West Yorkshire

Many towns in West Yorkshire have developed as a result of the Woollen Industry. The excellent waterway connections and the development of the railways meant that towns like Bradford and Halifax were very accessible to a widening world. Bradford is now a very cultural place and nearby Saltaire Village has now been granted World Heritage site status which ranks it along side the Pyramids of Egypt and the Taj Mahal in world importance.

The town of Haworth, on the edge of the Pennine Hills, offers stunning scenery, the Bronte Museum, excellent walks and the Worth Valley Steam Railway. Haworth is a pilgrimage for literary folk.

Halifax has its Georgian Piece Hall opened in 1770 for the exchange of Woollen Cloth which is now an ancient monument and one of the towns oldest buildings is Shibden Hall, built in 1420 which is a stunning black and white building. Wuthering Heights is said to have been conceived here when Emily Bronte worked nearby as a governess. Also in Halifax you will find Gibbet Hill where the last public execution took place 1650.

The Saxon market town of Otley, birthplace of Thomas Chippendale, had the slow flowing River Wharfe, which carries the water from the moors of the Upper Dales. Boat Trips, shops and cafes make this a suitable place to spend a lazy day .

Bingley is a bustling town of specialist shops, historic inns and cafes. Pleasure cruises from here along the Leeds Liverpool Canal take you to a masterpiece of 18thC engineering at it 3 and 5 rise locks.

The Pennine town of Keighley, set amidst beautiful countryside, offers great value for shoppers at individual local shops and markets. The medieval crook Barn at nearby Riddlesden Hall (National Trust) gives an extraordinary glimpse of its fascinating social history.