Hebden Bridge is an old mill town in West Yorkshire. It is set in the deep cleft of a heavily wooded steep-sided valley, with a river, Hebden Water, running through it, crossed by the packhorse bridge that gives the town its name.
Hebden Bridge has evolved down a wobbly little path all of its own in these parts, and is often likened to Glastonbury; although it is a lot grittier and probably much more deeply alternative and counter-cultural than its southern cousin. Socially, it is home and meeting place for a diverse population, many of them creative and new age minded people, with a high proportion of lesbians (and some gay men).
Hebden Bridge is on the Pennine Way and Rochdale Canal (the latter followed here by the Hull–Manchester Sustrans Route 66).
Numerous UFO sightings have been reported in the vicinity: space aliens obviously don't need directions to find us. Humans can arrive by train, at Hebden Bridge station, restored to its former glory; the town centre is a 5-minute stroll down the canal or through Calder Holmes park. Trains link directly to Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, York and Blackpool.
Buses are good to Halifax and Todmorden, every 10 minutes.
People coming from the M62 West will be best coming off at Junction 21 and driving through Littleborough before making a right to drive through the moors, until picking up a sign to Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale, longer but lovelier than arriving through Todmorden but be careful in poor weather (it is the Pennines after all).
Walking is easy as the town is largely pedestrianised now. The walks down the canal are easy for most people and are also OK for tougher wheelchair users.
It is worth buying the cheap Trail Guide from the TIC in Hebden Bridge before you go. For such a tiny village it's full of history, sights including:
Heptonstall Museum, Heptonstall, HX7 7NB, 53.74880°, -2.02125°, +44 1422 352 334. tiny but well worth seeing for the exhibition of the Yorkshire Coiners (the coin clippers) in a building that was once a school. 2021-07-19
Organic and fair trade stuff, designer baby stuff, original art, jewellery, clothes, crystals and hippy tat aplenty. Good mountain bike shop (Blazing Saddles). Heart Gallery great addition to the High Street. Fabulously named Ruby Shoesday on Market Street.
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