Sunderland City Council
Civic Centre
Burdon Road
Sunderland
SR2 7DN
Tel. (0191) 520 5555
Calls may be recorded for quality and
training purposes
Sunderland West and Herrington Country Park
- Circular Route 2
This 18km route has one difficult section, but otherwise would be suitable for most ages.
There are two suggested start-points, either Herrington Country Park or Silksworth Recreation
Centre, and
the route might be best cycled anti-clockwise. Follow the 'Cycling
in Sunderland' leaflet for guidance.
South Hylton Metro Station
From Silksworth Recreation Centre and the ski slope, follow National Route 1 downhill past the Puma Tennis Centre and Sainsbury's on a smooth off-road tarmac path.
At this point, National Route 1 follows the Stephenson Trail, crossing Durham Road at The Barnes and eventually leading to University Metro Station.
After crossing the station bridge, turn left to follow the Metro cycleway westwards through Millfield and
Pallion, with views of the River Wear near to Claxheugh Rock SSSI.
The route continues to snake along beside the Metro route to South Hylton, where the rail line terminates.
The cycleway continues however, and crosses beneath the A19.
Once through the bridge turn left up a bridleway (shown as Offerton Lane on the cycle map).
This next section is steep and long.
Once at the top, the views across Tyne and Wear (and the Cheviot Hills
on clear days) are rewarding.
The route leads past Offerton village to the A183 and follows the south path of the main road westwards for a short distance, before turning left onto a narrow
bridleway beside a farm (and before the roundabout at Penshaw Monument).
This leads into Herrington Country Park.
It is well worth trying out the park's many cycle routes and views from John's Rock sculpture.
From here you can pick out the next part of the route, to West Herrington via the A19 bridleway bridge, and Doxford International
Business Park in the background.
Follow minor roads in Middle Herrington and crossing the A690, and then
take the off-road cycle route beside City Way downhill, and back into Silksworth Recreation
Centre.
Sculpture in Herrington Country Park, Penshaw Monument
in background
