Event
Ultra North – Beyond Newcastle
Location
The race begins in on cathedral of Victorian engineering. As you cross the Swing Bridge, you are flanked by the towering Tyne Bridge and the sleek Millennium Bridge. For a runner, this start is electric—urban, loud, and steeped in the history of a river that once powered the British Empire.
The route heads west, utilising the Hadrian’s Way national trail. You are literally running through history; the path mirrors the line of Hadrian’s Wall, though the Roman stone is largely hidden beneath the tarmac. You’ll pass the site of Lemington Glass Works (with its surviving 18th-century cone) and George Stephenson’s Birthplace in Wylam—a tiny, humble cottage that birthed the railway age. Crossing the river at Wylam, you leave the “urban energy” behind for the quiet, leafy trails of Northumberland and Gateshead.
Landscape & Terrain
The terrain is famously varied, split roughly into 73% paved and 27% unpaved surfaces. It is not a mountain ultra, but it is far from flat:
- The Riverside Corridor: The first 20km to Wylam is “PB territory.” The paths are wide, flat, and well-surfaced, allowing runners to settle into a fast rhythm. The landscape here is tidal and wide, with the river slowly narrowing as you move inland.
- The Derwent Ascent: After reaching Derwenthaugh Marina, the race changes character completely. You turn away from the Tyne and follow the River Derwent upstream. The ground becomes softer, moving onto woodland singletrack and the Derwent Walk, a long-distance path on a former railway line.
- The “Mountain” Section: The true challenge lies in Chopwell Woods. Known as the “Miles of Magic,” this 900-acre forest features the race’s most significant elevation. The terrain here is technical: slick mud (depending on the North East weather), tangled roots, and “punchy” climbs that break your stride.
- The Nine Arches Viaduct: A breathtaking highlight of the return leg is crossing the Nine Arches Viaduct. Soaring above the Derwent Valley, it offers a bird’s-eye view of the Red Kites that have been successfully reintroduced to the area.
Elevation Summary
While the total ascent is approximately 323m to 600m (depending on the specific year’s routing through Chopwell), the “stepped” nature of the climbs makes it feel more demanding. It is a race of two halves: a flat, fast marathon followed by a hilly, technical 13-mile sting in the tail.
Features
The race is held twice a year, famously switching directions to offer two distinct expThe Beyond Newcastle 55 is designed to be inclusive, welcoming both seasoned ultra-runners chasing sub-5-hour times and “completers” who utilize the generous 11.5-hour cut-off.
The event is defined by its “rail-to-trail” transition. You start among skyscrapers and glass-fronted galleries and, within an hour, find yourself in deep, silent woodland. The final 5km is a mental battle, retracing the riverside path back toward the city. The sight of the Tyne Bridge appearing on the horizon is the ultimate “carrot on a stick,” pulling you toward a finish line where the Quayside’s bars and crowds provide a hero’s welcome.
The Experience
For me The Great North Ultra, now known as Beyond Newcastle was my first ‘Ultra’ though I had completed the Montain Ullswater 20 earlier in 2024, this was my first time going beyond the marathon distance. It got me hooked, the atmosphere, the community feeling from all the runners, supporters adn volunetters on the route was amazing. Though I could hardley walk by mile 35, the metro journey home was a challenge, all of the pain was obliterated by the memories and the endorphine fueled buzz.
This was the true beginning of my enlightened passion for running and drive to see just how far I could take my mind and body.
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