YorkshireNet Guide to West
and South Yorkshire
Traditional market towns contrast with the bustle of
modern cities built on the strength of Victorian enterprise
Yorkshire is celebrated for its textiles
and the wealth of the Victorian era can still be seen in
the superb architecture of towns such as Halifax and Huddersfield,
fine bases for exploring the beautiful Pennine Hill country.
Yorkshire’s
country towns include Otley (birthplace of Thomas Chippendale),
Ilkley and Wetherby, and little Pennine towns such as Hebden
Bridge and Marsden. Here are the landscapes which inspired
the Brontes and their home, Haworth,
remains little changed. ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ viewers
will recognise Holmfirth, whose moors climb on up into the
Peak District National Park.
There
is a vibrant city feel to modern centres such as Leeds, Bradford,
Sheffield and Doncaster, with Leeds now firmly established
as the UK’s second commercial centre after London. All have
their attractions, such as the Royal Armouries in Leeds, the National Media Museum, IMAX and Alhambra Theatres in Bradford and Salts Mill in nearby Saltaire, superb sporting facilities in Sheffield, and Doncaster’s Dome and racecourse.
Pontefract, where Richard II was killed in its castle,
Wakefield, and Barnsley (home of the ‘Barnsley Chop’) remain
proud of their coal mining heritage.
In a county where the ‘great outdoors’ really
is great - climbing, caving, canoeing, angling, sailing
are just some of the outdoor activities available, with
matchless walking country. Footpaths include the tough Pennine
Way, the Brontë Way and dozens of waymarked local routes.
The Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, known as the unofficial Sculpture Capital of Europe, goes from the Hepworth, Wakefield, to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park nearby and to the Leeds Art Gallery and its neighbour the Henry Moore Institute. All four are within 30 minutes of each other by car, bus or train, and all four have free admission.
