Gateshead can be explored through very different traces: Dunston Staiths tells the story of coal being loaded onto ships, BALTIC connects a former mill with contemporary art, and Saltwell Park showcases a landscaped park. Together, these places offer different ways to discover the city’s history and culture.

Coal, River and Routes

Dunston Staiths opened in 1893 so that coal could be loaded directly onto ships. The structure is designated as a Scheduled Monument and listed as a Grade II building. Its original purpose is clear: coal was loaded here onto ships for onward transport.

The Tyne Derwent Way passes Dunston Staiths and connects the site to a longer route. The nine-mile walking trail starts at St Mary’s Heritage Centre in the centre of Gateshead and ends in Gibside. Along the way, it runs through Gateshead Riverside Park. The start, destination and named stops give the route a clear course between the town centre and the Derwent Valley.

A Mill Becomes an Art Gallery

BALTIC is located on the Quayside in Gateshead, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the town centre. The building was a flour mill before it was converted into a six-storey contemporary art gallery in 2002. Today, it has no permanent collection. This means visitors see art they have not seen before on every visit.

The route from Newcastle is also on foot: BALTIC can be reached from Newcastle Quayside via the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Newcastle lies on the north bank of the River Tyne and is connected to Gateshead by seven bridges. The Millennium Bridge was the first of its kind to swing sideways to allow boats to pass. It is both a pedestrian link and a bridge with a distinctive movement mechanism.

Art, Music and Park History

The Shipley Art Gallery offers a different focus from BALTIC. It opened on 29 November 1917 and holds a Designated Collection of national importance. While BALTIC is a contemporary art gallery with no permanent collection, Shipley links its history to a nationally significant design collection.

Music is another part of cultural life: The Glasshouse is home to the orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia. The Glasshouse Music Education Centre has 26 rooms for lessons, practice, workshops and recording. Its varied uses therefore extend beyond the orchestra to include music education and practical work.

At Saltwell Park, the parkland has its own history. The park covers 55 acres and is home to twelve Grade II listed buildings, including Saltwell Towers. A path runs along the shore of the lake. The gardens date from around 1853 to 1870; Edward Kemp designed the public park in 1876. The dates distinguish the development of the gardens from the later design of the park.

At Gibside, the Wonders of Nature Trail offers a different type of route: the circular trail starts and ends at the Market Place. This makes its course different from the Tyne Derwent Way, which starts at St Mary’s Heritage Centre and ends in Gibside. Here, the circular route returns to its starting point; there, a route connects a named start with a different destination.

Another artistic landmark lies south of Gateshead. A large contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley stands on a hillside overlooking the A1.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Gateshead, Dunston, Ryton, Birtley, South Tyneside, Stockton-On-Tees, North Tyneside, Middlesbrough

For the wider travel overview: North East England.