The Great North Run takes place in North East England. Its 13.1-mile half-marathon course starts in Newcastle upon Tyne, crosses the Tyne Bridge into Gateshead and finishes on the seafront at South Shields.
It is a point-to-point race, with a coastal finish rather than a return to Newcastle. Arrival plans center on Newcastle, while the finish in South Shields shapes the journey home.
Where does the Great North Run start?
The start is on Newcastle’s Central Motorway, near Claremont Road. Use the official start-area map and your allocated starting instructions to plan the final approach. These identify where runners need to go on foot; a map pin for the start line alone is insufficient for planning a vehicle drop-off.
Running clubs arranging Coach Hire Newcastle should agree to an arrival point that fits the organiser’s access guidance and a separate collection plan for South Shields. Set out at both locations before travelling, so everyone knows where the day begins and where they will regroup after the race.
Through Gateshead to the South Shields finish
The Tyne Bridge takes runners out of Newcastle and into Gateshead relatively early in the race. From there, the course passes Gateshead International Stadium, an intermediate landmark on the journey towards South Shields.
The course includes climbs before descending towards the coast, rather than following a flat riverside path. The official route information shows the full progression, including landmarks and terrain beyond the start area.
In South Shields, the final stretch follows the seafront beside the North Sea. Use the finish-area map when choosing where to meet, since the finish line, the route runners follow afterwards and a suitable public reunion point serve different purposes. A general town-center pin gives too little detail for this part of the day.
Build in time for runners to move through the finish area, recover, and collect belongings under the event’s baggage arrangements. Their predicted race time tells you roughly when they will cross the line, not when they will be ready for collection.
Planning for runners and supporters
Runners need to reach their assigned start area and understand what happens once they arrive in South Shields. Supporters face a different task: choosing where to watch and working out how to reach the reunion point afterwards.
Seeing a runner at several places along the course requires a realistic travel plan. Distances on a map tell only part of the story. While runners follow the race route, supporters must use public access routes, available crossings, and transport services. Choose viewing points around a manageable journey rather than relying on quick transfers through busy areas.
If the priority is greeting someone after the race, make the South Shields reunion the center of the supporter’s plan. Work backwards from that location when deciding whether an earlier viewing stop is practical.
Agree a specific landmark shown on the relevant map instead of saying “near the finish.” Consider the walk to that point and the needs of anyone who finds prolonged standing or walking difficult. For groups running at different speeds, decide where earlier finishers will wait while others complete the course.
Where runner tracking is offered, use it to follow progress alongside the agreed meeting plan. Starting waves, individual pace, and time spent leaving the finish area all affect when someone will be ready to meet.
Finding current maps and access guidance
The organizer’s course maps and runner-information section are the starting points for planning. Read them alongside current transport and council notices. The course map explains where the race goes; operational guidance covers access, restrictions, and return journeys, including busy Metro services and possible station restrictions.
Check that each map, timetable, and travel notice relates to the edition you are attending. Older flyover videos remain useful for recognizing the course, while current instructions establish entry points, road closures, and collection arrangements.
Before leaving home, share the start-area approach, the supporter’s viewing plan and the reunion location. Agreeing those details in advance is much easier than trying to find each other from opposite ends of the course.
