A tranquil village green, a running river, church bells ringing and you have the quintessential essence of a Northumberland village.
And that's what you have at the heart of Ponteland, though the roads around that image above are anything but quiet during the school run. Nevertheless, it's a sought-after part of the region for many, thanks to schools rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted; a wide range of places to eat, drink and shop; and easy access to both Newcastle, Morpeth and the Northumberland countryside.
It even has 'the best pub in the North East,' at least according to the North East Tourism Awards. The Blackbird sits in the village alongside the Diamond and the Seven Stars, as well as a few drinking spots that aren't quite conventional pubs, such as YOLO, Flying Gang Brewing and Ponteland Tap.
