Walks near Newcastle by train

Parkland, woodland and a stretch of the Northumberland coast — beach, dunes and the village of Alnmouth.

The Northumberland Coast Path: A coastal trail along the Northumberland shoreline forming part of the England Coast Path, here running past Buston Links and Alnmouth bay.

Time: 3h30

Warnings: Some field sections lack defined paths and can be boggy when wet.

Walk details: Northern Railway (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

River South Tyne valley, woodland and the South Tyne Trail along a former railway line.

The South Tyne Trail: A 23-mile recreational route along the former South Tyne railway line, following the wooded valley of the River South Tyne.

Time: 2h30

Warnings: Some navigation required; crosses the A69 twice.

Walk details: Northern Railway (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: Scenic for most of its length, with a choice of walking high, low, or on the beach.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: A quiet walk, separated from built-up areas, with several steep climbs and descents.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 4h30–9h30

Lunch: No food or drink en route after Seaham.

Warnings: Several steep climbs and descents.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A varied route through nature reserves and beaches.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 6h–11h30

Warnings: About two miles around the port alongside a main road.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Varied but mainly flat walk following the King Charles III England Coast Path.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Time: 7h30–15h

Warnings: Widdrington has only around three trains a day.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A varied walk, with a couple of miles inland before reaching the coast.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 4h–8h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A direct town-centre-to-town-centre route, under 20% on roads with the rest flat and well-surfaced tarmac path mostly along the riverside. Passes through a semi-industrial landscape and runs close to the river.

Waterway: two thirds along the River Tees.

Time: 2h–3h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Interesting, fairly flat walk, though both stations are some way inland.

Coastal: half along the coast.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Warnings: Widdrington has only around three trains a day.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Amazing views all the way; this gorgeous route. A gorgeous, largely traffic-free rural route reliably walkable year-round, on good ground with limited road walking on quiet lanes. Starts uphill out of Durham; the ground is mostly good but there is quite a lot of tarmac. The sections either side of Finchale Priory are briefly very steep, with a long and steep flight of steps and a footbridge over the river. Largely coincides with other waymarked routes. Finchale Priory is an English Heritage site.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Lunch: There is a cafe at Finchale Priory, roughly midway.

Warnings: The steps down to Finchale Priory are long and steep and can be tricky in wet weather; the quiet roads either side have no pavements and occasional fast cars.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 4h–7h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.