A “there-and-back-again” 5km run along the quayside of Newcastle Gateshead. Because it is there-and-back-again, you can start at any point on the run and follow it to each end, then back to the start point to complete your 5km. You will have views of the River Tyne, the iconic Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the BALTIC Centre, the Glasshouse, the Tyne Bridge, and the Swing Bridge. This route is lit at night, so it is suitable for day or nighttime.
The Gateshead Millenium Bridge is the only tilting bridge of its kind in the world. It was officially opened in 2001 after a few repairs as the bridge was a bit wobbly. This earned its nickname the “Wobbly Bridge.”
The Tyne Bridge has been synonymous with Newcastle since its completion in 1928 as a steel arch structure.
The High-Level Bridge was opened in 1849 and is classified as a double-deck bridge as it allows for both road and rail traffic.
The Swing Bridge was completed in 1876 and was considered an engineering marvel of the Victorian times as it was one of the first bridges to with a rotating mechanism that allowed ships to pass.
The Redheugh Bridge underwent several reconstructions, with the current bridge opening in 1983.
The King Edward VII Bridge was completed in 1906 and serves as a rail bridge.
As the name suggests, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was opened in 1981 in honour of the Queen. The bridge has two carriageways with two lanes in either direction, allowing it to carry a much larger volume of vehicles.
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Route overview
The River Tyne at sunset. Credit: Visit England
Start at any point on the Newcastle (North) side of the River Tyne. Run East (river on your right) to the Ouseburn River inlet (green star below). Turn around and start running back the other way.
Part 1 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Run back along the Quayside and past the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Part 2 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Keep running along the quayside.
Part 3 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Run under The Tyne Bridge, the Swing Bridge and the High-Level Bridge.
Part 4 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Keep running along the quayside and run under the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.
Part 5 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Keep running along the quayside and run under the Kind Edward VII Bridge and the Redheugh Bridge.
Part 6 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Run for approx 200m after the Redheugh Bridge to a seating area on your right (see photo below) and an area where the quayside juts out a little on your left. Turn around here and run back to where you started for a 5km run.
Seating area after Redheugh Bridge
Part 7 of the Newcastle Quayside Run 5km
Some of the highlights of this run include…
Tyneside. Credit: Richard Szwejkowski
Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Credit: Richard Kenworthy, Visit Newcastle
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Resources:
If you enjoyed this route, see our 10km Quayside run
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Save the gpx file of this run to use in other running apps.
Map details © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits: Copyright Walk Run Cycle, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and Richard Kenworthy