Riding to Newcastle (North Shields)

Looking for advice on getting from the city to North Shields or Newcastle more generally.

Path of least resistance style, trying to avoid A1, not a tourist route. Is it better to go out to North Berwickish and down the coast or cut the corner, a few less miles but a bit hillier?

35 mm nearly slick tyres and fairly but not fully loaded.

Cheers troops!

I went via Kielder one time. Hilly but fairly quiet roads. Not sure if it's any faster than the coastal route.

I can try to dig out a GPX if you like

Cheers for the reply, seems a bit out the way that. I think its probably a case of "whats the worst that can happen" for any route down there. Its a fair shift either way.

I did an audax called A Highland Fling that went from Edinburgh down to South Shields. I don’t really remember much of that stretch, but my friend was riding fixed so couldn’t have been too stinky (we did go up The Rigg, though).

Can dig out the file if you want?

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Keep an eye on Francis Cade's channel over the next couple of days. He's going from Newcastle (ish) to Edinburgh through the Borders, then coming back via the coast.

This vid explains the trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_mDEXsiEpE

I mind when I rode to Norham last year for a laugh the way down was easier than the way back. There was just one wall of a hill that sticks in the mind. Dunno what happens south of the border though.

@hollow__legs A strava link would do likes...

@aftertheglory Could be just the ticket actually. Cheers.

https://strava.app.link/HbWpjdQnRib