Sunderland Beach and Park Circular

Start: Hendon Promenade Car Park (free), Hendon, Sunderland SR2 8QR (54.893091, -1.360986) - What Three Words: shall.kick.kite

(S/E) From the car park, follow the access road (Promenade) back the way you drove in passing back under the railway bridge until you reach Commercial Road.

(1) Cross the road and turn right (north) until you reach the Raich Carter Sports Centre, cross the access road to the sports centre and turn right (west) along the footpath. Continue straight ahead into Robinson Terrace.

(2) At the junction, turn right into Rosalie Terrace, follow this north and then north east where the street becomes Suffolk Street. As you continue, notice grassed areas where entire streets have been demolished.

(3) When you reach the main intersection of the A1231, cross the road and continue straight ahead for a short distance, about 30m, until you see an entrance to a footpath with a staggered fence on your left. Take this path and walk west along the park land which was once a railway line. Continue under Toward Road and into Mowbray Park.

Alternative Route: The footpath is not accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs, so turn right along the A1231 and enter Mowbray Park from the main entrance on Toward Road. Follow the path north west passing the bowling green to reach the footbridge, go over the footbridge to the South Terrace.

(4) When you reach the footbridge, go underneath it and go up the steps to the right to the South Terrace. From here continue north west towards Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens bearing left around the pond.

(5) If you choose to visit the museum, turn right out of the entrance and at the corner of Borough Road, turn right again and walk alongside the museum. Cross Toward Road and when you reach the large office building in front of you, bear right along Hudson Road to the right of the building.

(6) At the bend in Hudson Road, go straight ahead (east) into West Lawrence Street and then turn right at the roundabout into Hendon Road. Cross the road by the pedestrian crossing next to The Charltons and continue to walk south east along Commercial Road. You will pass the Raich Carter centre on your right and on reaching the junction with the Promenade.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps to the car park. Finish your walk with a stroll along Hendon Promenade or the beach (S/E).

Transport: There is free parking on the promenade. You can start and end this walk in the town centre at the Museum (5), parking in the town centre is not free, but if you are using public transport then the museum is close to the railway station and bus stops.

Facilities: There are toilets and a cafe at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. You will find that there are many cafes and pubs on the junction where the museum is situated.

Accessibility: This walk has some slopes but is on pavements throughout. An alternative route has been given to avoid the chicane fencing at (3). This walk is classed as fully accessible.

• Mowbray Park is a fine example of a Victorian Park complete with pond and bandstand. Information on the park can be found here (4)
• Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a little treasure, a very eclectic mix of exhibits.
• Hendon beach is not a well-visited beach compared with those north of the city centre, you may have this all to yourself (S/E).