In the past when Wil and I have driven to the Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge, we have arrived there completely frazzled, because our old sat nav loves magical mystery tours. Or we just couldn’t find the place at all! Happily on Saturday the Gods did not conspire against us, and we pulled up in a sunshiney Hebden before ten in the morning.
Hebden Bridge is a market town in Calderdale. , famed for its independent stores and creative community . Artisan shops and pavement cafes adorn the cobbles and Victorian terraces cling to the steep hillsides. On a bright September morning, it really did look like we had arrived in the ‘Happy Valley’.
As we were accompanied by a certain ‘ hungry black labrador’ , I suggested we stop by at The Lamppost Cafe for coffee and flapjacks for us…and a pup cake for him. On the Lampposts facebook page it says ‘Because every dog deserves to feel special and be treated so! Don’t tie your best friend to a lamppost, bring them in The Lamppost!’
We loved the rustic decor in this very dog friendly cafe, and it was fun choosing Hugo a mouthwatering muffin from their impressive pup cake collection. It’s a pity he wolfed it down before I could get a picture ! His new friend Lucky was most happy to pose though. Isn’t she adorable. 🙂 Lucky is sat on a hessian coffee sack , which you can help yourself to, if your dog doesn’t want to lie on the wooden floor. I really enjoyed my fruity flapjack and the coffee was good too.
After a wander round the shops and the market ( I found a lady who makes felt fairy lamps ~ Christmas present sorted for one goddaughter! ), we had lunch at Green’s ( a veggie cafe) and then went for a walk by the canal.
We headed in the direction of Hebden Bridge’s neighbor Mytholmroyd, where poet Ted Hughes was born. Along the way there were were many barge businesses and floating homes.
On the outskirts of Hebden Bridge a rust coloured sculpture of a hawk, roosts in memorial to the Yorkshire born poet. I’m not sure it looks hawk-like enough. What do you think? Hughes first wife writer ‘ Sylvia Plath’ is buried in the churchyard at nearby Heptonstall.
Mid afternoon and Hebden Bridge was crazy busy , so we left the town and headed for nearby Haworth, another Yorkshire parish with famed literary connections. But first we stopped off for a walk on the rolling moorland above Oxenhope. Hugo decided to leap onto this wall and nearly ended up in the steep ravine below, tangled with the purple heather and brambles. Luckily he decided that running amongst the rushes was just as much fun!
Beautiful Haworth is still so evocative of its famous residents, the Brontes. Surrounded by wild moor land , Haworth’s cobbled streets are brimming with old fashioned shops and is little changed from the days when Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell lived with their father in the parsonage , now a museum.
I love the cute shops in Haworth and make no apologies for buying a couple more Christmas gifts. I just couldn’t resist and ‘ Wave of Nostalgia ‘ especially, really drew me in.
There are lots of Tea shops on the cobbled main street, but Wil can certainly recommend the Jamaican Peaberry Coffee from 10 the coffee house, where all coffees are freshly ground to order. As you can see the African Lime cake we shared is tiny! But I’m kind of glad, as it has been my only cheat in a fortnight of abstaining from cake, pastry, crisps , bread and chocolate …..so far. 😉
It’s been a few years since I have wandered round the wonderful Bronte Museum, and on this visit I contented myself with a stroll in the garden and a quick glance in the museum shop.
I’ve already decided that I would like to return soon and follow in the footsteps of the Bronte’s ,up onto the South Pennine Moors, via the path that passes the parsonage. Watch this space. 🙂
sunshine and celandines 
Hebden Bridge and Howarth is a lovely area. I wonder if the bird sculpture is supposed to be a crow? Hughes was famed for his Crow poems?! I will definitely have to visit Green’s next time I am in the area, the menu sounds lush!
I had a strange ‘episode’ in the Blackbull in Howarth a few years back. While having a drink there, I felt a presence behind me and kept looking towards the fireplace. Later I discovered that there’s a chair by the fireplace that is supposed to have been the chair Bramwell sat on during his many drunken nights at the pub. I am also around the same height as Charlotte Bronte! I feel a connection with her.
I thought the bird was a crow too, but then I read online that it is a hawk. I do need to check out his poetry. I knew little about him until very recently I’m ashamed to say! There are a few nice veggie cafes in Hebden Bridge. We didn’t even realise Greens was until we opened the menu. I think the clue was probably in the name though. 😉
That sounds very spooky about your experience in the Black Bull! I always seem to be oblivious to ghostly presences. But I definitely appreciate that people do feel them. Haworth is certainly that kind of place! Xx
Love this post, thanks for sharing your visit. I have been to Haworth a few times and love it, the cemetery is incredible isn’t it? I should visit Hedben Bridge, maybe now the children have gone back to school.
Haworth is so atmospheric. I love it there. And Hebden Bridge is a wonderful place to visit . X
I’ve never been to either of those places but your photos make them look so attractive I may have to make time for a visit soon 🙂
Oh please do. I enjoyed my time at both. X
I love Hebden Bridge, we visit often and were there last Wednesday! But I never knew that the ‘Lamppost’ was dog friendly! Have you ever been to Heptonstall above Hebden Bridge? It is where my husband’s family came from (historically speaking – in the days of coin clippers and bandits on the moors!) It is quaint and quiet. I’ve not been to Howarth for several years now, but a friend of mine does the Steampunk fairs and days there. Think it is time for a visit 🙂
Hi you will have to take Moss to The Lamppost. Hugo loved it. ♡
I would love to visit Heptonstall too. And Haworth is always worth a visit. 🙂
Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books, so I would love to pay a visit to the Bronte Museum some day!
Its well worth a visit. All set out like the parsonage would have been , back in the day of the Brontes, with lots of their writing, drawings and personal belongings. X
The dog on the blanket with the bowl: looks like he’s homeless, asking for change 🙂
He does look that way, I must admit….but he was boat crew. 🙂
Lovely post, I spent a couple of Christmases in a Scout hut in Hebden Bridge, and I used to work in a gift shop in Haworth while I was at college in Keighley , so some lovely memories. After all this time I still have not been round the Bronte museum, was hoping to go this summer but time has slipped away.
The old black and white film of Wuthering heights has to be my all time favourite film.
Amanda xx
Happy memories for you. 🙂
You will have to visit the museum.It’s well worth it. I love the film too…and I really enjoyed the tv drama about the Brontes , that was shown earlier this year ‘To walk Invisible’ x
I love a visit to Hebden Bridge and we often plan it into our route when where going up to or home from Clitheroe! It’s a longer journey to go via HB but if we have the time we do it. Haworth has long been on my places to visit list but I’ve still never made it there. The church at Heptonstall is quite interesting (I think it’s Heptonstall, could be wrong) with one ruined church (not often you see that) and one octagonal church. Dave’s dad took us to see them the first time I ever visited Hebden Bridge.
I also have to say wow and well done on abstaining from cake, bread etc (all the good things). I really need to do the same, but life is so busy and a bit stressful at the moment, I wouldn’t cope with cake and bread!
I still need to visit Heptonstall. The ruined church looks very atmospheric on pictures I have seen. You would love Haworth, and it really isn’t very far from Hebden Bridge. The moorland around there would probably remind you of home. 🙂
I was doing very well with the abstaining from cake etc but things are currently going a bit pear shaped at the mo. Going to a pie cafe for lunch…so that won’t help. Back on it tommorrow!
Ooh, yes please! Remember me when you do 🙂 🙂
We spent a few very damp days at Hebden Bridge a lot of years ago and have never been back. Shame cos it does look inviting in the sun and what a great dog friendly cafe.
It is a lovely place in the sunshine. Thanks for the retweet.x
Haworth looks exactly like the kind of place I could get lost in for days. Might have to add that to “the list”. I’m looking forward to browsing through your other posts!
Thank you! Haworth is just lovely. Still manages to look very Victorian with its cobbled streets and old fashioned shops. I have not been to Scotland this year but my boyfriend and I ( plus our dog)were in Dumfries and Galloway this time last year. We had a wonderful time. X