Calderdale

Calderdale is the sort of place that rewards a proper look, a stretch of West Yorkshire where the Calder Valley cuts between steep, mill-town streets and open moorland. Halifax, Hebden Bridge and the smaller villages strung along the valley each have their own character, but what ties them together is a food and drink scene that's grown well beyond what you'd expect from the size of the place. With over 300 restaurants listed across the area, there's a genuine spread here rather than a handful of obvious choices.

That range shows in the names alone. You'll find canalside spots like SJeremy's @ The Boathouse, coffee-focused cafes such as Social By Distinct Coffee, bakeries like Soul Bakery for something sweeter, and pubs with real history behind them, such as the Sportsman Inn. There's also room for the more unusual, Shadowdust Gaming Cafe among them, alongside proper curry houses like Spice Delight Restaurant And Bar. Add in easy lunch stops such as Shay Cafe and Slice Of Sin for a treat, and you've got enough variety to eat somewhere different every day of a week-long stay.

Most visitors base themselves in self-catering cottages, and Calderdale's options lean toward characterful conversions rather than anonymous holiday lets. Ashgrove Leisure runs a good number of these, including the Clock Tower Cottage, the Coach House, and the Parsonage, all with the kind of period detail you'd hope for in an old mill valley, plus lodges like the Celebration Lodges and Waterside Lodge Five for something more modern. It means you can cook for yourself when you want to, then walk into town for dinner when you don't.

Beyond the table, Calderdale is built for walking. The valley sides rise steeply from the towns into open Pennine moorland, and Hebden Bridge in particular has become known for its independent shops and creative, slightly bohemian streets, a good contrast to Halifax's grander Victorian architecture. Whichever base you choose, the geography means you're never far from a decent walk with a view back down over the rooftops and chimneys below.