The best cycling tracks and biking trails in and around Newcastle

Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, want to get back into old habits after an indulgent Christmas and New Year period or are just on the hunt for a new form of exercise, there is plenty for cyclists to enjoy across Sunderland and the surrounding area.

Newcastle sees three National Cycling Routes weave through the city. Developed across the 2000s, the nationwide network encourages bicycle touring throughout the country and anyone looking for a trip can follow some of the best routes in the country to get in and out of Tyneside.

Two cycle routes follow the banks of the Tyne on each side, with the 72 route hugging the North Bank to Tynemouth. Known as Hadrians Cycleway, it follows parts of the ancient wall, through Prudhoe Carlisle and across to the west coast of the country near Barrow-In-Furness.

The alternative option for those looking to remain in the North East sees the path starting in Tynemouth, heading through the Quayside to Blaydon and back.

Anyone looking to hire a bike can do so on the route too, with Newcastle’s CycleHub – near where Ouseburn meets the Tyne – offering rental bikes for those who do not own one themselves.

Across the river at By The River Brew Co, Backyard Bikeshop offer a workshop for anyone who needs to repair their bikes. This also offers a good place to stop and recover on route 14 which follows the south bank of the Tyne. This full path starts at South Shields before running through Consett and Durham before ending in Darlington.

The start or end stretch of the run is a fantastic route in itself, with the path along the south of the river almost unbroken by roads between Dunston and Hebburn.

The final route which flows through Newcastle is the only option on the National Cycle Network which crosses the Tyne so close to the UKs East Coast. Starting at the North end of John Dobson Street, it follows perfectly straight roads all the way down to Chester Le Street and is an ideal option for anyone wanting to stay on roads without the issues of major turns in the road.

Away from the Cycle Network, the cycling community have a plethora of alternative routes, the most popular of which is a loop which starts in West Jesmond and creates a loop as anyone wanting the test follows the north bank of the Tyne until Wylam Bridge, where the Tyne is crossed before the route takes a scenic route back into Newcastle past Ryton Willows Nature Reserve.

As soon as participants can see the famous set of bridges in Newcastle in the distance, they know they are nearly finished. This route also allows riders to go past both the Cycle Hub on the North side of the Tyne and the Backyard Bikeshop. Starting and stopping just off the Great North Road allows participants to wind down in Exhibition Park after the trip.