They are already the apple of many a fitness enthusiast's eye - and now an historic network of waggonways has won a national accolade.
North Tyneside Council's £3m waggonways project has clinched a Green Apple Environment Award.
It is one of five North-East projects to carry off one of the awards from the Green Organisation.
Others went to South Tyneside Council's Blitz-It clean-up scheme, Durham Wildlife Trust's efforts to save water voles, a residential summer camp for inner-city children run by Northumberland Wildlife Trust and a venture by Northumbrian Water and the Coal Authority to cut pollution in the River Team in Gateshead.
A total of 40 kilometres of North Tyneside waggonways have been transformed into recreation and leisure corridors for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users. The Green Apple Award judges said: "The council has turned the waggonways into cycle routes and bridleways with accompanying nature reserves and parklands to truly benefit the community."
North Tyneside Mayor John Harrison said: "What were once overgrown and disused former coal routes are now safe and enjoyable places for cyclists, horseriders, runners, joggers and walkers."
Durham Wildlife Trust's Coals to Voles two-year £50,000 project, backed by lottery funding and the Environment Agency, seeks to help the endangered animals which have colonies on the River Don in Jarrow, and in Easington, Peterlee, Houghton and Hetton. Trust conservation manager Jim Cokill said that ponds has been created on farmland to provide "stepping stones" across the landscape for the voles, helping farmers to improve habitat and supplying information on colonies.
South Tyneside's Blitz-It team deals with traditional and mechanical street sweeping and litter picking, waste enforcement, abandoned vehicles and graffiti removal. It is also involved in beach cleaning, and tree and grounds maintenance.
Michael Clare, council lead member for environment, said: "Their efforts are really making a difference. Figures show that 91% of our streets are clean, which is a fantastic achievement." Nine ponds and five hectares of reedbeds near the Angel of the North are being used to treat minewater discharges and effluent from Lamesley sewage treatment works in a joint project by Northumbrian Water and the Coal Authority.
This is improving the quality of water entering the River Team at Gateshead, while the reed beds - with a viewing platform for visitors - double as a wildlife habitat.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Kielder residential summer camp is designed to enable children from Hawthorn Primary School in Elswick in Newcastle to spend time away from the deprived urban area. For many, it is their first exposure to wildlife and wild places.
