After having completed the Coast to Coast and having taken things a little easier for a few months, we decided on a new challenge for 2019: run from Newcastle to Edinburgh. We wanted a running challenge that would see us to the end of the year and we set out to complete at least one part of the run every month but some months we managed to complete more than just the one run.
We followed coastal paths as much as possible and tried to stay as close to the sea as we could. The terrain was very challenging in some places but was usually worth, even if only for the views. Highlights were Dunstanburgh, Newton-by-the-Sea, Bamburgh, a boat trip to the Farne Islands, Holy Island, St Abbs, Dunbar and of course also the run into Edinburgh via Portobello, across Arthur’s Seat and running up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle.
If we have to pick one section as our favourite, it would have to be the run from St Abbs to Cockburnspath. The sunrise in St Abbs harbour was stunning and while we were running across St Abbs Head we saw sea mist come in which was a very spectacular sight.
Duration: January until December
Total distance: 193 miles
Number of runs: 17
Start and finish for each run:
1 Newcastle – Tynemouth
2 Tynemouth – Blyth
3 Blyth – Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
4 Newbiggin-by-the-Sea – Druridge Bay
5 Druridge Bay – Amble
6 Amble – Alnmouth
7 Alnmouth – Bamburgh
8 Bamburgh – Holy Island
9 Loop around Holy Island
10 Holy Island – Berwick upon Tweed
11 Berwick upon Tweed – Eyemouth
12 Eyemouth – St Abbs
13 St Abbs – Cockburnspath
14 Cockburnspath – Dunbar
15 Dunbar – North Berwick
16 North Berwick – Prestonpans
17 Prestonpans – Edinburgh
Confessions of a Running Freak 