The ‘Island in the Pont’
Ponteland sits in the south of Northumberland on the banks of the river Pont. Its name literally means ‘Island in the Pont'. The river Pont passes through the town, and there is a stone bridge of two arches over it. Ponteland takes its name from the river flooding so often and extensively that it often left the village as an island.
The quintessentially British Post Box Cafe, with a post office-esque exterior and an irresistibly warm interior, is a cosy cafe by day and candle-lit bar/ restaurant by night. Bustling bars, with roadside terraces perfect for sipping on a cocktail in the sunshine, line the High Street, and there are local pubs-aplenty for a more traditional evening.
Alongside its shops and restaurants are clues to a historic past; the skeletal remains of a 14th century Pele Tower still stand, while the town’s Blackbird Inn houses the basement of a 14th century tower known as Ponteland Castle which was ransacked by the Scots in 1388. Visit the Inn’s Tunnel Room where a secret tunnel is supposedly bricked up behind the fireplace. It is said to connect the basement with St. Mary's Church.
Ponteland village hosts a number of annual events, one being the New Year’s Day wheelbarrow race which has been a tradition for longer than most residents can recall but is thought to go back as far as the 14th century.
Whether you choose to explore the centre of Ponteland, including its family friendly leisure centre with soft play and clip’n’climb, or head to nearby hidden gems like Bolam Lakes, Kirkharle and the magical Belsay Hall and quarry gardens, there are so many things to do.
Ponteland’s proximity to Newcastle Airport makes finding the right accommodation plane-sailing. You can fly into your trip and make the most of the conveniently placed hotels, or pick a picturesque lodge or cottage in the town or surrounding area.