8 Outdoor Things to do in Newcastle
OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK
Newcastle has something for everyone. Whether you’re a city lover, a history nerd, or a wildlife fan, you can find it all here wrapped up in one destination.
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city on the River Tyne in the northeast of England. Although this city might be smaller than most, don’t be fooled by its size. The city’s character is as big as any. With a combination of sun, city and sand, your original opinion of Newcastle might be very different to what it really is.
In this article, we’re highlighting outdoor activities for your next visit to the vibrant city of Newcastle.
Kayak along the river Tyne
By far my favourite experience while in the city! As you might know, I love the water and kayaking is one of my favourite activities!
The kayak experience was hosted by our wonderful CBK guide who took us up and down the River Tyne. We paddled beneath the iconic 7 bridges while learning about the history behind some of the cities most well-known architecture.
Being on the river Tyne gives you tranquil and alternative views to admire the mismatch of buildings, which perhaps might go unnoticed while in amongst the hustle and bustle of the city streets!
CBK’s award-winning tours have been recognised as ‘Experience of the Year’ for the city! We did the Tyne Bridges & Quayside tour but they also offer Quayside Glow Tours which are after dark, providing a spectacular urban light show.
Tyne Bridges & Quayside price: £54 per person
Quayside Glow Tour price: £65 per person
2. Jesmond Dene Falls
When you think of cities, a waterfall isn’t the first attraction that comes to mind. So it was surprising to find such a calm and tranquil oasis in the middle of Newcastle.
Through a narrow wooded valley, full of exotic trees and flowering shrubs is Jesmond Dene Falls. The falls are part of the river Ouseburn which sits between South Gosforth and Jesmond Vale.
The river stretches over three kilometres, making a wonderful setting for a peaceful walk through the woods. The Dene is home to lots of wildlife, like red squirrels, otters and kingfishers, along with many woodland birds.
The falls are certainly off-the-beaten-track and can be found just a short 5-minute walk from Castle Farm Car Park and Paddy Freeman’s Car Park.
Read our article “WONDERFUL REASONS TO VISIT NORTHUMBERLAND” on why you should visit Northumberland and what there is to see and do! From Roman ruins and ancient history to one incredible national park.
3. Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle is a medieval fortification steeped in history, situated in the heart of the city centre. The castle is built on the site of the fortress that unsurprisingly gave the City of Newcastle its name.
Take a tour from one of the very knowledgeable guides as you get to learn so much, not just about the castle but also the city itself. Explore the ancient passageways and chambers while learning about the dark history of the grounds. We’d suggest making the castle your first point of call when visiting the city. Climbing the spiral staircase to the rooftop shows an amazing view of Newcastles’ landscape and gives you perspective on how the city has gradually expanded around the original settlement.
It was the first time for us visiting a castle in the middle of a city. It was surprisingly refreshing to see pubs, railways, and businesses that have been built around the imposing Norman fortress.
The castle is open to the public so you can explore the hidden history beneath your feet!
Entry to Castle: Price: £9.25 per adult, £5.75 per child
90 minute walking tour of medieval Newcastle (including castle entry): £20 per adult, £10 per child
4. Posh Parks of the Toon Cycling Tour
Explore the city on two wheels with a professional local guide. See the highlights of Newcastle along with off-the-beaten-track suburbs. On a bike, discover the vibrant neighbourhood of Ouseburn, peaceful Jesmond and the city centre. You also explore a billionaire’s private garden turned public recreation space and “Newcastle’s green lungs” the Town Moor (which is larger than New York City's Central Park!)
Duration: 3 hours+
Price: From £45
Location: Newcastle Cycle Hub by the river Tyne
The Newcastle Tour Company offers multiple tours including the Newcastle Street Food Experience Tour, the Best of Newcastle Walking Tour and multiple chauffeured tours through Northumberland.
5. Visit Tynemouth
Tynemouth is a coastal town, just a 20-minute drive from the city centre of Newcastle. The town gets the name as it’s situated on the north side of the mouth of the River Tyne. When the sun is shining and you want a break from the busy city then we’d definitely recommend an afternoon spent here in Tynemouth.
Have a relax on one of the two beaches, Long Sands Beach and King Edward's Bay. Long Sands Beach is popular for water activities like paddle boarding and canoeing. You can visit the Tynemouth Surf Co located right on the beach. Here they provide lessons for surfing and stand-up paddle boarding or if you’re a pro then you can hire gear and equipment for yourself.
King Edward’s Bay is a smaller, more secluded bay that sits right below the Tynemouth Priory and Castle. The bay is enclosed by cliffs and grassy banks and is home to the famous Riley’s Fish Shack.
Upon visiting Newcastle, we had multiple people tell us that we simply had to visit Riley’s during our trip so we did and it did not disappoint! Riley’s is a fish shack, serving local seafood cooked simply over a charcoal BBQ fire. The fresh fish is sourced each day along with seasonable ingredients and served right onto the beach.
Along the top of the cliffs is the Tynemouth Priory & Castle which dramatically dominated the rocky headland. The historical site is cared for by the English Heritage and overlooks the Tynemouth Pier running out to sea. The moated castle towers, the gatehouse and keep are combined with the ruins of a medieval priory.
This site, packed with over 2,000 years of history was one of the largest fortified areas in England. When visiting you can learn about the original beginnings as an Anglo-Saxon settlement, a royal castle, fort and coastal defence.
When? Every day, 10am - 5pm
Price? Adults: £7, Under 18’s: £4
6. Brewery in the park
The Town Moor, mentioned above is an area of common land just north of the city centre.
To put the park into perspective, for those familiar with London the land is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath combined and for US readers it’s larger than Central Park in New York, covering over 1000 acres of open space.
The Town Moor was common land from the late 13th century which provided grazing rights to the Freemen of Newcastle, so watch out for herds of cattle roaming nearby!
The area is the perfect spot for a summer’s day with tennis courts, picnic areas, a boating lake, a skatepark and café. But our main highlight from the Town Moor was the Wylam Brewery. Wylam Brewery is a 30 Barrel Micro Brewery that sits right on the lake. Inside an art deco, Grade II listed building, it’s in the heart of the Exhibition Park surrounded by the peaceful landscape.
The brewery is named after Wylam, a village in Northumberland where the two founding fathers started their journey for the company. The brewery tap is open Friday to Sunday and holds various events throughout the year like food festivals, DJ sets and music gigs.
7. Kittiwakes with Wild Intrigue
Wild Intrigue is a “small team with huge ambition.” They create unique opportunities to inspire, educate and rewild people with wildlife experiences in The North. They hold mini expeditions and safaris to see wildlife such as rare red squirrels, ospreys, and bats.
If you want to learn more about another ones of Wild Intrigues tours - the Osprey Cruise on Lake Kielder then read our article “WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN KIELDER FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS”
In the centre of Newcastle Wild Intrigue hold the Kittiwakes & Doughnuts event and the Sunset Kittiwake Safari event.
Kittiwakes are a type of seabird species in the gull family. These birds provide the summer soundtrack along the Tyne and can be seen floating on the river and dipping their heads in to catch fish. The birds spend their winter in the Atlantic and then return to nest and raise their young on the buildings and bridges of Newcastle.
The guide from Wild Intrigue leads you on a tour of the colony and will teach you about the Kittiwakes and how the urban landscape of the city is vital for the survival of the birds.
Kittiwakes & Doughnuts
When? Saturdays
Price? Adults: £25, Under 18’s: £15
Location start: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Sunset Kittiwake Safari
When? Saturdays and Sundays
Price? Adults: £15, Under 18’s: £12
Location? BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
8. Trip to St Marys Lighthouse
A big reason we loved Newcastle was the fact that within a 25-minute drive from the city centre you can be at the beach, watching the sunset while seals laze on the rocks below. You definitely can’t do this from any other city we know in England!
The Grade II listed building is on the tiny St Mary's Island, just north of Whitley Bay. The rocky island is connected to the mainland by a short concrete causeway which is submerged at high tide. At low tide, you can see Grey Seals and their numbers are the highest in spring and early summer. The small island is a popular place for the seals to come ashore to rest, moult and digest their food.
St Mary’s Lighthouse provides you with the perfect combination of sun, sea and sand. The lighthouse was completed in 1898 and remained operational until 1984. Surrounded by a Nature Reserve with rock pools, clifftop grassland and the scenic coastline, it’s a lovely location to visit on a sunny day.
You can climb the 137 steps to the top of the lighthouse for the most spectacular views of the North East coast. Along with the lighthouse, there is a visitor's centre, a small museum and a café.
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We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Newcastle! If you have any suggestions or have any questions please let us know in the comments below!
Our trip to Newcastle was in partnership with NewcastleGateshead, where we went on assignment to experience their #EscapeTheEveryday campaign.
