Whatever your interests, the area around the Colne Valley, with its wealth of culture and beautiful scenery, has lots to keep you entertained. Local Jazz and Folk festivals, Slaithwaite's biennial moonraking and the festival of light to name but a few. A little further away you can tour the local vinyard and sample its produce with your afternoon tea and why not take a bottle away with you to enjoy back at your cosy cottage base?

 

The Colne Valley has become popular with film and television companies due to its stunning location, earning it the nick-name 'Little Hollywood'. Here you will find the settings of the much loved 'Last of the Summer Wine', 'Where the Heart is' and the more recent 'Remember Me' starring Michael Palin. Look out also for locations featured in the Hollywood film 'A Monster Calls' with Sigourney Weaver and Liam Neeson. Or why not take a trip to one of the many renowned theatres in Bradford, Leeds or Manchester or take in a concert by the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, Huddersfield Choral Society or Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra?

 

The many food festivals hosted in the area throughout the year are a great way to sample local and international delicacies. Take home a water buffalo burger or some delicious locally made gateaux or hand raised pies!

 

A short drive away you can enjoy a trip on the Kirklees Light Railway, or slip back in time for a nostalgic browse around shops stocked with vintage goodies and enjoy the classic car collection at Hepworth and, if vintage is your thing, why not come for one of the many events organised by the David Brown Tractor Club - their road rally passes right by Wood End Farm!

 

In the neighbouring village of Golcar is a small folk museum dedicated to the cottage industries that once supported the population of the area and an easy morning's stroll along the canal towpath takes the visitor to Marsden and Tunnel End Museum, situated at the side of the entrance to the Standedge Tunnel renowned as the longest and highest canal tunnel in the country and one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. Here visitors can explore deep into this marvellous Yorkshire attraction on one of the family friendly guided boat trips or stop for a bite to eat in the Watersedge cafe.

 

 

In the rolling hills above Huddersfield you will find 'The Yorkshire Sculpture Park' with its extensive collection of outdoor sculptures including Henry Moore, or head out over the Pennines to discover the 'Panopticons', huge installations with commanding views over the landscape. 

 

At Wood End Cottage you are within easy reach of Howarth and Bronte Country, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway where classics such as the original 'Railway Children' were filmed, The Yorkshire Coal Mining Museum and many fine houses such as Cannon Hall, Shibden Hall and Nostel Priory. Or take a stroll along the river to the tea rooms at Hardcastle Crags, keeping an eye peeled for the wild deer that still live deep in the woodland.