Yorkshire is a wonderous mix of inspirational landscapes, quaint villages and a rich industrial heritage including impressive architecture, canals, and waterways. A visit to Yorkshire offers the opportunity to slow down and immerse yourself in beautiful surroundings and stay in cosy inns at the heart of Dales villages. Also known as Brontë country, this part of Yorkshire was home to the Brontë sisters who used the Yorkshire landscape as a backdrop to their novels. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë lived in Haworth during the 1800s and went on to write some of the world’s most famous novels including Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
This 1 day tour provides a shortcut to the best things to see and do in Hebden Bridge, Haworth and Brontë country plus welcoming inns to stay in.
This guide gives you a shortcut to the best things to see and do in Hebden Bridge, Haworth and Brontë country:
- Why Hebden Bridge and Haworth are great for experiencing Brontë country
- How to get to Hebden Bridge
- How to get to Haworth
- How to get to Keighley
- Where to stay in Hebden Bridge, Haworth and Keighley
- Yorkshire Dales and Brontë country 1 day tour
- Organised tours to Brontë country
- Things to do near Hebden Bridge and Haworth
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Why Hebden Bridge and Haworth are great for experiencing Brontë country
Hebden Bridge is the perfect place to experience a small, Yorkshire village in the heart of Brontë country and is easily reached from Manchester, Leeds, York or Bradford by train. Hebden Bridge has been voted the best small market town in the UK and also offers direct access to the Dales for walking or scenic bus routes. Haworth, previously home to the Brontë sisters, is accessible from Hebden Bridge by bus and also offers the opportunity to travel via steam railway onto Keighley. Put together this duo of villages punch above their weight for a diverse Brontë country and Dales experience.
How to get to Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is easily reached by train in under an hour from Manchester or Leeds. The railway station in Hebden Bridge is charming and an easy walk from the centre of the village.
How to get to Haworth
There is no mainline railway station at Haworth but Haworth is about 1.5 hours from Leeds or Manchester via train to Hebden Bridge and the ‘Brontëbus’.
How to get to Keighley
Leeds to Keighley by train takes approximately 30 mins. Manchester to Keighley by train is 1.5 – 2 hours due to connections.
Where to stay in Hebden Bridge, Haworth and Keighley
These small villages offer the perfect opportunity to spend a cosy evening in a village pub which offer comfortable rooms and a warm, local welcome:
- White Lion, Hebden Bridge - a historic inn offering a 4-star experience
- Black Bull Inn, Haworth – comfortable rooms with a relaxing bar
- The Old White Lion Hotel, Haworth - highly rated for its attentive staff, convenient location, and comfortable rooms
- Busfeild Arms, Keighley - a historic inn offering a unique and charming atmosphere.
Yorkshire Dales and Brontë country 1 day tour
Your experience of the Yorkshire Dales starts with Hebden Bridge railway station which is one of the quaintest I’ve seen and, more than likely, a world away from where you will have started your journey.
A short, beautiful walk through a river-side park takes you to the village. Once in the heart of the village there are independent shops selling locally produced goods, delis, traditional pubs and cafes spilling out onto the cobbled pavements. Visit on market day and you will be treated to antiques and collectables snuggled into a corner of the village centre. The river is criss-crossed by small bridges throughout the village making it interesting to explore.
The Rochdale Canal also runs through the village and Hebden Bridge Cruises offer scenic cruises along the canal including afternoon tea and Sunday lunch cruises.
If you feel more active and want to get right into the heart of the Dales scenery then you can access various walking routes from Hebden Bridge. You can also pick up a bus in order to get a bit further afield. The 901 bus runs from Hebden Bridge up Cragg Vale to the Ripponden Valley and local walking enthusiasts have put together a guide to Walks from the 901 bus.
After exploring Hebden Bridge catch the ‘Brontëbus’ from Hebden Bridge to visit Haworth, the centre of Brontë country and former home to the Brontë sisters. The Georgian Parsonage where they lived with their father is now The Brontë Parsonage Museum (check opening times), cared for by the Brontë Society. You can experience the atmosphere that inspired the Brontës by taking a walk through Haworth's cobbled streets.
The ‘Brontëbus’ continues to Keighley which has mainline train services for a return to your starting point. However, for something a bit different, from Haworth pick up a ride on a steam train on the 5 mile long Keighley and Worth Valley railway, made famous through its connection to The Railway Children. You can get a rover ticket to explore all the stations or simply take a one way trip to Keighley.
Organised tours to Brontë country
The following very highly rated tours guide you through the best of Brontë country and take the strain off planning your travel:
From the Lake District: The Brontes, Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre Tour will take you on a journey to discover places the Brontë’s knew, including Haworth, and the landscape that inspired them.
From Manchester: the Dales and Brontë Country Small Group Tour includes Haworth and also takes in highlights of the Yorkshire Dales such as Linton Falls and Aysgarth Falls.
Things to do near Hebden Bridge and Haworth
Your route to Hebden Bridge from Leeds or Bradford will probably take you through Halifax and it’s worth stopping off to visit the Piece Hall, a Grade I listed Georgian masterpiece and the oldest remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world! See my guide to Halifax here.
My ‘6 day best of Yorkshire itinerary’ includes a visit to Hebden Bridge as a highlight of Yorkshire. It also includes York, Whitby, Hull, Saltaire and Harrogate so set aside some time to explore the best of Yorkshire.