The NewcastleGateshead BIG BIKE RIDE took place in the beautiful surroundings of Derwent Walk Country Park, heading out of town along the striking quayside along four different routes through Newcastle and Gateshead. 

The event was a great success! To hear about next year's BIG BIKE RIDE, sign up to our newsletter here:

Registration Opens from 09:00am. Location Derwent Walk Country Park, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE16 3AD (behind Blaydon Rugby Club). Yellow Route Start time – 10:50am Green Route Start time – 10:30am Purple Route Start time – 10:40am Orange Route Start time – 10:50am Facilities Toilets, cloakroom, car parking, refreshments, bike surgery, first aid. On the day • Evans Cycles - Bike surgery • Free security bike tagging • Collect your t-shirt, medal and spokey dokey's! Kit List Check out the kit list. Bike Hire Tyne Bridge Bike Hire. Tel: 0191 2772 441. Email: info@tynebridgebikehire.co.uk pre-pay special event price of £10 for adults and £5 for children - collect your bike at the event.   Get Fit! Get fit training programme. Cycle Surgery Visit Evans Cycles Cycle Surgery on the day to check you and your bike are working at its best. Registration £10 for adults and over 12’s. Under 12's go free. Once you register you will receive a full event pack, sponsorship, plus a BIG BIKE RIDE t-shirt, spokey dokey's and a medal on the day. Sponsorship Help us reach our target of £75,000, spread the word to friends and family. Set yourself a fundraising goal, we'd like to ask you to consider raising £100 or more per adult. The young ones could also set themselves an appropriate fundraising goal. Remember however much you raise you'll be making a difference. Parking Blaydon Rugby Club. Trains FREE shuttle bus from the front of Newcastle central station. Times: 08:45am and 09:45am. Please contact the rail company directly for policies on bike travel. NewcastleGateshead Rider Guide Check out the NewcastleGateshead Rider Guide.

Yellow Route – 7km (4.3 miles) around Derwent Walk Country Park
The short route for the youngest riders takes a quiet cycleway which follows the old Derwent Valley Railway alongside the River Derwent. It then drops down to the Derwent Walk Country Park, which although was once a major coke works, is now a tranquil haven for wildlife. The route follows the winding and wooded traffic free cycleway back to the start location.
Download Route (pdf)

Green Route - 25km (15.6 miles) via Scotswood and Elswich
This is a great route for all the family. Heading out from the park, this route takes in the famous Quayside of Newcastle and Gateshead and follows the Tyne through the areas’ unique industrial heritage and onto the modern centre with its iconic buildings and bridges. This is the best route for those new to Tyneside. The route is flat and mostly traffic free.
Download Route (pdf)

Purple Route – 40km (25 miles) via Lemington, Newburn, Wylam, Prudhoe and Blaydon Haughs
This middle distance route takes the Tyne west towards the more rural parts of the area. Although peaceful now, the villages of Wylam and Prudoe have a special place in the industrial history of Britain. The route is mainly flat and traffic free, with some small sections on roads.
Download Route (pdf)

Orange Route – 60km (37.5 miles) – via Rowlands Gill, Ebchester, Consett and Lanchester
Looking for more of a challenge? This route is dominated by the Derwent Walk path, which is shared with walkers but is traffic free. Following the line of the Consett to Blaydon Railway, the path makes up 36km of the route. From Consett the route undulates as it rolls over reclaimed land and the country lanes to Lanchaster, this section is the hilliest. Then it joins another traffic free path to rejoin the Derwent Walk route once again. This is the toughest of the routes that includes some hills and not recommended for under 16's.
Download Route (pdf)

*please note that these routes are subject to change.

James Milner: "James Milner says The NSPCC is a charity close to my heart and the BIG BIKE RIDE is a great way for everyone to get active, spend time with the family and raise money for a worthy cause at the same time. Let's all get on our bikes and help put a stop to child cruelty."