Hebden Bridge grew up as a small mill town producing cotton, wool and woollen goods. Now it is home to a thriving creative community. The area has a rich literary history: Sylvia Plath is buried at Heptonstall on the hill overlooking Hebden Bridge and the poet laureate, Ted Hughes was born in Mytholmroyd, two miles away.
Local beauty spot Hardcastle Crags features Gibson Mill - recently renovated with sustainable energy from the Hebden Water, sun and wood - and a cafe.
http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/

The Alternative Technology Centre on the Rochdale Canal in Hebden Bridge features an exhibition room, a green shop, a plastics recycling plant and lots of information on green matters.
http://www.alternativetechnology.org.uk

The historic village of Heptonstall is a steep 2 mile walk uphill from Hebden Bridge http://www.heptonstall.org/mambo/

The Bronte sisters wrote most of their famous works while living at the Haworth Parsonage (now a museum). http://www.haworth.yorks.com/haworth.html

The Keighley and Worth Valley steam railway runs through the heart of the Bronte Country from Oxenhope to Haworth. http://www.kwvr.co.uk/

The Rochdale Canal forms part of the South Pennine Ring. The towpath provides level walking and boat trips are available in summer from Hebden Bridge marina. http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/rochdale/

Todmorden has an excellent sports centre with indoor swimming pool, gym and games courts.
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/sports/facilities/index.jsp?centre=3

Hollingworth Lake (a mile walk from Littleborough station) offers boating, kyaking and sailing facilities. Couses can be booked in advance. 01706 370499

Bradford (one hour by train) has an excellent Media Museum featuring exhibits in photography, film, TV and interactive media with an IMAX screen showing spectacular films throughout the day. http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/
Bradford also has a small Peace Museum (open by apointment). http://www.peacemuseum.org.uk