Hey
I know September can feel like the month when everything starts getting busy again, but it’s also one of the best times of year to squeeze in a few quieter Yorkshire adventures.
And this September, Heritage Open Days are back.
If you haven’t come across them before, Heritage Open Days are a brilliant chance to visit historic places, join special tours, climb towers, peek inside buildings, and discover local stories - all for free!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some of the Yorkshire ones that have caught my eye, but I wanted to give you a little preview today because a few may need booking.
One I absolutely love is Victoria Tower on Castle Hill in Huddersfield. I’ve climbed it twice now, and the views from the top are incredible. You can see for miles across the patchwork of fields, towns and villages, with Emley Moor Mast rising in the distance. It’s one of those landmarks you spot from all over West Yorkshire, so getting the chance to stand at the top feels really special.
There’s also Wainhouse Tower in Halifax, also known as the Tower of Spite, which has one of the most brilliantly petty backstories in Yorkshire. It’s tall, dramatic, impossible to miss, and the climb to the top is definitely a workout - but the views across Calderdale are worth it!
For something completely different, Standedge Tunnel in Marsden is offering free discovery boat trips into the tunnel. It’s the longest, highest and deepest canal tunnel in the UK, and heading into that dark, narrow space beneath the Pennines genuinely feels like an adventure.
And if you’re drawn to wild places, the Spurn Heritage Walking Tour sounds fascinating. Spurn Point already feels like the end of the earth, with the North Sea on one side and the Humber Estuary on the other, but this tour explores the history, shipwrecks, lighthouses and stories behind one of Yorkshire’s most unusual landscapes.
There are also brilliant options like Middleton Railway in Leeds, where you can learn more about the world’s oldest continuously operating railway, and a Kelham Island walking tour in Sheffield, exploring the industrial history, architecture, street art and community stories of one of South Yorkshire’s most fascinating neighbourhoods.
I’ll be sharing more of my Heritage Open Days recommendations on the Get Lost in Yorkshire Facebook Page and inside the Yorkshire Hidden Gems Facebook Group over the next few weeks, so come and follow along if you’d like more ideas and get all the booking details.
👉 Follow Get Lost in Yorkshire on Facebook here
👉 Join Yorkshire Hidden Gems here
Hopefully this gives you a few free September adventures to save - and a reminder that some of Yorkshire’s best stories are hidden inside places we walk past all the time.
Until our next adventure,
Yorkshire Events
What's on in Yorkshire this weekend?
Here's a glimpse of what's on in Yorkshire this weekend 👀
North Yorkshire: Race Across the World: The Experience York offers a self-guided clue-solving race through York throughout September. You can tackle the walking route at your own pace in around two to three hours. Find out more.
West Yorkshire: Leeds International Beer Festival brings independent breweries, cider and street food to Kirkstall Abbey from Thursday to Sunday. Book a session and dress for the outdoor abbey grounds. Find out more.
East Yorkshire: Freedom Festival fills Hull city centre with street theatre, installations and performances from today until Sunday. You can explore mostly free events, with some indoor shows requiring a free ticket. Find out more.
South Yorkshire: Art in the Gardens brings artists and makers to Sheffield Botanical Gardens this weekend. You can browse original art and crafts on Saturday or Sunday, with under-16s going free! Find out more.
Discover more events in Yorkshire here:
→ See the full calendar of events happening in Yorkshire this September here
→ Plan ahead with this guide to the best events in Yorkshire this October
Want to get the most out of Yorkshire this year?
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