Start : South Shields Community School, NE34 8BT
(S) From South Shields Community School From the opposite corner of the roundabout (King George Road) take the footpath, there will be houses on your left and fields to your right.
Follow this path until you reach Sunderland Road, cross the road and continue following the track on the other side of the road. This path will climb up to the Cleadon Hills until reaching Sunniside Lane.
(1) Look up to see the Cleadon Water Tower then turn right and walk down Sunniside lane turning left following the public footpath (Whitburn 1.5 miles), continue uphill until you reach a gate in the wall to your right.
(2) Go through the gate and walk diagonally across the field towards the Cleadon Hills Windmill.
From the windmill walk to the corner of the field along the path which hugs the wall, head down to either stile/gate.
(3). The path splits here one path to the north and one to the south of the trees, take either path as the rejoin at the end of the trees.
Continue to follow the path, this will bend around sharply to the right, then the left, then right again, then left again following the edge of the fields, eventually reaching Well House Farm.
Continue to the road junction and turn right onto Wellands Lane.
(4) Walk down Wellands Lane until you reach North Guards, turn right then left into Sandy Chare.
(5) Whitburn Pond is located on this corner if you wish to see it otherwise, walk down Sandy Chare and then turn left into Front Street.
Continue walking, taking either Church Lane to continue onto the next stage or ending the walk at Whitburn Hall. (E)