Jarrow to Boldon - Way of Learning

Start : St Paul's Church, Jarrow (NE32 3DZ). Grid ref. NZ338 652

(S) From St Paul's Church cross Church Bank and follow the paved footpath marked as a cycle path (South-West). At the mosaic in the pavement, take the left-hand path and follow this under Straker Street (A185) and continue to the point where the metro line crosses the A19.

(1) Walk under the metro line bridge and turn left (South-East). Keep to the left (East) and cross the River Don, then bear right (South-West) and walk under the A19. As you exit the underpass, turn left and follow this footpath, Jarrow Cemetery will be on your left. Follow the footpath around to the right, the River Don should now be on your right.

(2) Cross Cemetery Road bearing right, then cross the road and turn left into the cycle way. Follow this path (South) crossing Bedge's Burn. The River Don will be on your left. When you reach a junction in the path, turn left and cross the River Don footbridge. Keep right. Follow the River Don footpath, this rounds a corner to the left. You will then see a footbridge on your right. Cross this footbridge and turn left following the River Don which will be on your right past Primrose Nature Reserve to the junction with Roman Road.

(3) Turn left (East) towards Vespa's Italian Bar and Steakhouse, cross the road (South) and into Hedworth Lane, walking underneath Leam Lane. As you exit from under the bridge, ignore the sloped footpath to your right and take the next path to your right, continuing on a Southerly heading along the banks of the River Don which will be on your right. You will emerge again on Hedworth Lane, turn right (South-West).

(4) When you reach Hillcrest (on your right), cross the road and take the footpath which runs along the front of the row of houses (South-East), cross Hawthorn Drive and continue to follow the footpath along the edge of the houses crossing Hawthorn Drive for a second time, continuing in a South-Easterly direction until you reach the railway lines. The path turns left (East) into the trees and runs parallel to the edge of the railway line. At the fork at the A19, bear left (North) and continue to follow the path along the edge of the A19.

As you walk along this path Windermere Crescent will be on your left. You will then reach Kirkstone Avenue after 380 m or so, turn right (North-East) and cross the footbridge. At the end of the footbridge, turn right at the side of the house and continue following the edge of the A19 in a Southeasterly direction. There will be a sports field (Perth Green) to your left. The path will then pass under the railway lines and turn sharply left (East). Walk along the path between the houses and the railway line for around 210 m.

(5) The footpath will bend to your right, you will reach the end of Calder Green, turn left and cross Station Road taking the footpath on the opposite side of the road. This will zigzag and then turn South following the River Don before turning left and then right again. Ignore the path to the right and remain on the path following the banks of the River Don. After some time you will pass houses on your right.

(6) At the end of the houses the footpath will end at a junction, turn left crossing the River Don and then immediately right (East) following the north bank of the river before turning North-East after 135 m or so. This path is less well-defined. Follow the path through the trees. Look for a footbridge to your right and cross back over to the south bank of the river, take the path to your left and continue to follow the river (South-East).

(7) After 440 m or so, when you reach the bridge to your left, turn right following the path in a Southerly direction away from the river. Cross the footpath running East-West and continue in a Southerly direction. The path will then bend to the left (East) and then right (South) passing the tennis courts until it reaches New Road in Boldon (E).

Start : St Paul's Church, Jarrow (NE32 3DZ). Grid ref. NZ338 652

End : New Road (B1298) in Boldon (NE35 9BF)

Transport: There is parking behind St Paul's at the Slake Road Car Park. There is also parking in Jarrow town centre and at Jarrow Hall if you are visiting the museum. To get back to the start of the walk, turn right onto New Road and walk westwards to Asda supermarket, then take the number 9 bus to Jarrow Bus Station, then 27 Crusader back to Jarrow Hall/St Paul's Church.

Facilities: There is a good cafe at Jarrow Hall serving a wide range of food including Vegetarian/Vegan. There are toilets at Jarrow Hall and the museum. Other options include Vespa Italian Bar and Steakhouse on Roman Road (3) , the Greyhound Inn just after (4) and numerous restaurants and takeaways near Asda.

Accessibility: The terrain is mostly flat with some slight inclines, however there are steps and some dirt paths across fields.

Accommodation: The nearest accommodation is the Clarion Hotel Newcastle South, just past the Asda/Cineworld complex.

• Jarrow Hall has an Anglo Saxon Village with animals, Bede's Museum with a collection of stained glass, and Jarrow Hall itself which has a very good cafe.
• St Paul's Monastery, Jarrow, a centre of learning since the 7th Century.
• River Don and Primrose Nature Reserve