A power walk or a scenic, historic stroll, no hills. 

Pilgrim Street

Fire Station

Fire Station. ‘Pilgrim’ Street.  Named after those Pilgrims who walked through the ‘Pilgrim’s’ Gate from the nearby Grey Friars Monastery (exact site uncertain) to worship at the Chapel of Our Lady at Jesmond. It was the first Newcastle, 'street,’ mentioned in 1230 but in use many years before by parishioners of All Hallows ( All Saints Church). At Worswick Street look up at the building in front of you. Admire the stone carvings. To your left down the street see the old bus concourse once the main bus connection with Towns and villages of South Tyneside and North East Durham.

Cross over the street and then cross over Pilgrim Street toward ‘Baps’ Sandwich Shop (sandwiches for your ‘stroll’?).
 

Liberal Club

Walking toward the bridges pass Popolos Wine Bar and the Liberal Club on toward Mosley Street. Cross the street. Swan House roundabout on your left. Go under the rail bridge and over the Tyne Bridge.

Baps turn left, down Pilgrim Street, cross High Friar Lane (once led from Newgate Street to Grey Friars Monastery).

Pass The Market Lane Pub. The corner of the pub once led to the ancient ‘flesh’ market in Grey Street.

Pass Popolos Pub to The Old Liberal Club / Alderman Fenwick’s house. Grade I listed. Once part of the front of the 18C Queen’s Head Coaching Inn, rear yard  stretched back as far as Grey Street. Before that stood The Pilgrim’s Inn, dating back as far as the nearby monastery itself. The building was finally used as a hotel in 1884 when it became the Liberal club. Closing in the1960’s it was renovated in 1981 and is run by Tyne Wear Preservation Trust.

Swan House Roundabout

The last building on the opposite side of the road was once the premises of The Bank of England. Soon to be renovated into an entertainment complex. On the roundabout stands a changing building…Australia House…BT Regional HQ… now being transformed into luxury apartments.

The site is near to that of the Grey Friars Monastery. Later one of Dobson’s architectural wonder’s, The Royal Arcade 1832. Comparable to today’s Metro Centre. The ‘covered in complex had fine stone and marble floors leading to shops ’ and illuminated by carved roof skylights and oil lamps. The magnificent building was never a success due to the area in which it was located and the distance from the town centre. A replica of the building is currently being renovated inside the apartment complex.

Other side of the roundabout is the monument of the Holy Jesus Hospital. Toward the rail bridge see the interesting skyline. The 'Windmill Hills' where Scottish cannons fired at Newcastle during their siege of the city. Battles : Local History

Mosley Street

Built as the ‘final road link’ between the East and West of the Town. On the corner see the old Building of The Provincial Bank of England 1872. Railway Bridge built 19C as a result Newcastle to Berwick rail extension. London- Newcastle- Edinburgh main line.

Cale Cross House

Walk under the railway bridge and continue on to the Tyne Bridge.

The multi-storey office block with foundations (below on the Quayside) built upon the site of ancient Cale-Cross market.

To your left you will see the Spire of All Saint’s Church. Emerging to your right, far below, is the Quayside and Swing Bridge.

Tyne Bridge

View from down River

Walk over the Bridge.

Completed 1928.300-yard bridge, built to relieve the increasing North-South vehicular pressure on the Town.  

Looking over to the left, walking on over the bridge you will see The Tyne River, The Gateshead Millennium Bridge. At the bend in the river, The Ouseburn Watersports Centre, with  the backdrop of Byker Hill. Gateshead side of the river--The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the New Gateshead Live Music Centre ‘The Sage’ all part of The Gateshead Quays Development. Continuing on, see on your right the array of remaining bridges crossing the Tyne. The Swing Bridge… The High Level Bridge…The Queen Elizabeth Rail Bridge…The King Edward Rail Bridge…far distance The Redheugh Bridge. Approaching The Town of Gateshead to your left is St. Mary’s Church…and to your right is the new Hilton Hotel..
 

Gateshead

Crossing the bridge approaching The Town of Gateshead.

At end of Bridge turn right, cross the road on the right, leading down to the river, ‘Bottle Bank’. Do not go down the bank .Walk straight on . Go to the ‘right’ of The Central Bar along Half Moon Lane. Under the rail bridge and turn right on to Wellington Street toward the entrance: keep right and onto the High Level Bridge.

Gateshead brief History

Continue across the bridge on the walkway to the right nearest the Tyne Bridge.

Completed 1849. Two decks road, pedestrian and rail. Over 80 feet above the water level. Below to the right see in the river the floating Nightclub of The Tuxedo Princess. See the magnificent span of The Tyne Bridge: the backdrop setting of the Newcastle East skyline. Below the bridge on the North side of the river stands the Newcastle Quayside steeped in History and latterly one of the most upbeat fun night time areas to be in, in the UK!

Approaching the end of the bridge on the right see the grand building of the Moot Hall Crown Court and the Bridge Pub.

End of the Bridge…Bridge Pub walking on to the right looms the mighty New-Castle.

Castle and Blackgate

Walking past the Castle under the Rail Bridge continue on the right side pavement toward The Cathedral.
 

Current Castle rebuilt 1178 by its ‘Norman’ owners. Cost a little over £1000 / $3000. Well worth a visit. Great view of the city and surrounding area from the roof! Passing the Castle under the railway arch the next building is the ‘Black Gate’. The Gate, 1240, cost over £500 / $ 700 to build. Once a well defended entrance to the Castle with a ditch and a drawbridge.

The Cathedral
The Bell Tower
 

Past the Castle and Black Gate further on walk past the Cathedral. At the traffic outside the Cathedral Walk straight on over the road. At the other side and turn right on Mosley Street. Pass the Post Office on your left: turn immediately left up 'Cloth Market'. Walk to the next junction. Bee Hive Pub. High Bridge turn right on to High Bridge Street.
 

The Cathedral Newcastle
 

Crossing over the road (Mosley Street) at the lights, turn right. Passing the Post Office. Here stood the Town's Wool Market. Take next right up ‘Cloth Market‘ once the Town's clothing market. On the left is the modern concrete office complex and night-club: once site of The Old Town Hall. On the right Balmbras famous music hall. Famous for being the first in 1862 to present The Blaydon Races song known the world over as the Geordie’s ‘local’ anthem.

Walking up the street, approaching the next junction, see The 17C Old George Pub: once a coaching house and a favourite for those visiting the nearby markets. Inside many of the original rooms are well preserved.

High Bridge Street

View toward Bigg Market

At top of the Cloth Market before turning right into, High Bridge, in front of you is the 'Bigg' Market (Bigg being a barley) once part of the Town's larger market complex of Cloth. Groat (meal), Bigg, Flesh and Wool Markets and for over 200 years renowned as a centre for entertainment in the form of drinking houses!

Walk the length of the street and continue at the next junction over Grey Street and the site of the High Bridge cross over and up the slight incline of High Friar Lane. At the end turn left and you will see The Fire Station…the end of the walk.

Thank you

NW.


Please note that Newcastle Walks does not accept liability, for the condition of the walks which can change on a daily basis, or for any injury, fatality, loss or damages incurred by any person. Newcastle Walks are not inviting the public to walk on any of the walks, but are providing information about specific routes, that are available in the North East of England. Therefore any person who decides to walk any of the walks within this website does so of their own choice and at their own risk.