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Make the most of the scenic routes in your area
23 May 2022
Scenic bus journeys, cycling and walking routes in West Yorkshire
We have amazing scenery across West Yorkshire, from the untamed Moorland of Marsden to the lush landscapes of Holme Moss. We want you to explore and enjoy all the beautiful areas in our region so we've listed some bus services that provide spectacular sights and a few cycling and walking routes for you to try.
West Yorkshire Scenic Bus Routes
Huddersfield – Holme via Holmfirth
Journey time: 46 minutes
The 314 bus service offers stunning views across the Holme Valley, Castle Hill and even gets you to the edge of the Peak District National Park. The route passes through several vibrant towns and villages with a wealth of rural beauty. Most famous of all being Holmfirth, which was the filming location of Last of the Summer Wine – the world’s longest running sitcom. Several wonderful views line the journey, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Halifax - Hebden Bridge
Journey time: 46 minutes
Head out to Hebden Bridge with its eclectic mix of friendly shops and cafes and take the 590 591 or 592 bus service to Halifax. Along the way you will very rarely lose sight of the tranquil River Calder and Rochdale Canal. Hardcastle Crags and Heptonstall are only a short uphill stroll away from Hebden Bridge and are most definitely worth the walk.
Keighley – Hebden Bridge via Haworth
Journey time: 59 minutes
Hop on the aptly named Brontë Bus B3 and take a beautiful journey steeped in natural beauty and riveting history as you discover the amazing stories of the famous Brontë sisters all from the back of a bus. There is an abundance of activities to do on the Brontë Bus services including walking the cobbled streets of the picturesque village of Haworth to discovering what ignited the inspiration to Wuthering Heights as the bus climbs along the moors. Make sure to sit on the right-hand side to fully appreciate the untamed landscapes that enriched us all with the brilliance of the sisters. If time is on your side, hop off the bus and check out the Brontë Parsonage museum where the sisters lived and the enchanting Brontë Waterfalls.
Leeds – Ilkley via Otley
Journey time: 1 hour 12 minutes
Views of the Wharfe Valley await you on this journey. The X84 bus service has double-deckers offering you sublime views of the Washburn Valley in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Otley Chevin Forest. As you descend into Otley, keep an eye out for Red Kites along the way. Once you arrive In Ilkley, The Cow and Calf viewpoint is only a short walk away and offers up one of the best views in the region, one not to miss. Ilkley is also home to a Bettys Café Tea Rooms where you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.
Huddersfield – Hebden Bridge
Journey time: 1 hour 10 minutes
You are guaranteed to see a wealth of scenic beauty on this route. Highlights of the 901 bus service start from Ripponden, which is well worth a stop, and include the heather soaked Norland Moor and its pockets of woodland and wildlife. As you head further along the journey, soak up the scenery as you head down the Cragg Vale, with its Cragg Vale Coiners history, to Mytholmroyd, the longest continuous gradient in England. The area plays host to a number of great walks which can be found on the Calderdale Council Weaver to Web website page.
Huddersfield – Marsden
Journey time: 25 minutes
The 184 bus service from Huddersfield to Marsden takes you to the very tops of Marsden Moor and the huge swathes of rugged moorland that stretch as far as the eye can see. The area offers an abundance of walks to explore this remote but beautiful landscape with more than 5000 acres to discover. Spectacular views unfold as you get to the top of the South Pennines looking across the Moorland.
If you want to go further afield and outside West Yorkshire why not try the DalesBus
A wealth of scenic bus services enable you to discover the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Parks with the DalesBus services. Good services run from West Yorkshire to several towns on the edge of the Dales from where daily buses run to the main towns, villages, and tourist attractions of the Dales.
These include the town of Malham which is a great place to get off to go see Malham Cove, a huge amphitheatre shaped cliff formation made famous by its appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One.
If natural beauty is your thing, then Ingleton is also a stop not to miss. Aptly called ‘The Land of Caves and Waterfalls’ its highlights are the Waterfall Trails, White Scar Caves and Yorkshire Three Peaks.
Whichever route you choose, the beauty and character of the Dales will greet you as you hop between its many charming stone-built villages.
Scenic walking and cycling routes
Cycling and walking can give you a great dose of happy hormones to leave you feeling refreshed. Even a short cycle, walk or a stroll in your local area can have great benefits to your mood and wellbeing. For resources and top tips, to help you get out and about by foot or bike visit CityConnect.
Landmarks along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath, including the Aire Valley Towpath, is largely flat, helping make it an inclusive location for families or people with mobility impairments. Just a few miles along the towpath from Leeds city centre is Kirkstall Abbey, or further along is Rodley Nature Reserve. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire is also easily accessible with the towpath running close to Salts Mill, as is the National Trust’s East Riddlesden Hall further along.
A walking tour through historical Huddersfield 
The Huddersfield Local History society have some walking maps to help you explore on foot the town’s rich history, spanning Chartism, the Luddites, the women’s suffrage movement, and the first Gay Pride held outside London.
Discover Huddersfield have 3 routes around Huddersfield, a ‘Green Spaces’ walk, a ‘Culture’ walk, and a ‘Water’ walk, all of which take about 30 minutes.
Cragg Vale walks
The area plays host to a number of great walks which can be found on the Calderdale Council Weaver to Web website page. The full 256-mile Pennine Way might be a bit ambitious for the bank holiday weekend, but a lovely stretch of it passes through Calderdale. The Rochdale Canal passes through Todmorden, Hebden Bridge through to Sowerby Bridge and Mytholmroyd from west to east, and is mostly flat. The Hebden Royd Business Forum have some great information about walks starting out in Hebden Bridge and across Calderdale.
On Ilkley Moor bar t’at
Once you arrive In Ilkley, The Cow and Calf viewpoint, also known as the Hangingstone Rocks, is only a short walk away from the town centre, and offers up one of the best views in the region, one not to miss. For those who fancy a longer walk “on Ilkley Moor bar t’at” (without a hat), the Friends of Ilkley Moor have route information on their website to help you explore the moor.
Take a stroll on the Greenway
The Castleford to Wakefield Greenway was created just before the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014 and is a great traffic-free route for walkers and cyclists. The Greenway links Fairies Hill Locks by Whitwood Golf Course with Methley Bridge, and from the Greenway you can also link up with the towpath to the Aire and Calder Navigation towpath.
Walk the Wakefield Gate
Halifax Civic Trust have produced a great guide to the Wakefield Gate walk, known to the Romans as the Magna Via, which proceeds east from Halifax. Read their guide to the walk or take a virtual tour in this video.This route will be well known to fans of BBC series Gentleman Jack – Anne Lister’s estate of Shibden Hall is close by.
Information correct at the time of publishing – 23/05/2022