The Bradford Pennine Gateway Trail, launching on 19 September, runs through the newly established Bradford Pennine Gateway national nature reserve – the first reserve of its kind in West Yorkshire – and connects the towns of Ilkley, Saltaire and Haworth. The 18-mile (28.9km) route aims to change perceptions of Bradford by highlighting the district's rural landscapes and biodiversity, according to Danny Jackson, the former countryside and rights of way manager for Bradford council who devised the trail.
A Walk Through History and Moorland
The trail begins in Ilkley, crossing Rombalds Moor – named after a legendary giant – which encompasses Ilkley, Burley and Bingley moors. The first half hour is steep, with stone staircases leading to panoramic views of the "golf ball" radomes of RAF Menwith Hill near Harrogate, the high-rise skyline of Leeds, and the Emley Moor transmitter near Wakefield, the tallest freestanding structure in the UK. Along the way, walkers pass the Twelve Apostles stone circle near the summit.
The moors are rich in heather, bracken, upland grasses and peat bog, interspersed with gritstone outcrops. The national nature reserve (NNR) designation recognizes the area's biodiversity and its role in tackling climate challenges, including floods and wildfires. The author spotted skylarks, meadow pipits, wheatears, swallows and a colony of tree sparrows on the south side of Baildon Moor, as well as native trees like birch, rowan and elder. The landscape also bears traces of human history, including an abandoned coal pit from the preindustrial era, second world war tank training sites, quarries and centuries-old dry-stone walls.
Shipley Glen: A Victorian Gem
A highlight of the trail is Shipley Glen, a ravine that has served as a site for radical rallies, suffragette meetings and Victorian pleasure gardens. The glen features a tramway opened in 1895 that still operates. The author recommends breaking the walk here, noting the glorious setting and the nearby Bracken Hall House B&B (doubles from £110 a night), with Saltaire offering art, industrial history and dining options.
Jackson explained his vision: "I want to change people's perceptions of what Bradford is. It's not just a city. It's a district. And it's very rural." He added, "Through the NNR and the trail, we want to maximise the benefits from air quality, carbon capture, wildfire and flood reduction, rewetting, peat restoration – and obviously all the health benefits from being outdoors."
From Canal Locks to Haworth
Continuing from Shipley Glen, the trail passes Trench Meadows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notable for grasses and wildflowers including red fescue, sweet vernal and crested dog's-tail. The route then goes through Bingley, passing the Five Rise Locks and Three Rise Locks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, along with Bingley North Bog, a small site supporting insects, birds and amphibians. The author noted the area inspired John Braine's 1957 novel Room at the Top, which was set in the heights above Bingley.
The trail also includes Harden Moor, a rare dry heath with mixed woodland that is an ideal habitat for bees, including the nationally scarce tormentil mining bee, as well as wasps, spiders and grasshoppers. The final approach to Haworth passes through Catstones End, an area of wild heather and quarried rocks, before reaching the town's high street. The official endpoint is Penistone Hill country park, though the author chose to finish in Haworth, noting the Brontë Parsonage Museum was left unvisited.
Ilkley, Saltaire and Haworth are accessible by train or bus; those driving can park at Keighley and use the 62 bus to Ilkley or the B1, B2 and B3 Brontëbuses back from Haworth. The visit was supported by Bradford Culture Company, which is developing projects related to the 2025 UK City of Culture.
