I would love to do all of these, unfortunately though I will only be staying in Newcastle for 2 nights so won't have much time! Plus on the last day before I go back to the South East of England, I would actually like to explore Newcastle city, and see all the tourist attractions like the castle, discovery museum etc.
However, instead of a 50, could you suggest a more scenic alternative, maybe an Arriva Sapphire route to Hartlepool or Sunderland?
@TheGrandWazoo I believe you used to live in the North East for part of your life? If that's the case then I'd love to hear suggestions from you!
Another update, instead of the 50 (Durham - South Shields), I will instead be doing Sapphire 22A (Durham - Sunderland via Peterlee) then E1 (Sunderland - South Shields). They seem more exciting than the 50 lol
I believe the 74 goes via the wealthiest area in the North of East England (Darras Hall), right?
Yep, Darras Hall has a lot of very impressive modernish mansions, it is (or it was) footballer country.
The 22A From Durham? It has some real contrasts scenery wise, typical of many North East routes.
The climb out of Durham city is pretty cool, (sit on the right and look back for views of the cathedral and castle, hopefully you'll be lucky and get a decker), then a short run through the roughest estate in the city (Sherburn Road). After that comes a few pleasant rural miles, passing Sherburn house then the impressive climb up Silent Bank.
A turn off the main road heralds a string of run down ex pit villages, through almost dead Thornley, followed by the depressing nastiness of Wheatley Hill and Shotton.
Crossing the A19 , it thankfully takes the quick route through the 'miners paradise' Peterlee new town (my home town, with a burnt out town clock tower last used as a cannabis farm! The clock is correct twice a day at 10 past two) then takes the coast road towards Easington Colliery (look out for trains on the Durham coast line, then admire the 'C' streets where the movie 'Billy Elliot' was filmed).
Historic Easington village quickly follows, the 12th century church on the site of an earlier Saxon building worth looking out for.
I'ts then pleasantly rural again, racing through Hawthorn Dene, past the old pumping station, a quick diversion into Dalton Park outletshopping centre, through unremarkable New Seaham then past probably the last couple of sites of interest at Ryhope, the restored steam pumping station and what remains of the once sinister 'Cherry Knowle', a victorian lunatic asylum.
Apologies for the probably over detailed post
PS, filming and photography is banned on the Metro system, you will get pestered by security sadly. A couple of favourite places to photograph buses are the footbridge over the A690 at Durham (near Alishaan curry house) and the exit of Eldon Square bus station in Newcastle- known disparagingly amongst local drivers and enthusiasts as 'Veg Corner!'