Tanfield Railway Walk
2.8 miles (4.5 km)This walk follows the heritage Tanfield Railway in in Gateshead.
You can start the walk from the parking area in Watergate Forest Park. The park is a fine place for a walk with woodland trails, a pretty lake, a waterfall and wildflower meadows.
From here you can pick up the railway walk and follow it south west past Sunniside before finishing at Andrews House Station.... The station has good facilities with refreshments, a small gift shop and toilets. It's also just 250 yards from the Marley Hill Site, which includes the oldest engine shed in the world.
You can continue your railway walking by visiting Causey Arch in Stanley.
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Watergate Forest Park. Footbridge over the lake. The park is situated on the site of the former Watergate Colliery and is managed by Gateshead Council.
Broad path, descending
The Tanfield Railway is widely celebrated as the world's oldest working railway, with its origins tracing back to a 1725 coal waggonway. Today, this heritage line in North East England is operated by dedicated volunteers who maintain a remarkable collection of industrial steam locomotives and Victorian carriages. Visitors can step back in time at the Marley Hill engine shed, the oldest working shed of its kind in the world, where vintage machinery is still used for locomotive restoration.
Tanfield Railway: Andrews House Station. Continuing south from the northern terminus at Sunniside, the path brings you toward the heart of the preserved line at Andrews House Station. This rural station serves as a perfect resting point, featuring a traditional ticket office, a well-stocked gift shop, and a picnic area set within a heather-filled cutting. From the platforms, you can watch the steam trains go by or take a short stroll to the nearby Marley Hill sheds to see the engineering base in action.