Duck N Dive: Calder Valley

I brought a token bunch of southerners up to Leeds, then across to Hebden Bridge to see what real pubs were like. Hebden bridge is probably one of the best looking stations, as railway stations go, and this is one of my favourite valleys, beutiful countryside intermingled with industrial heritage, as the road, river, railway and canal continually cross each other as they wind through the valley.

The first stop was the Stubbins Wharf. Slightly hidden off the main road, the pub is a great place for beer and food. I had a wonderful hot beef baguette, and managed to eat it without getting covered in gravy, which is a first!

The pub is situated below canal level, so out the back of the pub you have to go up some stairs to reach the beutiful and vastly underrated Rochdale canal. I would love to moor my boat here, but the moorings are few and far between - aka expensive.

Next was the Fox & Goose, which is a very old building in need of a bit of TLC. This pub has recently been bought by the community and will be done up as funds permit as a great community pub.

Just a couple of minutes by train, and we were in Todmorden, where the Queens is right across from the station. This is a grandious old station hotel, with huge rooms and high ceilings. Good beer and an interesting menu.

Just down from the Queens is the White Hart or the Todmorden "spoons". The beer was ok, but the layout of the pub is very confusing.

Back on the train we got to Mytholmroyd, and the Shoulder of Mutton. I think this pub has recently changed hands. The food looked good, but the beer was stale. I will probably give this place a miss in the future.

Last stop towards Leeds was Sowerby Bridge. This too is a very industrial looking town and we went to the "works" which is an old mill that has had the ground floor turned into quite a contemporary bar.

Last stop was the Jubilee Refreshment rooms, the bar on Sowerby Bridge station platform. A great pint, and locally made pork pies finished off the day nicely.