This there-and-back route starts you off at Riverside Park, next to the River Tyne. Ride along the river to the historical living farm that recreated Anglo-Saxon life. Pass St. Paul’s Monastery to make your way to Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, where you can have a bit of fun and then casually ride along the beach. This route takes you along National Cycle Routes 14 and 1. This route is best suited for a more experienced cyclist, considering the distance and the sections of main roads which could be busy. You can rent bikes here or on this website for bikes here along the Tyne. You can also use Parkopedia to find parking spots near you before and after your journey.
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Route overview
Our route starts at Riverside Park
Riverside Park was once 75 acres of abandoned land, mostly used for shipbuilding. Alkali, copper, and sulphur works were reclaimed. In 1996, Matthew Jarratt and Neil Canavan developed the bench and black-painted cut-steel perspective markers in collaboration with neighbourhood schools and community organisations. You’ll see a wide variety of wildlife here, which is a testament to how well the land developed and was reclaimed.
Exit the park with the River Tyne on your left to turn right onto Prince Consort Road. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Lyon Street.
Part 1 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
At the next roundabout, continue straight onto Wagonway Road. At the next roundabout, continue straight again onto Blackett Street.
Part 2 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
At the fourth roundabout, take the first exit onto Ellison Street (National Cycle Route 14) and follow the road’s curve. Continue straight over the fifth roundabout onto Priory Road. Just after the curve of the road, turn left onto Curlew Road and continue past the tanks on your right. Follow the curves of the road to join and turn right onto Slake Road to reach Jarrow Hall: Anglo-Saxon Farm.
Part 3 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
Jarrow Hall: Anglo-Saxon Farm is a living history farm. The Anglo-Saxon time period is believed to be from the years 450–1066. On this farm, you can see heritage animals just like those that existed during Anglo-Saxon times, such as Iron Age pigs and Cheviot goats. Visit the Bede Museum, a museum in honour of the man who is often regarded as the “father of English history.” He was an author, scholar, linguist, and translator who also composed works on astronomical timekeeping and the motions of the sun, earth, and moon.
Jarrow Hall is known for its exceptional stonework, antiques, and the Abbadia Reliquary, which was gifted as part of its collaboration with the Museum of the Abbey in Tuscany. It is also home to Europe’s finest collection of coloured glass from the 7th and 8th centuries. The first complete Latin Bible in existence, Codex Amiatinus, is also on display in full form at the museum. If you’d like to visit, you can book season tickets here.
Jarrow Hall: Anglo-Saxon Farm. Credit: Jarrow Hall
Jarrow Hall: Anglo-Saxon Farm with an Iron Age Pig. Credit: North East Family Fun
After the Anglo-Saxon farm, turn right onto Church Bank where you will see St. Paul’s Monastery on your left. At the end of Church Bank, turn left onto National Cycle Route 14 and over the bridge.
Part 4 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
St. Paul’s Monastery dates back to 684-5. It was used as a centre for learning, which Bede and other scholars used. Vikings raided the abbey, and it was abandoned in the 9th century. In the 14th century, the abbey was used as cells of the Durham Priory. In the 1500s, it was used as a parish church but eventually fell into ruin. Today, the buildings are Grade I listed and the site was nominated to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the UK in 2011.
St. Paul’s Monastery. Credit: Fabulous North
Towards the end of this road, turn left to stay on National Cycle Route 14, Straker Street. Continue over the main intersection onto Jarrow Road (keep to the left road as it is less busy). At the next main intersection, go under the bridge to continue on Jarrow Road.
Part 5 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
At the next roundabout, take the second exit, then turn left onto South Eldon Street. At the next roundabout, take the second exit again to continue on South Eldon Street.
Part 6 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
South Eldon Street becomes Eldon Street. At the end of the road, turn left onto Laygate, then right onto the first pathway through the patch of green. Continue over Tudor Road to stay on the path. At the roundabout, turn left onto Station Road, then immediately right into the cycle lane, and when it is safe to do so, take the exit onto Crossgate. To your left, take the path for National Cycle Route 1/14. Turn immediately right to go under the bridges. Continue following this path for about 1km.
Part 7 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
Turn left onto Salisbury Place.
Part 8 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
Turn right onto Pier Parade to find Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in front of you. Pass the Pleasure Park on your left to turn right onto Beach Road then left onto Bents Park Road to pass Bents Park.
Part 9 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park offers a bit of everything you could want in an amusement park, including thrill rides, laser tag, food stalls, and an arcade.
Ocean Beach Pleasure Park. Credit: Shields Gazette
Bents Park is a popular venue for large-scale events such as the South Tyneside Festival Sunday Concerts, the Summer Parade, the Proper Food and Drink Festival, and others. In the off-season, it is also a popular spot for picnics and family gatherings.
Bents Park during a festival. Credit: Pinterest
Continue straight along this road, National Cycle Route 1, to reach Marsden Beach on your left.
Part 10 of the 33km Riverside Park Marsden Beach Cycle
Marsden Beach, and all the beaches along the way, have several wonderful natural features, including a grotto. The sea stack in the image below is named after Lot’s biblical wife, who looked back at Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt. To the right of the pillar is Marsden Rock in the distance, which resembles, although subtly, the Windows wallpaper. Take your time at this last stop to enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing and the smell of the ocean before you head back to the start.
The Lot’s Wife sea-stack at Marsden Beach. Credit: Winlaton Camera Club
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Resources:
If you enjoyed this route, see our 40km Whitley Bay Cycle.
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Information was gathered from various sources, including Wikipedia.