Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope Cycle Route Overall Grading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
There is a traffic free route from Thorpe Thewles north to Ryhope, Sunderland which consists of several linked paths and old railway lines. The southern section is the Castle Eden Walk, and the northern section is the Hawthorn to Ryhope Way. The whole route is signed as NCN1 and is 19 miles long.
Almost all the information, and all the photos is by Gary Dawes. Any errors are mine alone.
Surface on the Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope Cycle Route
The path is a mix of hard compacted stone and tarmac. Some of the sections were a little narrow in places, although all are rideable. There is a raised boardwalk section between Shotton and Haswell. Several stretches have been upgraded in 2022.
Bikes
The whole route can be ridden on most kinds of bicycle. Trikes and most cargo bikes may struggle along the narrow segments.
Toilets
The route passes through several villages which have various amenities including shops, cafes, and toilets.
There is also a café and toilets at the southern end of the route at the old station in Thorpe Thewles.
Points of Interest
There are scenic views over the Hurworth Burn reservoir, and most of the route is through beautiful countryside.
Routes in Durham
- Reivers Route – UK Coast To Coast Routes
- C2C – UK Coast to Coast Routes
- Lanchester Valley Railway Path
- Deerness Valley Railway Path cycle route
- The Waskerley Way traffic-free cycle route
- Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope traffic-free cycle route
- Derwent Walk Cycleway
- Two Rivers Cycleway
- Consett & Sunderland Railway Path
- Bowes Railway Path Traffic-free Cycle Route
Barriers
There are no barriers along the route.
Ratings
Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hilliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Flat)
Refreshment stops: ⭐⭐⭐
Barriers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Surface: ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forecast for the Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope Cycle Trail
What the Thorpe Thewles to Ryhope Cycle Trail looks like
Getting there
Sunderland does have a railway station, and also a metro station for travel within Tyne and Wear (be aware that although bikes are allowed on metro, they are not allowed on the underground section through Gateshead and Newcastle. https://www.nexus.org.uk/cycle/bikes-metro
The southern end of the route is a short cycle ride from Stockton which has a railway station.
More Routes
To find more routes, click this link.
DayCycle
DayCycle routes are routes can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle. Many contain detailed route guides, as well as embedded maps (like the one below).