5 Ways to Enjoy the Sunshine

July 17, 2013 by Rachel Kershaw in Days Out 6

With the heatwave set to continue across NewcastleGatesehad I thought I would share with you some of my favourite ways to make the most of the sunshine in and around Geordieland. (Apologies if you’re reading this while stuck at work, but hopefully a day off isn’t too far away!)

Get on Your Bike

The North East of England is full of great places to explore by bike, if you’re new cycling like me then you could ease yourself in by starting off at the friendly Cycle Hub on Newcastle Quayside where you can hire a bike quite cheaply and be at the iconic Angel of the North in Gateshead in well under an hour. There’s a lovely cafe at the Cycle Hub too so you can treat yourself to a well deserved slice of yummy home-made cake on your return!

Dine Alfresco

I never really need an excuse to eat at Kafe Neon in Newcastle’s Bigg Market as it’s been a firm favourite of mine for years, but when the sun shines it’s even more tempting. With it’s Mediterranean style menu, budget friendly prices and sun soaked outdoor seating area it’s the perfect place to grab a spot of lunch. It seems it’s not just me that thinks so either, Trip Advisor recently awarded Kafe Neon a certificate of excellence, placing them in the top 10% of businesses worldwide! They deserve it for their tzatziki alone if you ask me!

Surf’s Up!

Surfing is one of the most exhilarating sports I’ve ever tried and after spending an afternoon with the Tynemouth Surf Company last summer I would urge anyone to give it a go! Once you’re kitted out in the oh so flattering wetsuit, you’ll barely notice the icy chill of the North Sea, honest!

From the 24th July Tynemouth Surf Company are bringing back their hugely popular ‘Big Wednesday’ for the summer holidays which gives kids aged 6-16 the chance to try out surfing for just £15… Bargain!

Park Life

You might be surprised to learn that over half of Gateshead is made up of mature woodland, riverbanks, ponds and wildflower meadows, Newcastle also has lots of lovely parks to retreat to, so you’re never far from idyllic countryside in Geordieland!

One of my favourite green spaces is Saltwell Park in Gateshead. A lot of time and money has been spent restoring this park to its Victorian splendour and there’s loads to do here! Discover 55 acres of woodland and gardens as well as sports facilities, a cafe, a lake, play areas, bowling greens, Saltwell Towers (a fairy tale like mansion), the fabulous animal house and even a maze… you may well get lost!

Ahoy There!

The NewcastleGateshead Quayside is the first place that many people head for when we get a spot of good weather in Geordieland and I don’t blame them for one second. If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle though, how about a relaxing cruise along the Tyne with River Escapes? There are a range of scheduled boat trips to choose from, every Saturday you can cruise past the Quayside’s most iconic landmarks including all seven bridges and learn a thing or two from the informative commentary. If you prefer partying to sightseeing then check out the barbeque boat trips and themed party nights that start from just £12 per persons, a great alternative to the usual pubs and clubs.

It was tough keeping this list to just five of my favourite things to do when the sun shines in NewcastleGateshead, what else do you think I should have mentioned?

By Rachel Kershaw