach a very small car park, turn right (North-NorthWest) along the footpath which is a disused railway line.

(3) Reach a point where you do almost a U turn to take you nearer to the river. Follow the footpath with the river on your right-hand side.

(4) On the way keep aware of the point where North and South Tyne meets to form the Main Tyne River. Carry straight on (South-East) along the riverside.

(5) At some stage, take another almost U turn which takes you back (North-West-North) onto the disused railway line.

(6) At a junction, turn right (East) and make your way through the trees via a choice of several paths but they all get you to the same place. You will then end up on the main road (A6079) which you had crossed earlier. Turn right (South-East-South) at that point and walk down the road for a few hundred yards then, turn left (North-East) at the end of the houses on Garden House Bank road along the Birkey Burn brook. Walk up the hill which will bring you back to the start of the walk to the Sun Inn pub. (S/E)

Car park : Easy Parking along the Main Street in Acomb. There is always a parking spot here between the Sun Inn and Miner's Arms pubs.

• In the Summer, the route is usually pretty dry but can be muddy at other times.
• This walk is ok for kids and dogs friendly.
• It partly follows old rail tracks.
• 2 pubs handy for drinks or snacks or toilets.
• There is a fish and chip shop but limited opening times.

The meeting of the rivers is the main high point of the walk. There is a seat there for a rest. And a bit of a beach. Further down the walk, you can see where the bank has collapsed and the public footpath has completely disappeared!!