Welcome to Yorkshire week at Domestic Sluttery. As you know Domestic Sluts like to travel around the UK discovering all the cool places to stay, fun things to do and quirky places to shop. So this week you will find all the usual posts but with lots of Yorkshire focus as we seek to find the very best Domestic Sluttery in Yorkshire. Last year I had the pleasure of discovering the little town of Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire. I had noticed the town pop up on the tellybox and thought how lovely it would be to live in such a picturesque place. Before I knew it, I was on a train whooshing through the Pennines with tall trees and industrial chimney stacks whizzing past the windows. I arrived in Hebden Bridge, a small town nestled in a steep valley with a canal passing through the middle. The town was once a bustling mill town producing wool, now it is a centre for creatives.
Hebden Bridge is infamous for having the largest range of independent shops in the country (it was the first town in the UK to ban plastic bags) and from first-hand experience I can tell you that this is most refreshing. For the home you will find beautiful handmade stoneware pottery at Polka Dot Lane or Jule's China. Or for stunning handmade lighting products visit Radiance where they stock a range of lovely crafts too. Next, you might want to visit Home Oh! simply for the visual spectacle in itself. Run by the same team behind the Yorkshire Soap Co. Here you will find kitsch, quirky and unusual homewares displayed with theatrical delight on grand pianos and tables poking out the wall. Afterwards you will want to wander through the charming Heart Gallery, a showcase of British craft and jewellery (but more on that later this week). For more quirky visual delights visit Feathergills Emporium, a small apothecary reminiscent of Victorian times with shelves stacked with lotions and potions in sweet packaging. And if all this is too much spectacle take a trip to Hat Therapy and enjoy the millinery genius of Chrissie who is always keen for a chat about the wonders of hats. Finally, drop into Hebden Tea for a stash of tasty teas from around the world. I really like the milky oolong.
All this shopping will no doubt make you hungry, so hit up one of the many cafes such as Milk Bar, Cafe Solo, Organic House or The Deli. Alternatively check out Crown Fish and Chips for a proper Northern chippy supper complete with bread and butter and a cup of tea. For dinner you might want to check out Rim Nam Thai for delicious food, friendly service and a gorgeous view of the canal. Finish off the day with a boogie at The Trades Club, a great venue for live music and cheap booze. I was fortunate enough to visit on Disco night so I danced away to the funky beat into the early hours of the morning.
On day two you should grab your walking boots (and probably a cagoule, this is tup North after all) and take a gentle stroll (or hike depending on which route you take) through Hardcastle Craggs just North out of Hebden Bridge. This stunning unspoilt woodland is a real treat in the summer (and apparently home to the infamous Northern hairy ant - although I cannot vouch for that nugget of information but it may be useful in a pub quiz one day). Take the route towards Gibson Mill, which was one of the first mills of the Industrial Revolution. We like educational and pretty places.
For rainy days when the cagoule is not quite working out for you check out the Picture House an independent 1920s cinema showing mainstream and arthouse films along with various live events.
Hebden Bridge is a hub of activity with plenty of events throughout the summer. Coming up is a Crafts Fair on May 12th, a Blues Festival 1st-3rd June, the Handmade Parade on 23rd June, and Vintage Car Festival 4th-5th August.
There are some sweet places to stay in Hebden Bridge too. The White Lion offers coach inn style rooms and has a good reputation for pub grub too (on both occasions I was unable to get a table for lunch). We stayed in a self-contained apartment at The Croft Mill, located in town. I loved the personal touches from the owners such as the welcome pack of Yorkshire foods and delivering fresh croissants for our breakfast. Or the Rambles B&B is highly recommended for its fantastic views of the Pennines and just a short drive from Hebden Bridge.
I fell in love with Hebden Bridge and I cannot wait to visit again. But be warned, if you like shopping you might want to bring extra pennies along with you.
If you go again, the Stubbing Wharf pub on the canalside does excellent food.
ReplyDeleteJules China is ace - their heart dishes are just gorgeous :)
ReplyDeletePlease proofread your posts - your use of apostrophes is terrible.
ReplyDeleteStubbings Wharf is dog friendly too! Nothing better than lunch there followed by a walk into the town along the towpath.
ReplyDeleteCagouls! Oh god, we had to have them at school. Thanks for making me nostalgic. We passed Hebden en route to Manchester at the weekend and the station looked beautiful. Must go for a peek around!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. That piece is the laziest piece of writing I've read in a long time. Have you actually been to HB or did you just pull names from the Yellow Pages?!
ReplyDeleteWhat gems from Hebden Bridge would you have included, Mud? Hardly a constructive comment if you have nothing to add...
DeleteWell, there's Green's, a lovely veggie / vegan café with delicious homemade cakes, there's a couple of decent haberdashery shops. There's also Lucy and The Caterpillar, a fabulous vintage shop, and the lady that owns it also makes some stuff to sell there (I got a fab dress from there over the easter holidays.) There's a lovely jewellery studio as well in the same building (an old mill) that has some stunning stuff in.
DeleteI do agree with Mud, that it is a very lazy piece of writing, and it does not seem to mention some of the better places in Heb.
No mention of the Milk Bar, with a wide array of icecream, and about 40 different types of milkshake?! No mention of Bubblefloss cottage with some really nice Cath Kidston bits and bobs in? No mention of the myriad cafés with lovely views of the picturesque little village?
There's also the nice walk along the canal tow path. Park up in Todmorden, walk along the canal (4 miles or so) past some old mills, farm land, beautiful houses, get some lunch in Hebden Bridge, then mooch back along the tow path.
I also have to agree with Anonymous as well - the piece has clearly not been proof-read, it's a terrible piece of writing, rambling and bitty. Not what I have come to expect from the Sluts!
Hi Anonymous, Mud and Ms Jackson,
DeleteThanks for the feedback. I did visit Hebden Bridge myself twice last year and this is a short summary of some the places I really enjoyed there (those my own photographs!). Unfortunately I am not able to feature all the great things to do in such a short space. I did mention Milk Bar in the suggestions for cafes to visit.
Thanks for the other great suggestions, I will be sure check them out next time I visit.
Crikey. I must stick up for Elizabeth here! Firsty, this a a 48 hour guide into Hebden Bridge, not a comprehensive guide book! I have lived in Hebden Bridge for over 3 years and still am discovering gems of the town (some that you have mentioned Ms Jackson are not my favourite). This is Elizabeth's guide to the town from her point of view (I know she's been twice) and the places she has visited. The other places you have mentioned (Ms Jackson) she might not have seen?
ReplyDeleteI would have thought the purpose of these guides is to encourage people to visit places they might not have been before in which case Elizabeth has given a good rough guide. P.S Milk Bar was mentioned
Yes, agreed - as someone who knew nothing about Hebden Bridge, this made me want to visit. It's good to hear other suggestions from people, but it could have been done much more politely.
DeleteLisa - any other gems you'd recommend?
This makes me very keen to visit Hebden Bridge, it sounds lovely. Thanks Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of vintage/secondhand bits and bobs so I would suggest the Wednesday outdoor flea market and the antiques centre on Albert St (an aladdins cave!). Not forgetting all the charity shops if you are a bargain hunter (think 7 in total).
ReplyDeleteStubbins Wharf is a great pub and Nelsons wine bar too. As for shops, Elizabeth has chosen all the greats (IMHO). A lot of shops in Hebden are not always open, and the ones E chose are! Muse music and Hotcakes are personal faves too x
Glad you enjoyed your visit. Thanks very much for mentioning Radiance. If you come again do say hello! x
ReplyDeleteMay I lend my support to both Elizabeth and Lisa in their comments on Hebden Bridge. I love the place and have been a very regular visitor to the town for nigh on 12 years!! Living in Huddersfield, it is but a stone's throw away so I practically find myself there weekly!! All the places both ladies made mention of are superb and well worth visiting, but what is more important is to get yourself down there and form your own favourites! Also, time changes what you want from a place and what I've found with the lovely HB is that it seems to be able to provide me with what I need according to 'where I'm at', so to speak! To explain, 12 years ago, I was not married, had no kids, loved walking and went to lots of gigs - HB provided nicely in all regards. Not so now, with the hubster and 2 lively girls with me, my relationship with HB has modified and mellowed into visits to feed the ducks (sort of did that anyway, but now whilst holding onto reins), trailing over the bridge on bikes to the park, introducing my 5 year old to the marvels of charity and flea market shopping (along with the occasional trip to the Old Tree House toy shop), going to the wonderful Steiner baby group, when I can get to it (these groups are hard to find but HB has one!) and basically just being there and chatting to people and appreciating the place for its utter uniqueness. When I first went to Hebden Bridge over a decade ago, no one gave me advice, no one told me what to like or where the cool places where to go. I just went, I just liked it and I just kept going back. You should go too.
ReplyDeleteHB sounds like magic. Like NARNIA.
ReplyDeleteIt is more magical than Narnia - and we have plenty of fawns ;)
ReplyDeleteWe also have a fantabulous Arts Festival: http://hbaf.co.uk/
and a great Fringe Festival too: http://www.facebook.com/hebdenfringefestival
PLUS probably the most progressive WI in the UK: http://hebdenwi.blogspot.co.uk/
Thank you for helping us spread the word about our funky little town - don't tell too many people though. We're still a bit of a hidden gem ;)
And don't forget to also visit Mytholmroyd, the less fashionable end of Hebden Royd, birthplace of late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, home to Walkleys Clog factory, peregrine falcons on Scout Rocks, also location for my 'Berringden Brow' novels (set 'not far from Hebden Bridge') Milly's cafe and gifts, First Choice deli, a Co-op, an independent travel agent, a few local shops and a couple of pubs. If arriving first Saturday in the month you can get high tea at Methodist chapel. There is also a plethora of hairdressers, for some reason. However, we do have a Sainsbury's local, but don't feel too bad about it, since Hebden also has a few chain stores- Boots and Ladbrokes have been established there for a while.
ReplyDelete