More about the area around Hebden Bridge, Bronte Country and Todmorden.

HEBDEN BRIDGE

Hebden Bridge takes its name from a stone packhorse bridge over the river Hebden Water, 2010 marked the 500th anniversary of the packhorse bridge.

Hebden has a vibrant and artistic character and is well served with cafes, restaurants, inns, boutiques, galleries and gift shops as well as a wide range of independent local food shops and everyday shopping needs. It has its own Picture House, Little Theatre and Trades Club with a fantastic variety of live music and cabaret. An annual Arts Festival takes place in June/July with many other events throughout the year. You can even enjoy a canal cruise with Stubbing Wharf Cruises or Bronte Boat Hire.

The Independent and Guardian newspapers and The New Economics Foundation ranked Hebden Bridge "the best range of locally owned shops in the UK". It has even been selected by Highlife magazine as the "4th funkiest town in the world" (after Daylesford in Australia, Tiradentes in Brazil and Burlington in Vermont.) Hebden Bridge has also been voted 2011 Great Town of the Year at the Urbanism Awards in London.

HEPTONSTALL

Heptonstall is an ancient village (predates Hebden Bridge) and is sited on the hillside overlooking Hebden Bridge. The Heptonstall Museum is housed in the old village grammar school, the ruined 13th Century Church of St Thomas a Beckett stands in the churchyard of the current St Thomas the Apostle church. Poet Sylvia Plath, the wife of fellow poet Ted Hughes is buried in the churchyard. Heptonstall also has the Octagonal Chapel, the oldest Methodist Chapel still in use today.

Bronte Parsonage Museum

HAWORTH

Haworth is situated at the edge of the Pennine moors and has been made famous by the Bronte sisters. It is a major tourist attraction in the area with the Bronte Parsonage Museum and many gift shops and cafes. From the parsonage take a walk to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse, said to have been the inspiration for the location of "Wuthering Heights".

HARDCASTLE CRAGS

Hardcastle Crags (National Trust) a beauty spot just outside Hebden Bridge, consists of 400 acres of unspoilt woodland with 30 miles of footpaths. At its centre is Gibson Mill, a 19th century cotton mill now redeveloped as an interactive visitor experience for sustainable development. With no mains services the Mill generates its own electricity on site using renewable resources.

STOODLEY PIKE

Stoodley Pike

Stoodley Pike is a 1,300ft (396.2 metre) hill between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, notable for the 121ft-high tower at its summit which dominates the moors opposite Whiteley Royd Farm. The current Stoodley Pike Monument was designed by local architect James Green in 1854 and the building was completed in 1856 when peace was declared at the end of the Crimean War. An earlier monument had existed on the site, started in 1814 to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon and the surrender of Paris and completed in 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo (Napoleonic Wars). This structure collapsed in 1854 following an earlier lightning strike and ongoing wear and tear from the elements.

The Bride Stone

BLACKSHAW HEAD, GREAT ROCK AND BRIDE STONES

The closest village to Whiteley Royd Farm is Blackshaw Head, as heard on Radio 4's Gardners Question Time on 23 July and on 27 August. Great Rock, which is still known locally as Devil's Rock, one of the many remnants of old beliefs in witchcraft, is a landmark very close to Whiteley Royd Farm and you can get a great view from the top of it. Also just down the road are The Bride Stones are a super example of Yorkshire bouldering crags formed when glaciated within the last 15000 years. They are spread all over the hillside and many of the interesting ones are individually named. They include the Indian's Head, the Villain, the Cheeseblock and the Bride Stone itself which is a large rounded rock in the shape of an egg perched on a slender pillar. Myth has it that the stone is a rich source of fertility for newly married couples.

HALIFAX, TODMORDEN AND BEYOND

Steam Train

Halifax is a short drive from Hebden Bridge and has some interesting tourist attractions including, The Piece Hall, Dean Clough, Shibden Hall, Manor Heath Park & Jungle Experience and the UK's National Children's Museum, Eureka. Local town Todmorden, home to The Incredible Edible Todmorden was visited by HRH The Prince of Wales as part of his Start Tour on Sustainability, in September 2010. Keighley & Worth Valley Light Railway offers steam train rides and the market town of Skipton with its castle is well worth a visit. Situated in the village of Saltaire, near Shipley, Bradford, Salts Mill "shopping, dining and art in one glorious building", houses a collection of the works of the famous artist, Bradford born, David Hockney. Holmfirth, famous for the TV series "Last of the Summer Wine" is a nice day out. Leeds and Manchester are both easily accessible by either car or train.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

Whiteley Royd Farm is a great location for outdoor enthusiasts or for those who simply want to chill out and enjoy the views. The Pennine Way and Calderday Way are on the doorstep, together with The Pennine Bridleway and The Mary Towneley Loop. There are several other local walks to enjoy too. Mountain Bike skills courses are run by local organisation Great Rock. We can also provide guided fell runs and grazing, should you want to bring your horse along too.

EATING AND DRINKING

The infamous May's Shop on Highgate Farm is 2.4 miles away and has been the winner of the 'Best Rural Retailer' award. We also have a local farm shop at the top of the drive - Staups Lea Farm. We are lucky enough to have two village pubs nearby. The Sportsmans Arms (Kebs) at Kebcote is 2.4 miles away and The New Delight (The Newdy) at Jack Bridge, Colden, 1.8 miles away. The Packhorse Inn, Widdop is 5 miles away and boasts a collection of over 140 single malt whiskies and has an excellent reputation for good honest food at sensible prices. There are two pubs in Heptonstall which is 3.5 miles away, The Cross Inn and The White Lion

Hebden Bridge is 3.5 miles from Whiteley Royd Farm and offers a variety of pubs, cafes and restaurants, including Kitties, Moyles, Nelsons Wine Bar, Il Mulino Italian Restaurant, Rim Nam Thai Restaurant, Theo's Greek Restaurant and The Stubbing Wharf.

A little further afield, but we think well worth a visit. El Gato Negro Tapas, is 12 miles away in Ripponden and was a finalist in Gordon Ramsey's local restaurants programme. Gimbals Bistro, is 9 miles away in Sowerby Bridge, as is The Syhiba Indian Restaurant. The Maypole Inn in Warley is 8 miles away. The Ram Inn, Cliviger is 8 miles away. The Staff of Life Todmorden is 4.5 miles away.