Maggie’s guidebook to Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and surrounding areas.
Sightseeing
Bridestones rocks are a place of raw beauty for walks, climbing, picnicking and photography. A large expanse of rocks with stunning views and on a good day, beautiful sunsets.
6 locals recommend
Bridestones Moor
Eastwood RoadBridestones rocks are a place of raw beauty for walks, climbing, picnicking and photography. A large expanse of rocks with stunning views and on a good day, beautiful sunsets.
Hebden Bridge is an alternative place to visit, always something going on. Street musicians, art exhibitions, Steam punk weekends, Hand Made Parade for the Arts Festival. Varied eating places many featuring vegan and vegetarian options. Feed the ducks on the steps next to the Pack Horse bridge, visit the independent shops, visit Holme Park, walk along the colourful canalside or enjoy a riverside walk.
139 locals recommend
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is an alternative place to visit, always something going on. Street musicians, art exhibitions, Steam punk weekends, Hand Made Parade for the Arts Festival. Varied eating places many featuring vegan and vegetarian options. Feed the ducks on the steps next to the Pack Horse bridge, visit the independent shops, visit Holme Park, walk along the colourful canalside or enjoy a riverside walk.
Todmorden boasts the Napoleonic memorial pike which is an outstanding feature on the Pennine Way. You don't have to do the PW though to enjoy here, you can walk up in about an hour or longer routes if you're a keen walker. There is the Shepherd's Rest pub close by too for a well deserved drink at the end!
55 locals recommend
Stoodley Pike
19 Hare CtTodmorden boasts the Napoleonic memorial pike which is an outstanding feature on the Pennine Way. You don't have to do the PW though to enjoy here, you can walk up in about an hour or longer routes if you're a keen walker. There is the Shepherd's Rest pub close by too for a well deserved drink at the end!
This is an interesting sculpture by Anna Liu and Mike Tonkin up at Crown Point, Burnley. It's a worthy 15 minutes drive to Burnley's Panopticon, a high point which overlooks the town. Park your car up, picnic on a bench, walk along the decked moorland pathway to the sculpture and listen to the music! Nice for kids! Usually a very fresh, bracing walk!
12 locals recommend
Singing Ringing Tree
Crown Point RoadThis is an interesting sculpture by Anna Liu and Mike Tonkin up at Crown Point, Burnley. It's a worthy 15 minutes drive to Burnley's Panopticon, a high point which overlooks the town. Park your car up, picnic on a bench, walk along the decked moorland pathway to the sculpture and listen to the music! Nice for kids! Usually a very fresh, bracing walk!
Hardcastle Crags is a lovely woodland in Hebden Bridge which is part of the National Trust. Lovely walks, especially good for children and those with limited mobility/wheelchair users as there is a main tarmac path from the car park to Gibson Mill. There are of course other pathways through the woodland and the famous Stepping Stones to challenge you! Call in the Gibson Mill cafe for a snack and hot drinks, all run by volunteers! There's a heater if it's chilly! The more serious walkers can walk beyond the mill out as far as the pretty Blake Dean.
102 locals recommend
Hardcastle Crags
Midgehole RoadHardcastle Crags is a lovely woodland in Hebden Bridge which is part of the National Trust. Lovely walks, especially good for children and those with limited mobility/wheelchair users as there is a main tarmac path from the car park to Gibson Mill. There are of course other pathways through the woodland and the famous Stepping Stones to challenge you! Call in the Gibson Mill cafe for a snack and hot drinks, all run by volunteers! There's a heater if it's chilly! The more serious walkers can walk beyond the mill out as far as the pretty Blake Dean.
Townley Park is about 20 minutes ride away. Lovely parkland and woodland. Normally, (pre pandemic) there's a lovely cafe and the park hosts special events such as a bonfire and fireworks display. There's also a lovely garden centre and cafe too with a covered outdoor part to sit with your dog. Worth a visit!
8 locals recommend
Towneley Park
Townley Park is about 20 minutes ride away. Lovely parkland and woodland. Normally, (pre pandemic) there's a lovely cafe and the park hosts special events such as a bonfire and fireworks display. There's also a lovely garden centre and cafe too with a covered outdoor part to sit with your dog. Worth a visit!
City/town information
Todmorden is a market town on the borders of Lancashire and West Yorkshire. It has food shops such as Lidl, Morrisons and Aldi and other independent shops and a couple or quirky cafes. There are canal walks and Todmorden park boasts an easy to walk round parkland, playground, ice cream van and cafe opposite. For those who like to explore higher up, the woodland climbs above the parkland with many pathways including Chimney Fields and Lovers Walk. If you love to walk your dog, this is the place to let them have a lovely romp around. Meet the dog Lucky (statue) and see the ornate garden bridge or use the outdoor gym equipment. Todmorden Leisure Centre is also situated at the side of the park where the main parking is for both at the front and behind the centre.
13 locals recommend
Todmorden
Todmorden is a market town on the borders of Lancashire and West Yorkshire. It has food shops such as Lidl, Morrisons and Aldi and other independent shops and a couple or quirky cafes. There are canal walks and Todmorden park boasts an easy to walk round parkland, playground, ice cream van and cafe opposite. For those who like to explore higher up, the woodland climbs above the parkland with many pathways including Chimney Fields and Lovers Walk. If you love to walk your dog, this is the place to let them have a lovely romp around. Meet the dog Lucky (statue) and see the ornate garden bridge or use the outdoor gym equipment. Todmorden Leisure Centre is also situated at the side of the park where the main parking is for both at the front and behind the centre.
Neighbourhoods
Colden is a real personal favourite being a stunning glacial valley. Such varied landscape and beautiful views from spacious, open moorland with a purple haze when the heather blooms, meadows with gritstone walls and woodland clothing the steep sided valley. May time is a wonderful time to walk through Ragley Woods with an abundance of bluebells and wild garlic and a special service on the first Sunday of May (8am!) at the Praying Hole, where clandestine services used to be held. Spend some time at Hebble Hole Bridge, take a picnic! Kids and dogs love it here playing in the 'water pool' and around the rocks.
Don't forget to visit The New Delight pub for a pint (Newdy!) at the beautiful Jack Bridge (stunning views up the valley). Or call at May's award winning rural shop (aka Aladdin's cave!) for tea, coffee, sandwiches, pies and cakes al fresco. You also pick up essentials like light bulbs, newspapers, comics and fuse wire.... yes... fuse wire! She has everything!
Colden
Colden is a real personal favourite being a stunning glacial valley. Such varied landscape and beautiful views from spacious, open moorland with a purple haze when the heather blooms, meadows with gritstone walls and woodland clothing the steep sided valley. May time is a wonderful time to walk through Ragley Woods with an abundance of bluebells and wild garlic and a special service on the first Sunday of May (8am!) at the Praying Hole, where clandestine services used to be held. Spend some time at Hebble Hole Bridge, take a picnic! Kids and dogs love it here playing in the 'water pool' and around the rocks.
Don't forget to visit The New Delight pub for a pint (Newdy!) at the beautiful Jack Bridge (stunning views up the valley). Or call at May's award winning rural shop (aka Aladdin's cave!) for tea, coffee, sandwiches, pies and cakes al fresco. You also pick up essentials like light bulbs, newspapers, comics and fuse wire.... yes... fuse wire! She has everything!
Heptonstall is a memorable, ancient village full of history with it's cobbled street, weavers cottages and The Cloth Hall where goods were exchanged on the pack horsetrails. There is a church and also the ruins of the old church in the grounds, the more recent graveyard boasting the grave of the famous poet Sylvia Plath, partner of Ted Hughes our late, local Mytholmroyd poet. There's a stunning short walk on the rocky edge of Heptonstall quarry. With care! Worth it!
44 locals recommend
Heptonstall
Heptonstall is a memorable, ancient village full of history with it's cobbled street, weavers cottages and The Cloth Hall where goods were exchanged on the pack horsetrails. There is a church and also the ruins of the old church in the grounds, the more recent graveyard boasting the grave of the famous poet Sylvia Plath, partner of Ted Hughes our late, local Mytholmroyd poet. There's a stunning short walk on the rocky edge of Heptonstall quarry. With care! Worth it!
A few nice eating places here for different tastes and a couple of quirky restaurants. Nice canal walks from the Marina. Tesco superstore, Lidl and B & M.
18 locals recommend
Sowerby Bridge
A few nice eating places here for different tastes and a couple of quirky restaurants. Nice canal walks from the Marina. Tesco superstore, Lidl and B & M.