This charming town owes its existence to the outcrop of hard sandstone which juts out between the Tyne and the sea defying the effects of wave and weather. Monks from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne came here in 627 and built the Priory which was one of the richest in the country and at one stage in its history monks were sent here as a reprimand for being disobedient. One poor exile wrote: "Shipwrecks are frequent and the poor people eat only a malodorous seaweed called `slank', which they gather on the rocks, but the church is of wondrous beauty." During the Roman occupation Tynemouth was an important supply port for Hadrian's Wall. In Victorian times people flocked here on the new railway to enjoy sheltered bathing and boating.

Originally the Priory was an 11th century Norman church and is now an English Heritage site. EH also owns the fine statue to Lord Collingwood. Look out to sea and you will spot the Black Middens close to the Tyne entrance. They have claimed many a vessel, including five in three days one filthy November in 1864.

PLACES OF INTEREST

The Castle and Priory - great atmosphereSea Life Centre - excellent displaysTourist Information Centre - Royal Quays 0191 200 5895

PLACES TO EAT

Sidneys, Percy Park Rd. Now in Michelin. Good value but not cheap. 0191 257 8500

Giorgio's Pizzeria & Restaurant, Front St. 0191 257 3758

Marshall's Fryery at the Priory, Front St. 0191 257 2435

The Gate of India, 40 Front St. 0191 258 3453

Gibraltar Rock, Carvery East St. 0191 258 5655

1. Tynemouth & Whitley Bay		Back to
Hilary & Allen Thompson		Marlborough Hotel, 20-21 East Parade, Promenade, Whitley Bay, NE26 1AP
Telephone		0191 251 3628
Fax		0191 252 5033
Website		www.marlborough-hotel.com
E:		reception@marlborough-hotel.com
Rooms		4S, 6D, 2T, 4F.
B&B		£25-£45
PL		£5
VisitBritain & AA		4 stars (guest accommodation)

Sea front family run hotel in prime position in Whitley Bay. High standards of accommodation (the rooms were recently refurbished) and hospitality. Close to all transport links - secure bike parking plus drying facilities. There is now free WiFi throughout.

Michael & Marissa Ruddy		York House Hotel, 106-110 Park Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE26 1DN
T		0191 252 8313
F		0191 251 3953
Web		www.yorkhousehotel.com
E		reservations@yorkhousehotel.com
Rooms		2S, 5D, 3T, 3F.
B&B		£27.50-£32.50
PL		£5.95
VisitBritain		4-star (guest accommodation)

Near start and end of C2C, Reivers and Coast & Castles. 100m to the nearest pub and 250m to the beach. Delightful family run hotel conveniently and yet quietly situated close to all amenities. All rooms are en-suite with fridges and microwaves. Secure indoor cycle storage.

Michael Farwell		Avalon Hotel, 26-28 South Parade, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE26 2RG
T		0191 251 0080
F		0191 251 0100
Web		www.theavalon.co.uk
E		info@theavalon.co.uk
Rooms		4S, 4D, 7T,1F.
B&B		from £35
EM		by arrangement
PL		by arrangement

Ideal location: the Avalon is also a pub and is close to the start of Reivers and Coast & Castles, and close to the end of the C2C. Family run 3-star hotel with 16 en-suite rooms, secure bike storage, fully licensed bar, restaurant plus washing and drying facilities. Great breakfast and very cycle friendly.

PLACES TO DRINK

There are several good pubs in Tynemouth. Here are three recommendations.

The Turks Head, Front St, otherwise known as the Stuffed Dog because of Willie the Scottish collie, whose 130 year old taxidermised remains sit in a glass box looking at the bar. Willie came down from the Scottish Borders with a herd of sheep and a shepherd, but somehow got separated from them and spent the rest of his life waiting and pining in Tynemouth for his lost master. A tale of epic proportions told in detail on a plaque. Good Courage Directors, regular guest ales. Food served all day.

Tynemouth Lodge Hotel, Tynemouth Rd, a real locals pub frequented by the lifeboatmen. Great beers and otten very busy. It's at the top of that steep climb out of the North Shields fish quays, on the edge of Tynemouth. Worth tracking back if you have got the energy.

Fitzpatricks, Front Street, is a handsome establishment. It is one of eight pubs in the small town. Has a changing selection of hand-pulled ales. Food served.

THE ROUTE

The Footprint map has three large scale maps, which I reproduce with their kind permission. There is an alternative route out via Whitley Bay, but the main recommendation is as follows.

Start from the car park off Pier Rd, facing the Castle and Priory, and take the path along the estuary. Turn lett into Cliffords Fort and immediately right into Union Rd where you go lett through the fish quays of North Shields.

There may not be so many fishing boats now, but there are certainly a good number of high quality fish and chip shops. Union Quay becomes Bell St, then Liddle St and finally Clive St before you go right at the Chain Locker and up the cycle ramp and steps to Tennyson Tce. Follow the signs to Lowson St, going lett into an alley and lett onto Addison St. At the end of Lowson St go lett and then right at the T-junction into Prince Regent Way. At the end of Chirton Dene Way you need to skirt round to the right of the Wet n'Wild tropical indoor water park, with its giant water chutes.

Follow the path to the right, along the cycle path parallel with Coble Dene, opposite the huge shopping centre at Royal Quays. This is where the Fjordline and DFDS ferries come in from Scandinavia, Holland and Belgium. You now cross Howdon Rd (A187). This brings you to St John's Green, off which you soon take a right turn past Percy Main Station. You will shortly be on the Waggonways, a disused railway line which passes the Stephenson Railway Museum. The famous family hailed from near Wylam, west of Newcastle on the Tyne and the museum has some fine original locomotives (0191 200 7145).

Just past Shiremoor go lett over the level crossing and through Backworth, Burradon and Seaton Burn. This is where the countryside opens up, taking you past the Big Waters Nature Reserve, Dinnington and up to prosperous Ponteland, where most of the Newcastle United stars live. Once past Ponteland you are away from urban life for most of the trip.

You are unlikely to require much in Ponteland, having only covered 27km, but if you do there is a wide variety of shops here, plus pubs and restaurants. Atter crossing the golf course you arrive in Ponteland at the Diamond Inn. There is a coffee shop to the lett and you can lunch at the pub or the Smithy Bistro immediately on your lett. There is also If you are not stopping, go straight across the crossroads but look out for a sign off to the right, where you come back on yourself before taking a lett hairpin through the smart housing estate of Darras Hall. At the T-junction at the end of the estate go right, then lett towards Donkins House Farm before taking a track up to the right. This will take you via the back lanes to the lovely village of Stamfordham.