Local Area Information

Heptonstall is approximately  1 mile and a 15 minute walk away from vibrant Hebden Bridge, which has been voted the “funkiest town in the UK”, with many independent shops, cafes and galleries. There is a frequent bus service to and from Hebden Bridge where there is also a train station, meaning a car is not essential when visiting the area. It is also possible to hire a narrow boat for the day to explore the surrounding waterways and there is an old cinema serving tea and scones in the interval, something for a less sunny day perhaps.

Swanfold is situated in a quiet yet central position in Heptonstall. Amenities within a 2 minute walk include a tearoom and occasional evening bistro serving a wide range of dangerously delicious cakes as well as takeaway meals, 2 dining pubs with excellent vegetarian choices, and a post office and village store providing a small selection of holiday essentials.

Heptonstall is a beautiful hillside conservation village full of narrow cobbled streets, snickets and alleyways and as such has been used for many films/television programs, including the recent Happy Valley and Jericho. There are two churches, ruins of the original one damaged by a gale in 1847 as well as the newer one built in the same churchyard. Both the existing church and the ruins are used for various music festivals and open air concerts throughout the year and buried in the churchyard is the American poet Sylvia Plath, who was married to Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. There is also an interesting local history museum in the village. There are many stunning walking and cycle routes from the village, including the Pennine Way and the Calderdale Way, and the National Trust Hardcastle Crags/Gibson Mill is reported to be the best woodland walk in Yorkshire. In contrast, nearby Haworth delivers atmospheric moorland 'Heathcliff' walks and provided inspiration for the many works of  the Bronte sisters who lived here. Heptonstall is within an hour’s drive of both the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales making it an ideal central base to explore the beautiful surrounding area.