- Play Hard
- 1st May 2025
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Step into summer: 6 North East walks to boost wellness and hit your step goals
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May is National Walking Month – the perfect excuse to lace up your trainers, head outdoors and get those steps in.
We all know that walking is good for our bodies and minds – just 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference. But it’s also one of the simplest ways we can do our bit to help the environment.
By swapping just a few car journeys for walking, you’ll reduce carbon emissions, ease traffic congestion, and help make the North East’s air cleaner and greener for everyone.
To help inspire your next adventure, we’ve teamed up with Go Smarter, Go Active, to round up six beautiful walks across the region. There’s something for everyone with plenty of routes being accessible for all ages and abilities, from gentle riverside strolls to longer challenges perfect for hitting that 10k step goal…
All around the boundary of Chopwell Woods
Approx. steps: 10,000
Distance: 8km
Accessibility: cyclist friendly, not for wheelchairs
Spanning around 360 hectares on the outskirts of Gateshead, Chopwell Wood is the largest woodland in Tyne and Wear. It has miles of scenic walking paths, and this route takes you on a loop past a former railway line, coal tubs and old mills before finishing with a riverside stretch with beautiful views.
Take on Durham’s Walk the Line
Approx. steps: 13,000
Distance: 10.4km
Accessibility: cyclist, wheelchair and pushchair friendly
Want to get all of your steps in at once? Durham’s ‘Walk the Line’ trail is perfect. Following disused railway lines and greenways through the countryside surrounding Durham city, it’s a peaceful, scenic journey with a mix of open views, wildlife, and historic points of interest, including Auckland Castle – one of the best-preserved Bishops’ palaces in Europe.
Wander the parklife in Newcastle
Approx. steps: 7,500 – 13,000
Distance: Two options – 6km or 10km
Accessibility: cyclist-friendly with a shorter route available for wheelchairs and pushchairs
Discover Newcastle’s green spaces and historical highlights on foot. This route starts on the Town Moor before weaving through Exhibition Park and past iconic city centre landmarks, before looping back around through Heaton Park and Jesmond Dene. It’s a great mix of city centre and tree-lined steps, with loads of good coffee and lunch pit-stops on offer along the way.
Sunrise strolls in North Tyneside
Approx. steps: 2,500
Distance: 1.9km
Accessibility: cyclist, wheelchair and pushchair friendly
Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside is a vast green nature reserve of ponds, woodland and grasslands just waiting to be explored. This quick and easy route is mostly flat, looping around the park, into the woods and past the on-site farm, before returning back to the visitor centre for a coffee or tasty snack.
The Penshaw point-to-point in Sunderland
Approx. steps: 6,000
Distance: 4.8km
Accessibility: parts are cyclist, wheelchair and pushchair friendly
Start with some of the best views in the North East at Penshaw Monument before dropping down to the beautiful Herrington Country Park. This loop starts at the café, before taking you past interesting sculptures, nature-spotting areas and the amphitheatre, which is a great halfway point for a picnic. The route is mostly flat, with good paths and only mild rises – perfect for a relaxing stroll while still getting those steps in.
The Sand Dancer coastal route in South Tyneside
Approx. steps: 6,200
Distance: 4.9km
Accessibility: cyclist-friendly and a smaller section for wheelchairs and pushchairs
A nice simple route along South Shields sea front, enjoy coastal views, rolling dunes and a bustling harbour. With a rich maritime history, walkers can explore the area’s heritage attractions and public art along the way, and if you fancy a break, stop off at the iconic Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, which is free to enter and has a host of rides and entertainment.
GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR THE PLANET
Boost your mental health: Walking helps reduce stress, improve mood, and boost your energy levels.
Stay fit and healthy: Regular walking strengthens your heart, muscles and bones — all without needing expensive gear or gym memberships.
Protect the planet: Choosing to walk instead of driving reduces your carbon footprint and cuts down harmful air pollution.
So, this May, why not take the first step towards feeling fitter, happier, and greener?
Rachael Ellis
Creative Solutions Manager
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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