Starting at the Tile Sheds Nature Reserve off Tileshed Lane between Boldon and Cleadon on the border of East Boldon and South Shields, this route sits in the low-lying “Magnesian Limestone” belt of North East England. It’s a journey from the agricultural fringe to the tranquility of a once industrial landscape, transformed in to a haven of wildlife, from Pheasant, foxes to dragonflies.

Mile 1: An ‘edible landsape’

Starting out at thereserve carpark on Tileshed Lane, the route heads left for around 50 meters before truning sharp right and heading up an ‘edible landscape’ of old and unusual varieties of fruit trees for both human and animal to eat and enjoy (at the right time of year, of course). As the trail opens up it reaches a T-junction, turn left, cotinuing along the Linnet Way, fields on your right and the urban landscape of Whiteleas to your right.

Mile 2: The mineral line

As the trail heads towards Boldon, it reaches a crossroads with a ornate steal sign post for the Linnet Way. At this point our journey takes a righ turn, as the trail becomes the old West Harton Mineral Line, with its origins dating back to 1842 and the creation of the Harton Coal Company (HCC).

Continue along the path, crossing Tile Shed Lane and running parallel to the modern railway line, as the Metros thunder past linking Newcastle and Sunderland. At around 2 miles, you leave the soft terrain of the mineral line and follow the road to the left, leaving the sounds of the Metros and East Boldon Station behind you and head towards Cleadon.

Mile 3: The Escape Path

Just as the route begins to enter Cleadon, there is a narrrow foot path, streaching out between houses on either side. Wind through the fencing at it’s entrance. This section feels cramped, narrow and dark as the trees and garden fences either side enclode the path in shadows. After little less than half a mile, the path splits off in a Y shape, follow the path to the left as this brings you back out on the road at Boldon Lane. Turn right and continue a short distance towards Cleadon Village, corssing at the Zebr a crossing and trun left, back on yourself. Just as you reach the edge of the school, another narrow foot path will emerge on your right. Take this path.

Mile 4: Emerging in to the light

The narrrow foot path, begins the journey back to the nature reserve. High fences on one side, shrubs and trees on the other, this section brings back the feeling of being enclosed. Concentration and focus a must, with the trees encroaching on your space as your navigate the tight space. All of a sudden the landscape opens up to fields and a blend of urban and agriculture.

Emerging back on to the bridal way, follow the path to the left, as the woodland on either side cast thier shadow over your route. As you emerge for the shadowy wooded section, and you pass the large monolith like stone on the left, turn left in to the open field, skirting the edge until you reach the hedge. Turn right and follwo the hedge to a small opening in the hedgerow in to the next field. To the left, there is a small path, follw this (minding your head on the low hanging trees). The Finish: The tree-lined path leads you directly back into the Tile Sheds Nature Reserve carpark, closing the loop where the old clay pits have been reclaimed by nature.

The Line That Powered a Region

There’s something quietly extraordinary about running the West Harton Mineral Line. This peaceful green corridor — threading past Heaton Gardens, crossing Tileshed Lane, tracking the railway south toward East Boldon — was carrying coal on electric locomotives within living memory, part of the Harton Coal Company’s pioneering network that powered South Tyneside for over a century. The ponds at Tilesheds were once working clay pits. The station at East Boldon has stood at this crossing point since 1844. The tracks are long gone, but the path remains — flat, accessible, and open to everyone. Whether you’re finding your feet on your first local run or clocking up familiar miles on home turf, you’re moving through nearly 200 years of North East history. That’s not a bad backdrop for a training route