wahey the lads: living in newcastle

[frodo]

i'm possibly going to be spending some time in newcastle in the future but whats its like for orienteering/general running? is there access to some hills nearby? is KNOB still active? (insert own joke here). thanks...

[Ed]

ok for general running (so long as you don't get too bored on the town moor) - some nice tarmacced routes as well (along the river and Jesmond Dene) if your knees are up to it. Regular evening/night events in town/country park areas aren't exactly stunning terrain but good sprint race practice I think UNOC are reasonably active at the minute (trips to events every 2/3 weeks in term-time, not sure about midweek training), and if you've got a car then there's good running (and fell-races) to be had in the North Pennines, N. York Moors and Cheviots all within about 1-1.5 hours. Otherwise a train up the Tyne valley (takes a bit of work with a map and timetables to get good routes planned) to Dipton or Hadrians Wall or the Metro out to the coast or bus to Derwentside aren't bad alternatives.

The uni X-country club are reasonably active as well (running a couple of times a week, circuits?), and going training is a perfectly normal activity in Newcastle, although everyone assumes the highlight of your year will be the great north run...

[Klebe]

although everyone assumes the highlight of your year will be the great north run...

It will be for me !

Get to the coast and do some intervals on the sand-dunes(leg killing exercise).Check out the metro timetables to work out your best place/travel options.
As Ed says, Town Moor is good too.

[richardm]

Ed wrote:

although everyone assumes the highlight of your year will be the great north run...

It will be for me !

...and me

i dont know so much about areas immediately around Newcastle but im right on the edge of the north york moors, about an hour from newcastle, and there are quite a few nice-ish moorland and hill-y areas. orienteering-wise theres regular clok and nato events around the area