Posted on Nov 21 at 11:07 AM. Last edited on Jun 06 at 10:29 AM
Elmet Farmhouse is a holiday cottage like no other – and a truly special place. Set in an idyllic location in the hilltop village of Pecket Well, it has breathtaking panoramic views across the steep wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags towards the historic village of Heptonstall and the monument of Stoodley Pike. Nearby Hebden Bridge is a thoroughly delightful place, renowned for its quirky independent shops and relaxed creative vibe.
Elmet Farmhouse itself is a pure delight. Lovingly restored, this handsome stone-built Grade II Listed yeoman clothier’s house dates from 1728. As soon as you cross the threshold and see the huge carved stone fireplace and wood-burning stove, you know you’re in for a treat. With its stone mullion windows and inviting window seats, Elmet has a wonderful atmosphere and provides a unique holiday haven.
An 18th century building with 21st century facilities, Elmet Farmhouse is warm and cosy even in the depths of winter. Beautifully furnished and imaginatively decorated by design historian Lesley Jackson, Elmet’s interiors are as stunning as the views, melding Scandi-Modern furniture and striking midcentury textiles with exquisite lamps and wallpapers by local designer Hannah Nunn.
Light and spacious, Elmet farmhouse accommodates 6 people very comfortably, but is cosy for couples or smaller groups. The large lounge and roomy farmhouse kitchen have ample seating and the whole house is very well equipped. As well as WiFi, TV, DVD, microwave, washing machine and dishwasher, there are copious maps, walks leaflets and vintage games. Upstairs are three light airy bedrooms (one double and two twins) and two bathrooms (one with a bath, both with showers). The pretty cottage garden is a wonderful place to sit out and enjoy the fabulous views. In the summer you can dine al fresco in the company of rabbits, pheasants and deer, and watch barn owls hunting over the hay meadows.
The Upper Calder Valley, with its plunging gorges, bluebell woods, wildflower meadows and rolling heather moors is a unique corner of Yorkshire, both geographically and culturally - the landscape that inspired the Brontë sisters and local poet Ted Hughes. Hughes’ book Remains of Elmet features an iconic photograph by Fay Godwin of the view from Elmet Farmhouse. Also close by is Shibden Hall near Halifax, home of the remarkable 19th century diarist Anne Lister, whose story is told in the hit BBC TV series Gentleman Jack starring Suranne Jones. Filmed locally, Gentleman Jack was written by Sally Wainwright (of Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax fame) who grew up in Calderdale.
Surrounded by marvellous countryside with numerous footpaths, bridleways and packhorse tracks in every direction, Elmet Farmhouse is ideal for hikers but equally good for gentle towpath walks or riverside strolls. A haven for wildlife, this is a superb area for bird-watching, with herons and dippers on the rivers, owls and woodpeckers in the woods, kestrels and swallows over the hilltop meadows and curlews, lapwings, skylarks and golden plovers on the heather moors.
Pecket Well has a friendly village pub within easy walking distance serving home-cooked food and award-winning Timothy Taylor’s beer. Hebden Bridge, just down the hill, has butchers, bakers and designer-makers, as well as numerous cafes and pubs. With its higgledy-piggledy double-decker terraces, riverside paths and canal, Hebden is a fascinating place to explore. Perched on the hill above is the ancient village of Heptonstall with its ruined 13th century church, handloom weavers’ cottages and octagonal Methodist chapel. The American poet Sylvia Plath, who was married to Ted Hughes, is buried in Heptonstall churchyard.
The woodland paradise of Hardcastle Crags – one of the jewels in the National Trust’s crown – is literally on the doorstep. The hidden valleys of Crimsworth Dean, Luddenden Dean, Shibden Dale, Cragg Vale, Jumble Hole Clough and Colden Clough are beautiful and intriguing, while up on ‘the tops’ you can hike to Stoodley Pike, High Brown Knoll or along the Pennine Way to Top Withins. Less than 7 miles from Haworth, Elmet Farmhouse is also ideally located for exploring Bronte Country and within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including Wharfedale, Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Brimham Rocks.
Located on the 2014 Tour de France route and regularly on the Tour de Yorkshire, Elmet Farmhouse offers the perfect base for a cycling holiday, with lots of good local mountain biking routes close by. Offering secure bike storage, the farmhouse has been certified as ‘Yorkshire Cycle Friendly’ by Welcome to Yorkshire.
Halifax, with its splendid Victorian market and historic Minster, is only 10 miles away. Renowned for its magnificent Grade I Listed Piece Hall - an 18th century cloth market resembling an Italian piazza – this newly-restored architectural gem was twice featured on the Antiques Roadshow. Eureka! National Children’s Museum is just across the road from the Piece Hall and Shibden Hall (home of Anne Lister ‘Gentleman Jack’) is only a couple of miles away.
Cultural attractions abound in this area, including he UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, the spa towns of Ilkley and Harrogate and the award-winning Hepworth Museum and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. There are also direct train links from Hebden Bridge to York, Leeds and Manchester.
Due to the historic nature of this Grade II Listed Building, we regret that the building is not suitable for visitors with mobility problems. Children and toddlers welcome. Travel cot, Moses basket, high chair, baby bath, potty, stair gate and fireguard available.
For further details, please contact Lesley Jackson:
Email: enquiries@elmetfarmhouse.co.uk
Tel. 01422 842026
Mob. 07910 075952
Directions
Elmet Farmhouse is located in the village of Pecket Well, two miles from Hebden Bridge. It is readily accessible by public transport, with regular buses to Hebden Bridge and Haworth from the top of the drive. Full directions will be given at the time of booking.
