Belford has been an important watering hole at least since Roman times. Then, centuries later, for travellers on the A1 Trunk Road between London and Edinburgh.

All traffic continued to travel through until the 1980's, when the bypass was completed.

Markets & mail

In 1741, Belford was granted a licence to hold biannual fairs and a weekly market. It isn't hard to visualise the hustle and bustle in front of the old coaching inn.

The mail coach 'Royal William' passed through each day until the arrival of the Newcastle to Berwick Railway in 1847. Just four days after the opening of the line, the mail coach rumbled through the village for the final time...

Trains continued to stop at Belford Station until the 1960's when it fell victim to Dr Beeching's cuts. However, it now looks likely that a daily service will resume in the future, using a new platform.

Belford today

Today, Belford is a quiet and attractive village with a population of around 1000. However, it remains important in this part of North Northumberland.

It no longer has a weekly market or an active court house but has managed to keep a good range of shops (including two food stores) which provide everything from gifts to essentials.

There's a range of quality accommodation and a regular bus service. In fact Belford is something of an 'interchange' where buses for Berwick, Newcastle, Wooler and the villages around the coast meet to transfer passengers.

Its convenient location, close to tourist attractions and the coast, makes Belford the ideal base for a holiday, a weekend visit or just a day out.

In August 2006, Belford held its first-ever European Market. About twenty stalls offered bread and pastries, coffee, sausages, pate, soaps, wine and much more.

Click here to watch the video (broadband needed).