Hebden Bridge

I mentioned last time that we were going to Hebden Bridge for the weekend and how I had never visited it - well it didn't disappoint.

We arrived in sunshine and were able to sit outside the caravan for lunch before going on the hunt for food (having made a special trip to our 'local' Sainsburys 8 miles away I then forgot to pack all the goodies!). Our hunt took us into Hebden Bridge and what a delightful place it was - lots of independent shops

 cobbled streets

bridges and the river

I was delighted to find a Lloyd Loom laundry basket for £12! It fits perfectly in our bathroom and will be in use once it is painted up and I have put a lining in

We had certainly picked the right day to go and wander round as we woke to hear the patter (?) of rain on the van roof Saturday morning. We decided to go over to Oxenhope, the start of the Keithley and Worth Valley railway as there was an engine steaming up at 11am. Unfortunately we arrived too late to wave it off so made do with a mooch round the station

It was beginning to brighten up so we retraced our route and went back into Hebden to find Mooch a little cafe/bar I had found on the internet where we enjoyed a lovely lunch

By the time we had finished the sun was out, so we drove up towards Hardcastle Craggs, put on our walking boots and walked up to Gibson's Mill. A fascinating place which when it was no longer producing cloth became a center of entertainment, even having a roller skating rink on it's top floor. You can read more about it's history here

Inside the mill the National Trust have recreated the tea room at the top

 We walked back along the river to the car park, feeling all the better for the fresh air.

Sunday was blue skies and sun so I suggested that we might go back to Oxenhope giving ourselves enough time not only to see the 11am train steam up but to be on it in order to travel down the line to Haworth. David being a great steam train enthusiast was very pleased with the idea.

We just had enough time before our return journey to walk up through the park into Haworth. We have been there before but not for a long time so it was nice to re-visit it.

It was all very 'vintage'. We spent a lot of time peering into shop windows seeing things that we remembered from childhood. All too soon we had to get back down to the station and we hadn't even had time for a coffee! The views down through the park made up for that though

A very nice way to end the weekend and just what we needed before our trip to Portugal for Charlotte and Angus's wedding - and on that note I need to finish packing. 

 Quinta da Arriaga here we come