| 1. Starting out from South Hylton Riverside, ride along to Offerton Lane (under the A19 bridge) and climb the steep bank for around 100m. Continue until the lane joins with the old railway line and go right under the A19.
Continue straight on the railway line until you come to a tarmaced road, then turn right. Wiz down the bank to the riverside and turn left towards Cox Green Bridge. Cross the bridge (dismounted of course!) then turn left and then right to get onto the cyclepath heading back East along the North side of the river. Stay on this cycle path – which branches left away from the river.
Cross over the entrance to an industrial estate and ride alongside the main road for about 200m, before turning right to follow the cyclepath. The path twists right then left until meeting the entrance to Washington Wildfowl Park. Turn right, crossing the road, onto the cycle path. Stay on this path as it cuts though woodland until it meets a tarmacked road. Turn left onto the road then after about 50m right onto the right-hand cyclepath (through the cycle style).
Follow this path alongside the dual carriageway until it curves round to the right and comes to a farm road. Turn left back on yourself and go under the A19 underpass and down a steep bank until it meets the road.
Turn left onto this road and climb up the bank, turning right onto Grange Road. After around 50m turn off Grange Road onto the cyclepath running parallel to the Wessington Way dual carriageway. Stay on this path until it curves around to the right then joins the road.
Switch onto the road and ride straight, going through two roundabouts. At the third roundabout turn right onto Hylton Park Road. Follow the road round until the entrance onto the cyclepath appears on your left.
Switch onto the cyclepath and stay on it until it come to the roundabout next to the Stadium of Light. Swtich onto the road here and take the first exit at the next rounadabout onto Newcastle Road. Ride straight on Newcastle Road until you come to the roundabout which meets Shields Road, and turn right onto Shields Road (A1018).
Stay on this road until you pass the SAFC training grounds on your right, then turn right onto Moor Lane. Stay on Moor Lane until it becomes Front Street then stay on it until it comes to the junction in Whitburn village with East Street. Turn right onto East Street (the coast road).
Stay on the coast road until it comes to a roaundabout, then turn right onto Harbour View road, heading inland. Stay on this road until it branches into three lanes and move into the right hand lane. Turn right on North Bridge Street.
Head up North Bridge Street then turn left at the roundabout to meet up with the route you took in the beginning, and work your way back from there. |