The fantastic view over the Quayside from the Tyne Bridge is iconic, it's breathtaking, it's quintessential North East identity, and it's more than a bit daunting when you realise you're about to go off the edge.
As part of the NE1 Summer in the City programme in Newcastle, North East-based company Jelly Legs set up a zip line from the Tyne Bridge that stretches 250 metres across the river. It is anticipated that over 1,300 thrillseekers will partake and ride the wire during the event's five-day run.
Jelly Legs is certainly an apt name. I could think of no better way to describe how I felt as I approached the zip wire, knowing I'm next. Rigorous safety checks gave me confidence but took away none of the apprehension as I was told to climb the ladder beside the railing on the edge of the bridge.
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"Okay, now just swing your legs over the side," I was told with such casual candour that I almost forgot I'd be sitting with my feet dangling 30 metres up in the air. It was surreal, but on such a lovely day I found myself admiring the view and very nearly at peace with the thrill before me.
Once a go-ahead was given from the landing platform, I requested to be pushed. There isn't much that can prepare you for that moment before the cable catches you when, for the briefest flash, you are simply falling from the Tyne Bridge.
The daunting moment of being pushed off the bridge gave way to immediate elation as I soared over the River Tyne with what I like to imagine was a graceful display of not flapping my arms and pretending to fly, as much as I was tempted to do so.
The dizzying thrill ride offers a fantastic perspective of Newcastle Quayside usually reserved for seagulls. Whilst the spin on the journey down pointed me back towards the Tyne Bridge I took stock for a moment, I'd just gone off the side of that thing.
Once I got the hang of hanging and found comfort in the sensation of floating over the river, the breaks engaged and I hit the landing pad with much less finesse than I'd started the experience with. After landing, your legs really do feel like jelly as the adrenaline surges through you.
Working with Zip Slides UK, Jelly Legs provides an opportunity for members of the public and charities to partake in zip sliding from the Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne down to the Newcastle Quayside. Unlike many of the permanent adrenaline event locations around the country, temporary installations offer unique opportunities for events at some fantastic venues and varied locations.
Ben Whitfield, director of communications at NE1 explained, "“This is our first full summer post-Covid, and we have loved being able to welcome people back into the city, providing a packed programme of things to do and see. It has been an action-packed summer so far filled with activities for the whole family.
"To top it off, we have zip wiring off the Tyne Bridge. This is the icing on the cake and the first time people have been able to zip-line from the Tyne Bridge in three years."
The Tyne Bridge Zipline event is running on Saturday August 20, Friday August 26, Saturday August 27, and Monday August 29 from 9am to 6pm. On both Saturdays, the day event will end and will reopen for a twilight experience in the evening.
Details for the zipline events can be found on the Jelly Legs website, here.
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