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Local history, local flavour

Shop local
 
During your stay, Bellingham offers you all the essential amenities you need including:

 

  • newsagent/post office

  • chemist

  • greengrocers

  • bakery

  • butchers

  • hardware store

  • bank

  • petrol station

  • surgery

  • library

  • church

  • well-stocked Co-Op (open until 10 pm)
     

The many local farm shops and farmers markets in the area are perfect for self-catering tourists. For award-winning,

hill-bred organic beef, lamb and pork, try nearby Dunterley Farm, which runs:

 

  • Kielder Organic Meats

 

Hexham Farmers Market takes place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month; Morpeth Farmers Market is the first Saturday of every month.

Browse local

 

Many talented artists and crafts people, including painters, potters, sculptors, textile makers, writers, artisan food specialists and photographers, live locally providing wonderful authentic

hand-made mementoes of your visit. Discover something interesting, unique yet affordable to take home as a souvenir. You'll find original watercolours, limited edition prints, sculpture, willow, glass, woodwork, ceramics, jewellery, framed

photos of the county's most iconic attractions, plus much, much more.

 

Browse local art galleries and craft shops. Explore the Bellingham Heritage Centre, whose fascinating exhibitions on the Border Counties Railway, Border Reivers, mining and photography will help you absorb the local history. In the grounds, you'll find a tea room... within a lovingly

restored 1957 MK1 train carriage!

 

Also worth a look:

 

  • New Horizons (gift shop)

  • Gallery 85 (art gallery)

  • The Bike Place (cycle hire & maps)

Eat local

 

Passionate foodies have enriched the county with fine dining opportunities. In fact, there's a terrific place to eat right on your doorstep! On the other side of the road from Ostler's Cottage stands the Riverdale Hall Hotel, which includes a Les Routiers Gold Plate award-winning restaurant.

 

This fully-licensed restaurant specialises in producing excellent regional fare, including Northumbrian lamb, Kielder venison, locally reared pheasant and partridge along with salmon and trout caught on a local stretch of the River Tyne.

 

In addition, you can take your pick of three pubs (with excellent food), a friendly street-side cafe, two tea rooms (one in a converted railway carriage!) and even a Chinese take-away!

 

You'll also find several other amazing top quality eateries all around the local area, whether you're heading in the direction of Kielder, Corbridge, Otterburn, Rothbury, Morpeth or Hexham. Ask us for our personal recommendations!

Bellingham sits on the Pennine Way, just 17 miles from Hexham. Known as the 'capital of the North Tyne Valley',

it boasts a rich history and a turbulent 'Border Reiver' past. The 13th century, Grade 1 listed St Cuthbert's

Church, with its stone barrel vault running from the Nave to the South Transept, is almost unique in England. In the church- yard you'll find 'The Lang Pack', said to be the

grave of an 18th century burglar who tried to infiltrate a local dwelling by hiding in a long ('lang') pack. He was discovered when he had an ill-timed coughing fit. Alarmed, servants of the house fetched a gun and shot him dead. The mysterious visitor was never identified and to this day 'The Lang Pack' lies unnamed.

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