Throckley - Scotswood - Riverside - Newcastle

Alan Collins

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

The walk starts at Throckley Bank Top. A little way up the hill from the starting point is the longest exposed stretch of Roman Wall between Wallsend and Heddon-on-the-Wall. Our direction is off downhill. This road was built over the top of the wall, hence so little is visible before you get to Heddon. We leave the road to walk down through Walbottle Dene, which supports a multitude of different hardwood trees and with the New Burn following the path. After leaving the Dene, we then walk up to the highest point on the route at 100m above sea level. It commands fine views to the west up the Tyne Valley and beyond. To the south-east we can pick out the Derwent Valley and directly across the Tyne we see Blaydon.

Dropping into the valley bottom we a disused rail line, converted into a very good path. We then pass the Lemington Glass Works Tower, which is an impressive landmark in the area. Stopping on the high-level footbridge over the western by-pass we have fine views to the south.

We now follow Denton Dene downhill to rejoin the rail line footpath. The bridge you can see across the river replaced the old Chain Bridge. We leave the rail line at Paradise and walk along the Scotswood Road to join the Riverside Way. As you make your way along the river path you will see many information areas recalling past history.

As we enter the bend in the river, all seven of the Newcastle bridges come into view: three road-bridges, two rail bridges, one road / rail bridge and the new millennium footbridge.

It is now up the Castle Garth stairs to the keep, through the Black Gate, past the cathedral and over Collingwood Street into the Cloth Market to find ourselves standing outside Balmbra's pub and one-time music hall.

The Blaydon Races< song tells us that the trip started at Balmbra's, went along Collingwood Street, past Armstrong's Factory to Paradise, along Scotswood Road, over the Chain Bridge and into Blaydon Toon.

England - North England - Tyne and Wear - Coast