Nestling on the banks of the North Tyne, Bellingham is known as the gateway town to Kielder Water & Forest Park, and the town boasts a thriving community that supports a cafe, three pubs, a family-run hotel with swimming pool and numerous B&Bs.
Bellingham's proximity to the North Tyne river makes it popular for fishing but for those who prefer more active pursuits there is also an excellent 18-hole golf course and a fitness centre.
Bellingham is also a good base if you want to explore some of Northumberland's best-known attractions. It lies nine miles from Kielder Water & Forest Park and is only a dozen miles from Northumberland's own World Heritage Site, Hadrian's Wall.
But there is plenty to see if you want to stay local to the town. Hareshaw Linn Walk is a stunning 2.5 mile walk through countryside passing the remains of an old ironworks - the area was once home to a number of iron and coal mines - that ends at a magnificent 30 feet waterfall.
You can also walk along the riverbanks to where the Rede and Tyne rivers meet, and in season you can watch the wild salmon leaping.
The town is also home to the Bellingham Heritage Centre which celebrates Bellingham's rich industrial and cultural past. There are sections on the Border Counties Railway, which ran through the area en route to Scotland until 1958, and a display on the Border Reivers that provides a fascinating insight into the robbery and violence that was rife in 16th century border life.
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