National Cycle Route 14 forms part of the
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network (NCN) is the national cycling route network of the United Kingdom, which was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout Britain, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. It was created by the cha ...
in
North East England. It connects
Darlington in
County Durham with
South Shields on the
River Tyne. The route has currently (2016) a length of .
Much of it uses paths along disused railway lines and is thus free from motor traffic.
Sections
The route is signed in both directions, but is described here in accordance with Sustrans' publication
[ in the direction from Darlington to South Shields.
]
Darlington to Hartlepool
From Darlington to Middleton St George
Middleton St George is a large village and civil parish in the borough of Darlington and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated approximately east of Darlington. According to the 2011 UK Census the population was 3, ...
the route follows the former Stockton and Darlington Railway line. It continues north-east on a combination of on-road and so-called traffic free (i.e. without motor traffic) sections towards Stockton-on-Tees, passes the latter town on National Cycle Route 1
The cycle-path is located in the United Kingdom.
Route
Dover to Canterbury
Dover , Deal , Sandwich , Canterbury
Links with National Cycle Route 2, Regional route 16, and Regional route 17 in Dover. Leaves Dover passing Dover Castle. S ...
and continues to Hartlepool. More than half of the latter stretch is separated from motor traffic.
Hartlepool to Durham
Again on a combination of on-road and traffic free sections, the route turns away from the coast in a north-western direction along the former Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway, now known as the Hart to Haswell Walkway. From a junction east of Wingate
Wingate may refer to:
Places
New Zealand
* Wingate, New Zealand, a suburb of Lower Hutt
United Kingdom
* Wingate, County Durham
* Wingate Quarry, a Site of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham
* Old Wingate, County Durham
* Wingat ...
, National Cycle Route 1
The cycle-path is located in the United Kingdom.
Route
Dover to Canterbury
Dover , Deal , Sandwich , Canterbury
Links with National Cycle Route 2, Regional route 16, and Regional route 17 in Dover. Leaves Dover passing Dover Castle. S ...
also uses the disused railway line. In Haswell, the cycle routes separate, and route 14 continues westwards to Durham, mainly on roads.
Durham to South Shields
After heading west out of Durham, the route follows the Lanchester Valley Railway Path north-west to Consett. Continuing north-east mainly on disused railway lines, it crosses the River Derwent several times. At the mouth of the latter, it meets the River Tyne and continues along its southern bank eastward to South Shields. Most of this section is traffic-free except for some short parts along the Tyne.
Between Stockton-on-Tees and South Shields the route is also signposted as the ''Three Rivers Cycle Route'', between Consett and South Shields it shares the way with the Sea to Sea (C2C) route connecting the west and east coasts of England.
External links
Sustrans Route 14
References
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Transport in County Durham
National Cycle Routes