The Yorkshire moors are back in the spotlight thanks to a new film version of Wuthering Heights, but the landscapes that inspired Emily Brontë lie around Haworth in West Yorkshire, not far from where recent shoots took place. I grew up on the fringe of the Pennines: Brontë captured these places as brooding and storm-lashed, and often they are. Yet they are also heartbreakingly beautiful, full of unexpected light, and have shaped generations of artists and makers.
People from this part of Yorkshire can come across as brusque or inward—perhaps a product of cut stones, cold winds and long winters—but that exterior hides warmth, dry humor and generous hospitality. What felt claustrophobic when I was restless now feels honest and quietly affectionate. West Yorkshire doesn’t try to be pretty; it wears its beauty like an old pair of boots—rugged, comfortable and a little romantic. Below are places around the county that capture that spirit.
Haworth and Brontë Country
Start in Haworth, the cobbled village at the heart of Brontë Country, roughly 16 kilometres from Bradford. The Brontë Parsonage Museum displays Charlotte’s writing desk, Emily’s journals and personal artifacts that bring the family to life. From the village you can set off across moorland to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse long linked to Wuthering Heights, and to Penistone Hill Country Park, now a National Nature Reserve. A quirky fact: Haworth is twinned with Machu Picchu—both rely on tourism, distinctive landscapes and curious visitors.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
The eight-kilometre Keighley and Worth Valley Railway opened in 1867 to serve mills and mines. Today it runs as a heritage steam line, offering scenic trips through valleys with onboard teas, classic Yorkshire lunches and the charm of industrial history rolled into one slow, satisfying journey.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Set across more than 500 acres near Wakefield, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is Europe’s largest outdoor sculpture venue. Rolling fields, lakes and woods provide a theatrical setting for works by Henry Moore (sheep often graze nearby), Damien Hirst’s Virgin Mother, Jaume Plensa’s Wilsis and James Turrell’s Deer Shelter Skyspace. With cafés, a shop and the historic Bretton Hall, it’s a place to stroll, reflect and watch art and landscape talk to each other.
The Hepworth Wakefield
Barbara Hepworth was born in Wakefield, and the Hepworth Wakefield museum on the riverside celebrates her work alongside contemporary exhibitions. The building, designed by David Chipperfield, houses originals, maquettes and rotating shows in an intimate, carefully curated space that highlights the region’s creative legacy.
Saltaire and Salts Mill
Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage village built by industrialist Sir Titus Salt in the 1850s as model housing for mill workers. Its Italianate architecture and neat terraces present a refined industrial aesthetic. Salts Mill, the restored textile factory, contains the 1853 Gallery with a large collection of David Hockney works, a popular diner and a well-stocked bookshop. Walk the Leeds–Liverpool Canal towpath or picnic in Roberts Park nearby.
Ilkley Moor and the Cow and Calf
Ilkley Moor is famous in song and local tradition—wrap up before you set out. The Cow and Calf rocks are ideal for a bracing walk and some light scrambling, offering wide views over the Wharfe valley. Afterwards, warm up in the nearby country pub or head into Ilkley for independent shops and the celebrated Betty’s Tea Room.
Holmfirth
Holmfirth, where I grew up, is widely known as the filming location for Last of the Summer Wine. It still has old-fashioned tea rooms, a lively music and pub scene around the Picturedrome, and easy access to Peak District walks—from gentle reservoir paths to more demanding moorland routes.
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is an arty, slightly eccentric town hugged by hills. It attracts musicians, artists and small independent traders and has long been a creative hub. Visit Hardcastle Crags for waterfalls and woodland walks, wander independent galleries and cafés, or enjoy a narrowboat cream-tea cruise along the Rochdale Canal.
The Piece Hall, Halifax
Halifax’s Piece Hall, opened in 1779, is the only surviving Georgian cloth hall of its kind. The Grade I-listed arcades and central courtyard feel unexpectedly Mediterranean on a bright day. Today the Piece Hall hosts artisans, shops, cafés and events, a living reminder of the area’s textile heritage.
Leeds
Leeds is West Yorkshire’s bustling city: stylish, culturally rich and energetic. You’ll find theatres, Northern Ballet and Opera North, museums like the Royal Armouries and the Thackray Museum of Medicine, and markets such as Kirkgate—where Michael Marks once traded. The city’s restaurants, music venues and boutique hotels prove that West Yorkshire’s urban life can hold its own against the dramatic countryside.
Practical tips
Getting between these places is easy by car or regular train services; heritage lines add character to some journeys. Pack layers for unpredictable weather, sturdy boots for moorland walking, and leave time for cafes, small museums and independent shops—some of the best discoveries are quiet and local.
West Yorkshire refuses to be prettified. Its attractions—wind, stone, industry and imagination—have combined to produce landscapes, towns and art that are at once stark and tender. Visit and you’ll find blunt kindness, dry humor and countryside that rewards curiosity and time.