Birtley to Gateshead Along the Great North Road

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The 8th section of the Along the Great North Road walk continues through urban landscapes of many different architectural types, traditional Tyneside flats, modern developments, Victorian and interwar semi-detached houses, and many inns, both new and old, giving plenty of evidence of the Great North Roads route. The walk also passes the iconic Angel of the North and the beautiful Victorian Saltwell Park, allow plenty of time for diversions.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Along the Great North Road (County Durham)

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.86 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 194 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 148 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 302 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 131 ft
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Description of the walk

Start: Start Durham Road/The Avenue junction, Birtley outside The Hanlon. (DH3 2PS) Grid ref. NZ 271 558

(S) From The Hanlon, turn Northwards and continue along the A167 towards Gateshead passing Birtley Library.

(1) Pause at the War Memorial (100m) then continue North along Durham Road. The Red Lion pub will be on your left and the Three Tuns pub on your right, note the mix of old and modern housing types along this road.

(2) Continue past the park with its bowling green and bandstand. At the Coach and Horses pub, the road will continue to the left (northwest) onto Newcastle Bank.

(3) Continue passing the entrance to the Bowes Railway Path, at this point ensure you are on the right-hand side of the road, be careful as this is a shared footpath and cycle route, you should follow the signs for the Angel of the North. Follow the path diagonally across a field, away from the road until you reach the roundabout. Follow the footpaths to the left and navigate around the roundabout and under the modern A1 and onto Durham Road.

(4) Pause to visit the Angel of the North, then return to Durham Road and continue walking Northwards towards Gateshead Town Centre passing underneath the footbridge.

(5) At the junction signposted Harlow Green, remain on Durham Road. Take extreme care crossing the road as this is a busy dual carriageway.

(6) Continue along Durham Road, passing the Stone Trough pub and after a further 600m the Coach House pub. This area is much more built up with terraced housing and shops on either side of the road. You will pass the Gateshead Arms on your right, look at the pub sign. Continue past the stunning Wesley Memorial Methodist Chapel on your right, the Belle Vue pub on your left followed by The Bank and The Tap, plenty of opportunity to stop for a drink. The area will become more residential at this point and opens up to larger houses and trees.

(7) On reaching Enfield Road, a short diversion down this road will bring you to Saltwell Park which is well worth a visit. Return to Durham Road after your visit and continue Northwards.

(8) On reaching Prince Consort Road, check out the cenotaph. A short diversion down this road will bring you to the Shipley Art Gallery which is well worth a visit. Return to Durham Road after your visit and continue Northwards.

(9) At the point the road becomes a dual carriageway, keep to the left and turn into High West Street passing Gateshead Baptist Church.

(10) Cross the road and turn right into High Street, this first goes North-East and then turns North. This street once had the highest ratio of pubs in the area, many sadly are now gone but there are still a few visible. Continue to the junction of Jackson Street where you will find the Metropole, originally built as a theatre (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 131 ft - The Hanlon, Durham Road, Birtley
  2. 1 : mi 0.06 - alt. 131 ft - Birtley War Memorial
  3. 2 : mi 0.52 - alt. 164 ft - Park/Bandstand
  4. 3 : mi 0.9 - alt. 207 ft - Bowes Railway Path
  5. 4 : mi 1.42 - alt. 289 ft - Angel of the North
  6. 5 : mi 1.82 - alt. 259 ft - Harlow Green Junction
  7. 6 : mi 2.26 - alt. 279 ft - The Stone Trough Pub
  8. 7 : mi 3.81 - alt. 285 ft - Junction of Durham Road and Enfield Road
  9. 8 : mi 3.94 - alt. 282 ft - Junction of Durham Road and Prince Consort Road
  10. 9 : mi 4.25 - alt. 243 ft - Junction of High West Street and Gateshead Highway
  11. 10 : mi 4.56 - alt. 217 ft - Junction of High West Street and High Street
  12. E : mi 4.86 - alt. 161 ft - The Metropole, High Street, Gateshead

Notes

Start: Start Durham Road/The Avenue junction, Birtley outside The Hanlon. (DH3 2PS) Grid ref. NZ 271 558

Transport: There are no designated car parks near the start of the walk, but there are a number in Gateshead (e.g. Regent Court, NE8 1EW) so it is recommended to park there. Bus 21 goes to Orchard Street in Birtley (beside the War Memorial), you can catch this at Gateshead Interchange.

Facilities: There are a large number of takeaways, cafes and pubs in Birtley and Gateshead so there are ample opportunities to stop for a break.

Accessibility: The entire route is on paved footpaths so is entirely accessible. The entire route is along busy roads however so will be noisy so it is advised to walk this route on weekends when it is quieter.

Worth a visit

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