Museum 2 Museum: Tyneside Cycle Routes

We’re inviting you to get on your bike and visit museums across Tyneside. Cycling can help you get fit and stay healthy. Visiting a museum can also help improve your mental health and wellbeing. 

We’ve connected three museums in Tyneside to 11 miles of public cycleway and two easy rides for beginners or families with young children. Using existing cycle routes, including the Hadrian’s Cycleway Route 72, Byker Link and new inner-city cycle lanes in Newcastle City Centre, we’ve created a special Museum 2 Museum cycle route map to guide you.

The routes are mostly traffic-free on flat terrain with short sections of on-road cycle lanes and some short steep sections. Ideal for all cyclists and suitable for all cycle types, we would recommend all tyres apart from full slick or racing bike tyres.

Disclaimer

Outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums accepts no responsibility for any accident or injury resulting from following these routes. Cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces. Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.

START: Segedunum Roman Fort, Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR

1. Join Hadrian's Cycleway Route 72. Turn right.
2. Keep right following Cycleway Route 72 signs.
3. After Byker Waste Recycling Centre cross road directly onto Byker Link Cycleway.
4. Exit Byker Link through underpass. Follow path around Bingo Hall. Keep straight ahead until you reach Shields Road.
5. Dismount and cross pedestrian crossing. Turn left and walk 100 metres past supermarket and garage.
6. After row of shops mount bike. Turn right, then left. At junction turn onto Elizabeth Street. Caution! On-road cycling.
7. Turn right and go under Railway Bridge after Old Coal Yard. Take left onto cycle path.
8. Follow path and turn right onto City Stadium with allotments and playground on right.
9. Join cycle path with Star & Shadow Cinema in front of you. Turn left and follow cycle path until pedestrian crossing.
10. Cross road and follow cycle route signs for City Centre. Caution! On-road cycling.
11. Cross pedestrian bridge over motorway and turn right onto Northumberland Road pedestrian and cycleway.
12. Continue until City Pool and turn right onto John Dobson Street cycle lanes.
13. Cross at pedestrian and cycle crossing onto Civic Centre Gardens.
14. Follow cycle path across gardens, following cycle path across Barras Bridge with Great North Museum: Hancock in front of you.

FINISH: Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT

Approx. 5 miles/40 minutes

START: Segedunum Roman Fort, Buddle Street, Wallsend, NE28 6HR

1. Join Hadrian's Cycleway Route 72. Turn left.
2. Follow cycle route until Hadrian Road Metro Station. Cross at pedestrian crossing and continue on route.
3. Follow cycle path down into Wallsend Burn. Keep following cycle route and cross bridge.
4. Turn right onto cycle lane up short steep bank. Caution! On-road cycling.
5. Turn left on cycle path. Keep following Hadrian's Cycleway Route 72 clearly signposted through residential terraced streets.
6. Follow route until you cross A19 dual carriageway.
7. Keep left and follow cycle path along A187.
8. At second roundabout make first right turn. Following cycleway signs, cross at pedestrian crossing into park.
9. Follow cycle route through park and down onto Chirton Dene Quays.
10. Follow clearly signposted cycle route until you reach North Shields Ferry Landing. Cross River Tyne on Ferry (charges apply).
11. From South Shields Ferry Landing turn left and follow cycle route signs, crossing two wharfs.
12. Continue following the cycle route until the end of Wapping Street. Caution! On-road cycling.
13. Make sharp right turn onto River Drive and short steep climb.
14. Take first left onto Green’s Place and follow cycle route until you reach Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort.

FINISH: Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort, Baring Street, South Shields, NE33 2BB

Approx. 6 miles/50 minutes