Birtley village stands high on a ridge 700 feet above sea level, twelve miles north of Hexham. It commands superb panoramic views over the North Tyne valley, and beyond to the North Pennines, the Wark Forest and northwards to the Cheviots.

The area around Birtley was known as ‘Tynedale’ and is within easy reach of Northumberland National Park, the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Kielder Forest (the largest forest in the UK), Kielder Water (the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe) and the World Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall.  The high quality of the natural environment draws many tourists to the area and also makes Tynedale a very attractive and pleasant place in which to both live and work.

Birtley has an active Village Hall hosting a part time Post Office, a playing field and a children’s playground. The parish church of St Giles (grade II listed) is described as “Simple and complex!”  The nearby village of Wark, just over the River North Tyne, offers day-to-day amenities with a Post Office/village shop, farm shop, public houses, a GP surgery, first school, and cricket & sports facilities. Bellingham and Hexham provide a wider range of local retail, educational and professional services; and the eclectic range of boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Corbridge is also easily accessible. Newcastle and Carlisle lie within easy reach, and provide further comprehensive cultural, educational, recreational and shopping facilities as befits regional capitals.