From Sunrise to Sunset: 44km for YMCA North Tyneside

From Sunrise to Sunset: 44km for YMCA North Tyneside

At the crack of dawn, while most of the North East was still tucked under duvets, 40 locals gathered at the Crow’s Nest in Cresswell. There was a palpable mix of nervous energy and bleary-eyed determination in the air; ahead of them lay 44.37km of rugged coastline.

Supported every step of the way by the expert team at Alexander Adventures, our challengers set off to conquer the Sunrise to Sunset Coastal Challenge.

The first few hours were a quiet, rhythmic trek through the morning mist. By the time the rest of the world was waking up, the group had already reached their first milestone at Cambois. Despite the miles already under their belts, the spirit of the group remained high.

With full bellies and a welcome sugar high, the trek continued. The route took the team past iconic local landmarks, from the white dome of Spanish City to the rugged beauty of St Mary’s Lighthouse.

As the afternoon sun began to dip, the challengers pushed through the final stretch along the North Shields Fish Quay, finally conquering the last climb to the finish line at The Two Pennies around 5:00 PM.

The day ended as all great adventures should: with ice-cold beverages, weary smiles, and very sore feet. But the true reward wasn’t just the finish line. Collectively, our challengers raised an incredible £3,049.

Every penny stays right here in North Tyneside, funding vital local work. While the blisters will heal in a few days, the impact of those 44 km will be felt by our community for a long time to come.

The Coastal Challenge was an incredible experience and definitely one of the toughest challenges I’ve done to date!

The guided 26 mile walk was a really good challenge. We started at 6am in Cresswell to a beautiful sunrise and followed the coastline with the wind in our faces all the way to North Shields.

I’m so proud of our achievement and would highly recommend this amazing day to anyone looking for a memorable challenge.