‘Stunning’ new nature trail set to launch this weekend up in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire is about to get a new nature trail (Picture: Getty Images) Rolling hills, romantic moors, and an 18-mile nature trail are what hikers can expect to find at a new walking route opening this weekend. Up in Bradford in West Yorkshire, the Bradford Pennine Gateway Trail is looking to romanticise a neglected area of the UK, unjustly written off as overly industrialised and, generally, not worth visiting. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll realise not far from Bradford lies some absolutely stunning countryside; a backdrop that’ll help you understand why the Brontës wrote such beautiful (and often depressing) stories. Opening on Saturday, September 19, the new route starts in Ilkley, and ends in Haworth, the birthplace of the most famous literary sisters of all time. Along the way, it journeys through a National Nature Reserve, passing through eight sights, including Baildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Trench Meadows, Bingley North Bog, St Ives, Harden Moor, and Penistone Hill. To mark the occasion, a free, guided walk of the new route is taking place on Saturday, and it’s hoping to encourage people to explore the beauty of Bradford’s countryside, which often gets left behind in the narrative. The 18-mile route is tied up with the creation of the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, which was finalised last year, and spans around 1,000 hectares of West Yorkshire land. Notably, the route heads towards the beloved Brontë moors just outside Haworth, which deeply inspired the literary worlds of Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Brontë, famous for penning classics like Jane Eyre, Villette, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and, of course, Wuthering Heights. The countryside played a vital role in the sisters’ upbringing, as their Haworth Parsonage backed right onto the rolling hills. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Top Withens, an abandoned farmhouse not far from their home, was said to have inspired the fictional setting of Wuthering Heights, while the walk down to Ponden Hall resembled Thrushcross Grange. The route goes through Haworth, where the Brontë sisters grew up (Picture: Getty Images) Things to do in Ilkley Want to tick Ilkley off your travel bucket list while you’re there? Well, this is where the route starts, and for good reason: it has absolutely breathtaking views, the most notable looming right over the town on Ilkley Moor, by the Cow and Calf Rocks. Also known as the Hangingstone Rocks, they’re about a 35-minute walk from the train station at the bottom of the hill – which various locals have even been spotted running up and down in all weathers. You would if you could, right? Tipples and roast dinners aplenty are served up at The Cow And Calf pub, which is, of course, a mere seven minutes on foot from the neighbouring rocks, overlooking the Wharfe Valley. The moors are a popular local spot (Picture: Getty Images) And back towards the centre of town, who could forget the iconic Betty’s Tea Room? It’s been serving up Fat Rascals – a famous Yorkshire bun resembling a scone – since 1919, after all. If swimming is more your thing, Ilkley Lido is found right next to the indoor pool. Opened in 1935, it was originally part of the celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of George V. And when the weekend rolls around, it’s always nice to indulge in a spot of brunch – found in abundance at the likes of Toast House, Outside The Box, and Arlo. Hash brown, anyone? Top Withens is said to have inspired Wuthering Heights (Picture: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF) How to get to Ilkley Leeds and Bradford – both giants of West Yorkshire respectively – are approximately 30 minutes from Ilkley on the train (or 45 minutes by car). If you’re curious to try the new route, there’s also a direct train from London King’s Cross up to Leeds, which takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Primark's new £14 co-ord has autumn styling on a budget covered Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale Arrow MORE: ‘Dead zoning’: the new travel trend helping people to think clearly Arrow MORE: The UK has over 850 saunas, but this one has the best views Arrow MORE: The 3 best destination detours in Europe, according to a travel expert The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.