Ponteland – Church, History and the River Pont

Ponteland combines local history, riverside scenery and a wide range of leisure activities. The River Pont flows through the town, and a stone bridge with two arches forms part of its distinctive character. There is also a church that is open every day, a medieval tower house, a leisure centre catering to a range of interests and lively traditions. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Ponteland, you will find ideas here for culture, exercise and shared experiences.

Church and medieval traces

St. Mary the Virgin can be included in your daily plans without arranging a specific visiting time: the church is open every day. Visitors can enter spontaneously, light a candle, pray or enjoy the peace and quiet. The building also offers several noteworthy details for travellers interested in culture. The lower parts of the tower date from the Norman period, and the church also has a striking west doorway. In the spacious 13th-century chancel, the chancel arch features carvings of Adam and Eve that also date from this period.

Vicar's Pele, a medieval tower house, stands in the centre of Ponteland. The three-storey building was constructed from irregular rubble stone and features brick repairs. It has no roof, creating a distinctive impression of historic fabric. Another unusual trace of the town's history can be found at the Blackbird Inn: its cellar houses a 14th-century tower known as Ponteland Castle. This tower was plundered by the Scots in 1388.

Active days and shared experiences

Ponteland Leisure Centre offers a modern gym, a swimming pool, fitness classes and sports facilities for all age groups. This means you can accommodate different interests when planning your trip, even if not everyone travelling with you follows the same daily routine. There is also a Clip-'n'-Climb climbing arena. It is suitable for individual climbers as well as groups of families and friends.

Ponteland Golf Club also welcomes occasional visitors. Anyone wishing to include a sporting activity in their stay can consider this option alongside the facilities at the Leisure Centre. For more peaceful impressions, the River Pont runs through Ponteland; at the stone bridge with its two arches, the connection between the river and the townscape is particularly easy to appreciate.

Special traditions in Ponteland

An unusual tradition awaits you on New Year's Day: an annual wheelbarrow race takes place in Ponteland. The event is regarded as a local tradition and probably dates back to the 14th century. For families and other travel groups, this event is a reason in its own right to connect the turn of the year with a special local custom. As it takes place on New Year's Day, it belongs in a correspondingly planned travel period.

Kirkley Hall adds another line of development to the historical picture. The building was originally a country house and is now an agricultural college. Kirkley Hall dates from 1764 and was largely rebuilt between 1927 and 1930 after a fire. Anyone interested in the transformation of historic buildings and their present-day use will find a different focus here from the ecclesiastical and medieval architectural remnants in the town.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for accommodation in Ponteland, you can therefore first decide which experiences you want to shape your trip: historic sightseeing, exercise at the Leisure Centre, climbing, golf, the River Pont or a trip centred around the New Year's Day tradition. A holiday apartment or holiday home provides the right setting for incorporating these priorities into your own daily routine. The places and activities mentioned offer you a range of ideas without requiring you to commit to just one type of stay.

Further destinations for your travel plans: Berwick Hill, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Kirkwhelpington, Alnwick, Brampton, Chillingham, Chathill, Bellingham.

For the higher-level travel overview: Northumberland.