Resuming our Pretty Places series, we’re taking a look at the West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge, with its lush open spaces, popular canals and bustle of independent shops. On the doorstep to the Pennine Way it is also conveniently located if you’re looking for outdoor pursuits in the fresh air of the Calder Valley or by the Hardcastle Crags.
Situated halfway between Manchester and Leeds, Hebden Bridge is a popular day trip for city-dwellers and easy to access thanks to the numerous public transport hubs, including its own train station in the heart of the town. The town also benefits from a canal network, which is particularly popular with narrow boaters, who can moor in the centre of town by many of its bars and restaurants.
Said to date back to Anglo-Saxon times, Hebden Bridge came into its own in the 19th century as a centre for water-powered mills thanks to its fast-flowing waters and its proximity to wealthy towns like Leeds and Manchester. Since then it has become a hub for artists and independent shops, with converted mills and factories used as shopping arcades and studios. IN 2014, the town was also a stop on the first British leg of the Tour de France.
Calder Holmes Park is the Hebden’s main public park, situated in the heart of the town, right next to the train station and several car parks. Encompassing nearly 7 acres of green space, the park is bordered on two sides by the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal and is the perfect outdoor spot for some picnicking, using the outdoor gym, skate park or children’s playground. The park also has a cafe and routinely hosts events such as the Hebden Bridge Vintage Car Weekend and the annual Handmade Parade. The park is also an excellent rest stop on the Rochdale Canal towpath, which leads walkers and cyclists alongside the canal, across the Pennines. Alternatively, you could take the Calderdale Way, a 50-mile route through the picturesque Calderdale Valley, if hiking and outdoor pursuits are your preference.
If hill walks aren’t your thing, Hebden Bridge has a range of accessible cafes, restaurants and shops, many with outdoor dining options for effective social-distancing, particularly in Saint George’s Square on Bridge Gate, where you’ll find most of the town’s most popular stores and crafts centres. If you’re looking for a more cultured visit, you could take a pilgrimage to Sylvia Plath’s grave at the church of Saint Thomas The Apostle or visit the National Trust’s Gibson Mill – a water-powered cotton mill that was restored by the Trust as a museum and their ‘flagship sustainable building’, which is set within 400 acres of ‘untouched’ woodlands. You could also plan your trip to coincide with the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.
Hebden Bridge is an easy day trip from nearby cities like Manchester, Blackburn, Huddersfield and Leeds, with direct routes via rail, road or canal. It also benefits from nearby holiday parks such as the Hebden Bridge Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, for anybody who wishes to make a pandemic-proof holiday out of their visit.
Other nearby Pretty Places include Whalley, Haworth and, slightly further afield, Harrogate. You can view other Pretty Places under the ‘Pretty Places‘ tag. Stay tuned for more posts as part of this series.
images: Scene Therapy, Tim Green for Creative Commons