Jo’s Monday walk : City of Sunderland

Looking out at the quay, from the National Glass Centre

Looking out at the quay, from the National Glass Centre

You might remember, before I started my regular Monday walks feature, the post A Promenade to Roker?  It started from the National Glass Centre and followed the River Wear out to the beach at Roker, north of Sunderland.  I always intended to try a walk in the opposite direction, following the river through the city.  Since I promised you a level walk last week, I thought this might be a good one to try.

It’s an industrial area and the National Glass Centre is like a jewel at its centre.  I’m like a kid with a new toy if I get to visit, so we’ll be popping in later, but right now it’s time to start walking.

We'll start on the quayside, outside the Glass Centre

We’ll start on the quayside, outside the Glass Centre

A number of boats are casually moored

A number of boats are casually moored, waiting for an owner

This pretty blue one, a favourite

This gently blue one’s a favourite

But I took my eye off the boats for long enough to look at this

But I took my eye off the boats for long enough to look at this!

We’re walking alongside the University of Sunderland, and in term time the grass is strewn with students.  This morning the sun was glinting prettily on the medieval book, outside the university library.  There’s a wry sense of humour in the placement of giant nuts and bolts on the quay.

And the inevitable graffiti, of course

And the inevitable graffiti, of course!

Compensated for by this willowy creation

Compensated for by this willowy creation

It’s base decorated appropriately
With tools
The tree
And a crane
We're walking towards the bridge over the River Wear

We’re walking towards the road and rail bridges over the River Wear

And beneath

And then beneath them

To a short pretty stretch of river

To a short, pretty stretch of the river

Not a ripple disturbing the peace

Where barely a ripple disturbs the surface

There are many reminders of the pitheads and the harsh life that miners and their families lived.

Brockwell Bottom, 645 metres deep
An ode to Sarah Seed
Part of the pithead
The ‘black diamond’ warms
The mouth of hell
On the far shore, a crane building factory

Today a ‘crane building’ factory decorates the far shore

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Looking back at the wall plaques

Looking back at the wall plaques (and at Sunderland FC )

Soon after this the riverside path runs out, and we have the choice whether to retrace our steps or to see a little more.  Curiosity always takes me onto unfamiliar ground so I followed the curve of the path.  It loops up to join the Coast to Coast cycle route, which runs from the east coast all the way across to Whitehaven in Cumbria.

This results in a closer look at the Stadium of Light

This results in a closer look at the ‘Stadium of Light’

And the Olympic sized swimming pool
Alongside the ‘Black Cats’, as Sunderland are fondly known
Bob Stokoe would have been proud
Of the interesting sculptures outside

I head towards the bridges, cross at the busy traffic lights by St. Peter’s Metro stop, and drop back down to the river path within sight of my start point.

A couple of tugboats are just completing their business

A couple of tugboats are just completing their business

For you and me, a treat awaits

For you and me, a treat awaits

Inside the Glass Centre

Inside the Glass Centre

A crab sandwich?

A crab sandwich?  Don’t mind if I do

And a bit of a browse

And a bit of a browse

Aren't these gorgeous?

Aren’t these simply gorgeous?

Linger as long as you want.  There’s always something going on.  I noticed on my table a leaflet for ‘Hen Night Heaven!’  Only in the north east!  You can learn to blow a glass bauble followed by a delicious afternoon tea, with champagne.  Details of all events, and how to get here, are on this link to the National Glass Centre.

Before you leave, take a look up!  You’ll probably see people wandering across the roof.

Hello! Can you see me down here?

Hello! Can you see me down here?

Don't worry! It's reinforced glass.

Don’t worry! It’s reinforced glass.

And that's the way we walked.

And that’s the way we walked.  Good, wasn’t it?

Phew!  Hope you enjoyed our walk today.  It’s time to look at some more, then click on my Jo’s Monday walk logo to see how you can join in.  You’d better get yourself a cuppa first!

walking logo

Jude took me back to Grasmere last week.  I haven’t been for the longest time  :

Circumnavigating Grasmere Lake

I had such fun riding around in the panier on Drake’s bike, but I really should get off and walk!  :

The bike as the stowaways

Bird lovers among you will absolutely delight in this.  Welcome to my walks, Jo!  Please go and say ‘hi’ to Jo everybody  :

I just love birds

Laura’s had back surgery, but has put together a wonderful historical ramble in London  :

Walkabout 2- the Fleet by foot

If I were to find myself in Amy’s Lan Su, I would think I’d died and gone to heaven  :

Lan Su Garden

And finally, Kathryn has brought me the most beautiful light on the Dutch canals  :

Mas en Peel

Please go and give Kathryn a hug.  Things aren’t going so well.  See you all next week, I hope?

107 comments

  1. I am visiting many blogs and I was just thinking there are so many different objects and buildings in this world, different in every corner of the world. It is wonderful to see it all in your pictures!

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  3. I used to go to Sunderland a lot many years ago now, had friends living there and Gateshead,, and you have shown it very well here, a nice place to visit and live.. nice post. 🙂

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    1. Thank you 🙂 I think they’ve made a good job of the riverside and the shopping centre. The part I walked this time was very quiet compared to the stretch out to Roker.

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  4. Another pleasant walk for Monday morning (our time)! Lovely photos, as always. I love the mosaic book — the one you had your eye off the boats … I took a long look of this one too. 🙂 Love the gorgeous glass work. Thank you for the beautiful post, Jo!

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  5. As usual you make the north-east of England look pretty good. Not keen on those high-rise blocks of flats, but love the art-work along your walk especially that lovely metal tree. (Hate the graffiti – that and chewing-gum must be worst things ever for disfiguring the environment) You remind us of the recent history of this region when proud people worked hard for a living. What do they do now I wonder? And thank you for taking me back to the glass centre – I love looking at glass pieces, though haven’t (yet) actually purchased any. One day though…

    My walk for you this week is in another former working town: http://wp.me/pL5Ms-1Jo
    Enjoy with your usual cuppa Jo. See you later 🙂
    Jude xx

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    1. Hi Jude 🙂 I’ve been out in the sunshine most of the day, so much catching up to do this evening. Could NOT believe the scenes at Worthing and the crazy weather on the TV news!
      High rise flats are inevitable in many city centres, Jude, but there are a lot fewer than there used to be. Down on the riverbank it’s easy to forget about them.
      Unemployment figures are still high but the Nissan factory employs a huge number and I think things are looking up a bit. Thanks for taking part again. I’ll be along as soon as I can 🙂

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  8. Jo I definitely remember the Glass Center post. Really enjoyed revisiting and today’s walk. Cycle coast to coast you say? Hmmm that gets me thinking. 🙂

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    1. 140 miles or 230 kms, Sue, and most of it through beautiful scenery. It starts in the Lake District and you’ve seen some of Jude’s posts! Of course, you don’t have to do the whole thing 🙂 Meet you in Sunderland!

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      3. Ideas are brewing Jo. Our youngest is being married next fall so that is top planning priority. Have been throwing around the idea of cycling Peru in the spring.

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    1. It’s not a particular favourite, Tanya- suffers from its ‘superior’ neighbour up at Tyneside. But it’s always surprising what you can find when you look around. I had a lovely outing 🙂

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  12. Another super walk, Jo ! – I’ve never seen that part of England in such weather ! – not that I’ve been there; I mean I haven’t seen footage of it under anything but grey skies.
    LOVE the glass factory thinggies out on the wharf (?): not so keen on the ‘African’ ones.
    Also LOVE that metal tree !!!!

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    2. We’ve done rather well for blue skies in the last week or two, M-R. 🙂 I’m not counting on it lasting but I’m out making the most, as much as I can.
      The glassware changes all the time, and there’s an exhibition area as well as the glass blowing. It really makes a good trip out.

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  14. I enjoyed walking with you Jo, it’s such an interesting area with lots of history which always fascinates me. Looks like you had perfect weather too!

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  20. You know one of things I’m really uneasy about is walking on a glass floor or steps. I know it’s all in my head, but I can so easily imagine falling through. Lovely photos must visit Newcastle/Sunderland some time

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