Running and Cycling in North Shields

Few towns offer runners and cyclists a better mix than North Shields. You have the working Fish Quay and the riverside on one side, the North Sea coast a short way east, and a national cycle route running right through the middle of it all. Whether you run, ride or are just getting started, here is our guide to running and cycling in North Shields.

The riverside and the Fish Quay

The path along the Tyne through the Fish Quay is the natural place to start. Flat, scenic and traffic-free, it forms part of National Cycle Network Route 72, and it makes an easy, atmospheric run or ride past the fishing boats with South Shields across the water. Head east and the path climbs gently up to Tynemouth Priory, giving a popular loop of around five and a half miles from the Low Lights back via the coast.

The coast and Northumberland Park

Carry on past Tynemouth and the seafront opens up towards Longsands, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay, a longer coastal run or ride with the sea for company the whole way. Closer to home, Northumberland Park, a restored Victorian park between North Shields and Tynemouth, gives a green, traffic-free option with woodland paths for shorter loops and interval sessions.

Cycling and the Hadrian's Cycleway

North Shields sits directly on Route 72, the Hadrian's Cycleway, which runs coast to coast between Cumbria and South Shields. In an unusual and rather brilliant touch, the route crosses the Tyne here on the Shields Ferry, which carries bikes free of charge every half hour, before continuing west past the Royal Quays and the Tyne cycle tunnel towards Newcastle. For anything you need on two wheels, Tyne Cycles on Rudyerd Street is the town's independent bike shop.

Clubs and parkrun

For company and structure, North Shields Polytechnic Club, known as the Poly, is one of the largest running and athletics clubs in the North East, welcoming all ages and abilities across road, track, cross country and fell, though its training track is over in Whitley Bay. There is no parkrun in North Shields itself, but the free, friendly Rising Sun parkrun runs every Saturday at 9am at Rising Sun Country Park in nearby Benton, an easy trip inland.

More North Shields sport

For more ways to keep active, see our guides to the best gyms in North Shields and football in North Shields.

Run a North Shields running or cycling club we should list? Get in touch.