This is the South Pennines

The South Pennines - a wild, wonderful and occasionally wuthering landscape at the place where Yorkshire and Lancashire collide. A land of steep-sided valleys, heather-covered moorland, canals, reservoirs and packhorse trails. The people who live here describe it as 'spectacular', 'inspiring', 'breathtaking' and 'dramatic.' It's a place where you'll find intense local pride - people who are passionate about the area and want to share what they know. And so we’ve obliged. We’ve gathered their recommendations of South Pennines places, people and pastimes and created this website.

You may have already heard about some parts of the South Pennines. ‘The Times’ recently declared Hebden Bridge as "the coolest place to live"; Holmfirth is known worldwide thanks to Nora Batty and ‘Last of the Summer Wine’; the former spa town of Ilkley still draws visitors for its gentle elegance and visitors flock to Haworth to connect with the Brontes.

But the South Pennines are also the dramatic setting for other hidden gems including Todmorden, the Saddleworth villages, Marsden, Slaithwaite, Littleborough and Ripponden. Many people come here for the beer, others to seek inspiration from the area's creativity, take part in a festival or walk, cycle and ride across our rugged landscape.

The South Pennines is full of surprises. But don’t just take our word for it. Come and discover it for yourself. And if you find something you think we’ve missed - tell us!