After a cold start week today’s weather was much milder.

I met up with Dave and Chris at our usual spot in Holywell Dene.

We took our familiar route along the old railway line then down to the promenade at Whitley Bay. From there we followed the coast along to Tynemouth where we picked up the path along the Tyne which took us along to the Hub Cycle Cafe on Newcastle Quayside.

From there we crossed the river at the Millennium Bridge which took us to the Gateshead side of the river. Here we joined NCN Route 14, the Keelman’s Way, which runs to South Shields.

For the most part the route follows the river and gives good views of the north shore.

The route leaves the river at Hebburn, close to an area known as ‘Little Aberdeen’ because it housed shipyard workers recruited from North East Scotland, and heads towards South Shields. At Jarrow there is a cyclist tunnel currently closed for refurbishment. There is however a replacement bus service which will transport bikes and their riders through the vehicular tunnel to Howdon.

Once at Howdon it is a short ride to rejoin Route 72 then on to Route 10. The ride back home was straightforward, apart from having to deal with a rear wheel puncture on Chris’s bike.