A little guide for anyone who happens to wander my way. These are my favourite finds in our new homeland, West Yorkshire. Only an hour from big cities like Manchester & Leeds, it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Pack your bags, you’re officially invited.
Where: Blackstone edge
What: Wild hilltop moorlands and deep blue reservoir
Why: Winds that whip the water into waves and clear your head. Breathtaking scenery. Long walks without seeing another soul, all day. Also home to the longest continuous inclining road in England, for any cyclists who like a challenge(!)
Where: Hebden Bridge village
What: an unexpected little slice of vibrant city-living hiding in the hills – shops, cafes, delis & all!
Why: for a decent cup of coffee & wifi signal, organic full English breakfast (complete with vegetarian and vegan options); to while away a rainy afternoon browsing second hand books and vinyl records, or hunting out a 50s teadress or Art Deco coffee pot.
Especially worth a visit are The Organic Cafe, the flower market and Lucy & The Caterpillar vintage boutique.
Where: Yorkshire Sculpture Park
What: 500 acres of beautiful parkland turned into an open air gallery.
Why: With contemporary and modern works on a constantly changing exhibition programme, there’s always something new to find. A gallery without walls and florescent lighting where you can take dogs and children and even a picnic, YSP is a welcome break from stuffy & self-important big city exhibitions. Seeings works surrounded by the wild landscape that inspired them – bathed in sunlight or whipped by the Yorkshire winds – this place is just good for the soul.
Hashtags for Instagram
Every month, I gather up a selection of winning hashtags and send them straight to your inbox, for free.
Sign up to receive my newsletters every month.
9 Comments
Leave a Comment
Sara
August 27, 2014
Yes! That’s exactly the way to describe it. It’s so nice to be lost and alone sometimes, isn’t it? ❤️
Sara
August 27, 2014
Oh love your recommendations Emma! Thank you! Drove through Tod today as it happens (on my way to a spa day, natch!
Emma
August 25, 2014
Love love love all of these destinations! My best friend lives in Todmorden so I spend a lot of time out that way and hope to move there with my boyfriend in the next couple of years. There’s nothing better than spending an afternoon wandering over the moors!
One of my favourite walks is Hebden to Todmorden (or the opposite direction) via Studdley Pike. There’s also a great walk through the woods slightly south of HB that leads you to the ruins of an old mill.
If you haven’t ventured over to Tod yet, you really should – there’s a gorgeous organic shop with an incredible veggie cafe upstairs (The Bear), a lovely antiques shop and a beautiful little chapel that sometimes puts gigs on (I saw Julie Byrne and Michael Chapman there yesterday!)
so very jealous of your life out there – hopefully I will be joining you sooner rather than later!
xx
Emma
August 12, 2014
Blackstone Edge looks beautiful, perfect isolation!
Sara
August 10, 2014
I mean, yes, absolutely x
Sara
August 10, 2014
Um….
Hannah
August 10, 2014
When you say sweet shop bedroom, you mean my room right?
Sara
August 10, 2014
Ha! Are you saying you miss us, Sheona? Come back, we miss you too! Had a little daytime snooze in the sweet shop bedroom today. Was pretty damn awesome x
Sheona
August 10, 2014
I’d like to add:
• The old sweet shop bedroom – for it’s crisp, white, cool inviting sheets and totally awesome shutters.
• A little stool set beside a warm, green aga with beautiful views.
• A perfect park with a super sandpit and exciting zip wire.
Of course, these things are best experienced with 3 of our favourite people and a couple of hens (thought any more about taking them to the park?!)
xxx