What Not to Miss in Ponteland and Belsay
Try out the busy bars and restaurants of Ponteland, or head north to explore a little Northumberland countryside
Eat
In Ponteland, Bawn is a relaxed restaurant offering sourdough pizza, brilliant small plates and a varied wine list. Just across the road in the old bank, Ateesh does good-quality Middle Eastern dishes in seriously Instagrammable surroundings. Mambos is a buzzy place serving good food and cocktails, while The Blackbird (Ponteland’s oldest pub) is best known for its Sunday lunch. Fratelli is still a popular spot with locals looking for good Italian dishes, while in Darras Hall Number 9 is good for coffee, lunches and serves tapas in the evenings, and Haveli offers fabulous Indian fine dining. Up the road in Belsay, Blacksmith’s Coffee Shop is the place for coffee, homemade scones and light lunches. On the road between Ponteland and Belsay, The Highlander is back open serving pub classics from Thursday to Sunday each week.
Sleep
Just across the road from Bolam Lake, you can escape from it all at Bolam Lake Camping Paddock, a pretty, off-grid site with fresh water points, picnic tables and fire pits available to hire. If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, just north of Belsay the 13th century Shortflatt Tower is perfect for large gatherings, events and holidays with family and friends, sleeping 30 guests in 15 bedrooms (there are luxury Courtyard Cottages here too). In Ponteland, The Diamond Inn has several good rooms.
Browse
On the road into Ponteland, Penny Pieces offer upcycled furniture and a selection of homewares, hairdresser Hooker & Young is where you’ll find lots of beauty necessities and gifts including Bath House candles and diffusers, while in Darras Hall, Carousel has long been a reliable option for gifts, including jewellery, candles and cards. Davidson’s bakery is another stalwart, making fresh bread, cakes, savouries and sandwiches to take away. Meanwhile, up the road, Belsay’s Village Shop is a great example of a local store – its shelves are bursting with everything from store-cupboard essentials to local delicacies, snacks, newspapers, gifts and cards.
Don't Miss
The countryside around these parts is dotted with stately homes, their vast gardens and grounds ripe for exploration. At Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, check out the Grecian Hall, medieval castle and extensive gardens, and keep an eye out for the new Wild Man playground. A little further north you can spend a whole day exploring Wallington, where you’ll find wild woodlands, adventure playgrounds and a great cycle trail as well as the Hall itself. Just down the road, enjoy a stroll around the picturesque Bolam Lake, and see if you can spot a red squirrel, roe deer or a woodpecker.
Around the Corner
Keep heading north from Belsay and you’ll find Kirkharle Courtyard. Birthplace of landscape gardening icon Capability Brown, the converted farm buildings here are now home to a collection of independent shops, artists’ galleries, workshops, a well-stocked larder and a coffee shop.
