Which parkrun events in Newcastle and North East are on this New Year’s Day - and what is their course like?

A smaller number of parkrun events than usual are on this New Year's Day in the North East with January 1 falling on a Sunday - below you can find a list of events happening this Sunday near Newcastle.

It's become a tradition for thousands in the North East, and many more across the globe, to kickstart the New Year by running or walking the popular five-kilometre courses that are dotted across the region.

The events usually run at 9 am every Saturday but volunteer teams come together to put on extra runs on Christmas Day and New Year's Day with participants always wanting to come together as a community on those public holidays.

This year, that is proving trickier than usual with both Christmas and New Year falling on a Sunday, with events happening the day before, on the usual Saturday. The volunteers who give up time and cherished lie-ins to make parkrun happen can't all be expected to give up two mornings in a row - so some events are running and others are not.

Read more - ‘The magic is the community’: What makes Christmas Day at Gateshead parkrun so special

What else is important to note, is that the double parkrun of New Year's Day is also a thing of the past. Before, parkrunners could take part in one event at 9 am before going to another nearby that might be starting at 10:30 am.

Explaining the decision to stop that tradition in 2020, a parkrun statement read: "We know that long distances are often travelled between events on New Year’s Day, which potentially puts road users at risk, and that making the start time for the second event is only achievable by quicker participants in some places.

"We also see that very often there is a funnelling effect at the second event. With more participants than usual on 1 January but with fewer events to go to as some events choose not to host an additional event, the result is significantly higher attendances at many events (sometimes 5-6 times a typical average attendance), which puts pressure on the volunteer team, has caused issues of late with landowners, and creates much busier car parks, cafes and paths. This is compounded by some events taking place later in the morning than usual, resulting in more congestion and conflict with other park users.

"For these reasons, we have taken the decision to remove the option for New Year’s Day doubles. We will still allow events to host an additional parkrun on 1 January, at their usual start time."

“These are the events that are and are not happening near Newcastle and in the North East this New Year's Day.

Herrington Country Park parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 23 minute drive.

Course description - "The course starts next to the amphitheatre and is on hard trail pathways. Follow the path for 100 metres before turning right down and around the boating lake. Once through the gate, you follow the trail path to the left around for the first large clockwise outer loop, before taking the second clockwise inner loop. At the end of the second loop, you follow the trail path back retracing your steps around the boating lake towards the start before finishing inside the amphitheatre.

Herrington Country Park offers beautiful views of the countryside and Penshaw Monument built 1844. The country park has significant wildlife and is popular with dog walkers."

Blyth Links parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 28 minute drive.

Course description - "The course is two and a half laps over a mixture of tarmac and paving. Starting on the links just south of the Mermaid car park, head south for 300 metres towards Seaton Sluice. Turn left back on the coastal path towards the Blyth Battery, taking in the view of the sea beautiful in the summer and bracing in the winter, run north along the promenade past the famous beach huts to the bandstand. Turn left rounding the bandstand, and head back to the start. Repeat this circuit, then on the third lap make a dash past the beach huts to the finish outside of the Dave Stephens centre. While the course offers beautiful views of the Northumberland coastline it can be challenging in the winter time."

Silksworth parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 29 minute drive.

Distance from Newcastle - "The event starts at the Skate Park and participants head along towards Silksworth Lane. Turn at the tree and go back along the path taking the turn to the right and head down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, turn left and follow the bottom path along to the end.

"At the end of the path head left and complete two laps of the lake. On completing the two laps head back along the bottom path turning right at the bridge and finishing back at the start."

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 30 minute drive.

Course description - "A 2 lap course around the Bay, Promenade and Milburn Park areas of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Predominantly on tarmac paths with a few short sections of grass.

"The event starts on the Prom near The Maritime Centre then heads south towards the Needles Eye end of the Bay. From the Prom exit right at the second ramp and head along the cycle track at Beach Terrace then do a clockwise loop around Milburn Park (old tennis course). Leaving Milburn Park, head back along Beach Terrace, down the ramp and back onto the Prom. Continue along the Prom to the sailing club then turn and do another lap. The finish is on the Prom beside the Old Ship."

Durham parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 37 minute drive.

Course description - "The course begins at the corner of the athletics track at Durham University's Maiden Castle sports facility around the 200m point. Heading towards Shincliffe the first part of the course is over grass before heading onto the riverside path on the nearside bank of the River Wear. The run continues along the path before crossing the wooden bridge to the other side of the river. Turning right at the end of the bridge, still on a riverside path the route heads again towards Shincliffe before a period running around the outer edge of a series of grass playing fields.

“This leads back to the wooden bridge at which point you re-join the riverside path and head right towards Durham City centre. The route heads over a reasonably narrow second bridge and after this, the reminder of the run is a largely flat tarmac path that crosses Baths Bridge and finishes near the bandstand on the Racecourse in central Durham City where the finish funnel will be clearly visible."

Druridge Bay parkrun - ON

Distance from Newcastle - 40 minute drive.

Course description - "The course is 2 laps anticlockwise of the lake starting and finishing at the Visitors Centre."

The following parkrun events are NOT happening on New Year's Day -

Blackhill parkrun

Carlisle Park parkrun

Chopwell Wood parkrun

Cotsford Fields parkrun

Gateshead parkrun

Jesmond Dene parkrun

Leazes parkrun

Prudhoe Riverside parkrun

Rising Sun parkrun

Riverside parkrun

South Shields parkrun

The Pastures parkrun

Town Moor parkrun

Tyne Green parkrun

Whitley Bay parkrun

Windy Nook parkrun