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A holiday guide to the Pennines


There’s no better place for an autumn ramble than the rugged waterways, sweeping moorlands and stonebuilt villages of West Yorkshire.

Start your break in the old mill town of Hebden Bridge. Wander the winding streets and pass a pleasant morning browsing the bookshops, antique stalls and surprisingly hip fashion boutiques before lunching, Yorkshire style, in a canalside pub. Some real ale and real Yorkshire puddings later, you’ll be all set for a brisk waterside walk.

The Rochdale Canal towpath provides one of the nicest walking routes through the Pennines, enjoying a relaxed gradient and the panoramic views for which the backbone of England is renowned. But hardcore ramblers will probably prefer to strike out along the famous Pennine Way. This 270-mile route will test the stamina and endurance of the most ambitious hill walker, but fear not, you needn’t tackle it all in one go.

For local colour, and more leisurely recreation, head for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the village of Marsden, a haven of Yorkshire charms with dry stone walls, pack horse bridges and even village stocks. If the town seems familiar, that’s because it has proved an ideal location for the filming of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ and ‘Where the Heart Is’.

Sowerby Bridge, situated alongside the historic Sowerby Bridge Basin on the Rochdale Canal, completes the trio of buccolic Yorkshire villages.

History buffs can lose themselves in the ambiance of yesteryear with a tour around the kitchens, banqueting hall and gardens of Skipton Castle – one of the best preserved Tudor castles in the UK. The castle has retained its lordly air as it looms over the town from the top of the high street. Its imposing watchtower, original drawbridge and portcullis remain. The quiet Leeds and Liverpool Canal, with its distinctive Pennine vocabulary, is nearby.

Forget about international flights and long distance car journeys; all the peace, tranquility, good food and uplifting views you need to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind are no further away than the panoramic Pennines.

Last updated: 16/07/2009