Category Archives: Yorkshire Dales

The Old Ways – Limers Gate

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An invigorating early morning hike from Elmet Farmhouse to watch the sunrise on Limers Gate above the village of Pecket Well. Crisp snow, blue skies and pinkish light on the hills beyond Crimsworth Dean.

Initially climbing up onto Wadsworth Moor along Deer Stones Edge, then up to the trig point at High Brown Knoll, which has been painted with a red heart. From here, walking along Limers Gate in fairly deep snow, the path rather difficult to follow. Amazingly clear views all the way to Upper and Lower Gorple Reservoirs and beyond to Widdop Reservoir, the dam clearly visible covered in snow and the water bright blue.

Dropping down off the ridge to Wilcock Dam, wonderful colour contrasts between the orange grass and the pristine white snow, the dam astonishingly vivid blue. Sublime views of Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike during the descent to Pecket Well.

7  February 2018

Yorkshire Holiday Cottage

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Elmet Farmhouse Holiday Cottage – Hebden Bridge – Haworth – Yorkshire Dales

Breathtaking Views, Inspiring Interiors, Yorkshire at its Finest                                                                                  

Looking for a special place to stay in Yorkshire?

Elmet Farmhouse is a holiday cottage like no other, a truly magical place to stay in one of the most beautiful corners of Yorkshire. So hilly it makes your ears pop! 

Perched on a hill above the picturesque town of Hebden Bridge, not far from Haworth, Elmet Farmhouse is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. Surrounded by hay meadows in the hilltop village of Pecket Well, the cottage has breathtaking views across the steep wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags towards the ancient village of Heptonstall. With its bluebell woods, buttercup meadows and rolling heather moors, this is a unique corner of Yorkshire – the landscape that inspired the Brontë sisters and poet Ted Hughes.                                                                                                                           

If you love the countryside and the great outdoors, you’ll be in your element at Elmet Farmhouse. Set in a walkers’ paradise, the Pennine Way and the Yorkshire Dales are literally on your doorstep. There are fantastic walks in every direction along riverside paths, moorland tracks and stone-paved packhorse trails. With pheasants, deer and owls in our meadows, sheep, cattle and ponies grazing in the neighbouring fields, and curlews and lapwings nesting up on ‘the tops’, Elmet Farmhouse offers a rural idyll in a dramatic landscape which is a haven for wildlife.                                                                                                                                                     

Finalist in Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards, Elmet Farmhouse is a pure delight. A handsome 18th-century yeoman clothier’s house, it has stone mullion windows, a huge carved stone fireplace and a cosy wood-burning stove. Beautifully furnished and exquisitely decorated, the farmhouse has a wonderful atmosphere. Scandinavian furniture, Midcentury Modern textiles and lovely lamps and wallpapers by local designer Hannah Nunn are just a few of the design delights in store.

With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, Elmet Farmhouse accommodates 6 people very comfortably so it’s ideal for families and groups of friends. The spacious lounge and roomy farmhouse kitchen have ample seating and the whole house is very well equipped. As well as WiFi, TV, DVD, washing machine and dishwasher, there are maps, walks leaflets and vintage games.                                                                                                                                                                                         

Elmet’s pretty cottage garden brimming with flowers is a wonderful place to sit out and enjoy the fabulous views. There are two outdoor dining areas overlooking beautiful wildflower meadows next to the vegetable garden and historic barn, with plenty of space for children to run around.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Hebden Bridge

The vibrant town of Hebden Bridge is just two miles away down in the valley. Voted Best Small Market Town in the Great British High Street Awards, Hebden Bridge is renowned for its quirky independent shops and its distinctive double-decker terraced houses clinging to the hills. Hebden Bridge has butchers, bakers and designer-makers, as well as a 1920s cinema and numerous cafes and pubs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Hardcastle Crags

The woodland paradise of Hardcastle Crags – one of the jewels in the National Trust’s crown – is within easy walking distance. You can hike to Stoodley Pike or Top Withins (Wuthering Heights) or explore the intriguing hidden valleys of Crimsworth Dean and Luddenden Dean.  The nearby village of Heptonstall with its ruined 13th century church, handloom weavers’ cottages and octagonal Methodist chapel is another fascinating place to explore.                                                                                                    

Heptonstall

Haworth

Haworth, where the Brontë sisters wrote their famous novels, is a short scenic drive or hike over the moor. As well as being the perfect base for exploring Brontë Country, Elmet Farmhouse is within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wharfedale, Bolton Abbey, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove.                                                                                                                                                   

Yorkshire Dales

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, the magnificent newly-restored Piece Hall in Halifax, the elegant spa towns of Ilkley and Harrogate, the award-winning Hepworth Museum and Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the vibrant cities of Leeds and York are all within range so there are lots of interesting things to do.                                                                                                                                      

Saltaire

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Elmet Farmhouse sleeps 6       Sorry, no dogs 

Click here for Availability and Prices 

Email: enquiries@elmetfarmhouse.co.uk  Tel: 01422 842026    Mob: 07910 075952

Hiking in Hardcastle Crags

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A Summer Saunter through Hardcastle Crags

 

 

A summer saunter through the woodland paradise of Hardcastle Crags in Hebden Dale near Hebden Bridge on 22 July 2017. Starting at Widdop Gate, looping around via Blake Dean, then climbing up to the Crags before dropping down to Gibson Mill.

Returning back through the woods along the banks of Hebden Water, criss-crossing the river over the three footbridges, then ascending to the top of the woods, looking across to Walshaw Lodge before climbing back up the steep steps to Widdop Gate.

 

© Photos copyright Lesley Jackson

Bluebell Bonanza

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Bluebell Bonanza

May is a fabulous time of year in the valleys around Hebden Bridge because the woods are awash with bluebells. The last two years’ displays have been particularly intense because of the hot spring weather. These photos were taken in May 2017 and May 2018 in the beautiful wooded dales of Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean, both  just a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse. 

 

 

© Photos copyright Lesley Jackson

Snow-Capped Pennine Hills

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Snow-Capped Pennine Hills

 

 

Last week we had our first dusting of snow overnight up here at Pecket Well above Hebden Bridge, but by the following day it had all disappeared. Yesterday we had our second dose, with blizzards for most of the day up on ‘the tops’. Today we’ve had alternating snow and rain, so it’s pretty slushy underfoot.

These photos show a snow-clad Elmet Farmhouse and wintry views of Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike. Below are the steep wooded valleys of Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean, with swathes of mist rising up from the trees.

 

November 2016

 

© Text and photos copyright Lesley Jackson

Autumn Glory

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Autumn Glory

Wow! Just look at these astonishing colours in Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean. Autumn came late to the Upper Calder Valley this year. It wasn’t until mid to late October that the trees really began to turn because of the unseasonably warm weather. But when Autumn finally arrived, it was worth waiting for. Truly glorious! An explosion of russet, auburn and gold.

The woods in the deep, plunging steep-sided valleys around Hebden Bridge are amongst the best in Yorkshire. On a sunny October afternoon or a misty early November morning, there’s no greater pleasure than wandering along the riverside paths by Hebden Water and Crimsworth Dean Beck, drinking in the intoxicating colours.

Even now, in mid November, there are still leaves on the trees. Enjoy them while you can! All just a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse at Pecket Well, which has a bird’s eye view of this breathtaking panorama…

 

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© Text and photos copyright Lesley Jackson

Purple Haze

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“I have fled my country and gone to the heather” 

Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë was right. August is the time to head to the hills and immerse yourself in the glorious heather moorlands. Because the hillsides of the Upper Calder Valley are so steep, the carpet of heather on the plateau-like uplands is barely visible from down in the dales. It’s only when you venture up onto ‘the tops’ beyond the hay meadows on the shoulders of the hills that you encounter the purple haze.

Last year the heather was late and didn’t come into the full bloom until mid August. But this year it’s early and has already come into flower by the end of July. As with the bilberries, it looks as though it’s a bumper year.

Good spots for heather walks are Wadsworth Moor above Pecket Well, Midgley Moor above Luddenden Dean, Heptonstall Moor above Colden, Walshaw Dean above Hardcastle Crags, and Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir. On a hot summer’s day with the sweet scent of the heather and the bees buzzing all around as they gather the nectar for honey, it’s an intoxicating sensory experience and a visual spectacle not to be missed.

 

 

High Waving Heather
Emily Brontë

High waving heather, ‘neath stormy blasts bending,
Midnight and moonlight and bright shining stars;
Darkness and glory rejoicingly blending,
Earth rising to heaven and heaven descending,
Man’s spirit away from its drear dongeon sending,
Bursting the fetters and breaking the bars.

All down the mountain sides, wild forest lending
One mighty voice to the life-giving wind;
Rivers their banks in the jubilee rending,
Fast through the valleys a reckless course wending,
Wider and deeper their waters extending,
Leaving a desolate desert behind.

Shining and lowering and swelling and dying,
Changing for ever from midnight to noon;
Roaring like thunder, like soft music sighing,
Shadows on shadows advancing and flying,
Lightning-bright flashes the deep gloom defying,
Coming as swiftly and fading as soon.

13 December 1836

 

© Main text and photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

Lovely Little Lambs

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Lovely Little Lambs

 

 

It’s been a busy time in the Crimsworth crèche over the last couple of months. These photos record some of the new arrivals in hilltop meadows in and around Pecket Well and Crimsworth Dean during April 2016.

Crimsworth Dean is a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse, so if you want to see lots of lovely lambs, come and visit us next April.

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

Bluebellerama!

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The bluebells have been spectacular this year in Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean. These two beautiful National Trust woodlands – just a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse – are amongst the best bluebell woods in England. Mid May is the best time to see the bluebells, although they start flowering in late April and last through until early June.

As well as Crimsworth Dean and Hardcastle Crags, there are bluebells in Pecket Well Clough, Colden Clough, Luddenden Dean, Cragg Vale and many of the other narrow steep-sided wooded valleys around Hebden Bridge. These woods are beautiful are stunningly beautiful throughout the year, but you want to immerse yourself in bluebell heaven, come and stay at Elmet Farmhouse next May….

For more information about the woods of the Calder Valley, click here

© Text and photos copyright Lesley Jackson