Leeds and indeed West Yorkshire has some fantastic independent stores, but one of my absolute favourites is in Saltaire, and it’s the truly wonderful design store RADSTUDIO!

Ali opened the store in 2013 and I’ve been shopping there since the beginning so we’ve struck up a bit of a friendship. I’ve bought a few pieces and have a huge wishlist as Ali has a great eye for homewares and accessories. I have a habit of going in there and gasping aloud – pointing at things in excitement and saying loudly ‘ooh I want this’ or ‘oh that’s beautiful’. Most recently a rug by Ferm Living absolutely took my breath away.

The stock features vibrant colourful lamps, prints and textiles, plant holders and hangers, many of them from leading Scandinavian design brands. But she also sources beautiful pieces on her travels, most recently from Portland, Orgeon, which you will struggle to find elsewhere in the UK.

I’ve watched the shop evolve from great to absolutely fantastic but what I really admire about Ali’s business is that she completely listens to her customers then goes out and sources the kind of items they are really looking for.

She’s recently increased her square footage to showcase the beautiful range of homewares she sells and in the process has revealed a beautiful original period fireplace where she has created a cosy corner with armchair, cushions and throws. I’d kind of like to live there as it’s nicer than my house!

If you’re ever heading to Salts Mill, then I do urge you to make the short walk up the steps and visit Ali’s beautiful store. (There are also lots of good vintage stores nearby too, so it’s a great place all round to find some treasures!).

Images by Jen Chillingsworth

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Nestled away in Otley Chevin Forest Park, The Cheerful Chilli is a tea room that oozes charm. A great place to stop for cake or lunch, it’s a popular spot for families, walkers and cyclists.

Located in a converted farmhouse, the inside has a lovely laid back feel with mismatched furniture and cozy sofas to curl up in. The homemade cakes are always tempting and the cherry cheesecake is divine. The everchanging light lunch menu offers a variety of influences from Moroccan couscous dishes to Italian classics.

For me though, it’s all about eating outside in the sunshine in their courtyard garden. Rustic tables and chairs sit amongst pots of brightly coloured geraniums, roses climbing up old trellis and junk planters overflowing with scented perennials. Bees and butterflies went about their daily business as I enjoyed my lunch of homity pie washed down with a ginger beer.

The Cheerful Chilli is a place to unwind, relax and enjoy delicious vegetarian and vegan food in the prettiest of surroundings.

Images by Jen Chillingsworth

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The petite village of Haworth hides among the evocative West Yorkshire moors; Brontë country, all swathes of heather and skittish grouse. Enchanting vintage treasure troves, quaint bookshops and enticing bakeries line the main stretch of cobbles, but my favourite place to escape the winter chill is Cobbles and Clay.

The food is wholesome, healthy and delicious, and the cakes are just the right amount of naughty, but this unassuming wood-furnished cafe also offers pottery painting!

I’ve eaten here a handful of times but never indulged my crafty side, so after polishing off a bowl of freshly-made mushroom soup, I went upstairs to choose my pottery. From owls and dinosaurs to mugs and coasters, there’s no shortage of choice, and I had a hard time choosing. In the end my love for all things bushy-tailed won over, and I set to work bringing my adorable fox to life.

Totally immersed in making my fox look as lifelike as possible, I swapped and changed brushes, chatted away to my boyfriend, and when things got tricky, passed him my project. While he put his art qualifications to work I gazed out onto the cobbles, watching intriguing passers-by and characterful dogs. I can’t remember the last time I relaxed so completely; such a lovely way to while away a chilly afternoon.

Images by Charlotte Varela

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Leeds city centre is chock full of gorgeous cafes, but so often it’s a different story when you head out of town to the suburbs. And so the rumours of new independent cafe only five minutes from my house were cause for some excitement, and I had very high hopes when I visited Mill Kitchen in Farsley.

It sits on the corner of a busy local high street, surrounded by steep hills and old-fashioned shops built in the local Yorkshire stone. Inside, you are greeted by an airy, spacious room with an abundance of space and light. Its name refers to the old textile mill on whose site it sits, and the reclaimed tables, vintage chairs and other industrial touches are a nice nod to the building’s history.

The coffee, I am pleased to report, is excellent. As are the breakfasts. And the lunches. And the cakes. You see, I’ve been going there rather a lot! My absolute favourite thing to order is ‘Baked Beans’ for £4.50: toasted sourdough bread, topped with homemade slowcooked beans, topped with a poached egg and scattered with chorizo.

For lunch, I love the £5 salad plate – five generous spoonfuls of different types of salad, all made in their kitchen that day. The selection of freshly made cakes is also fabulous. It also operates as a deli, selling local produce, fresh and ambient, and artisan breads are delivered daily. Oh, and as if it wasn’t perfect enough already, they have a lovely selection of well chosen cookery books for you to browse or buy, while you wait for your food.

Images by Gillian Roe

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Nestled in the Calder Valley lies the pretty market town of Todmorden. Stepping out of the train station, you are greeted by the first of many ‘Incredible Edible Todmorden’ raised beds situated around the town. They’re looked after by members of the community and visitors and residents are encouraged to help themselves to fresh herbs, edible flowers and vegetables.

Continuing on, you’ll discover Todmorden is home to lots of quirky, independent cafes, bars and shops. First on my list is always Picture House Antiques, which houses three floors of vintage homewares, antiques and collectable pieces. Nooks and crannies reveal hidden treasures like retro fabrics, industrial lighting and vintage earthenware. It’s a great place to find something a little different.

Then head next door to The Bear, a thriving vegetarian cafe and grocery store. Housed in the original Todmorden Industrial Co-operative Society building, it’s beautifully decorated with modern rustic details, vintage scales and a chequerboard floor. Downstairs is a food lovers paradise, selling beers from local breweries, regional cheeses, organic wines, luscious chocolates and seasonal vegetables from its own polytunnel.

A few doors down, The Bear have also opened Bear Apothecary, where you can indulge in some all natural, vegan and cruelty free beauty products. After shopping, pop in to their cafe for coffee and cake or really treat yourself with a plate of sweet pancakes drizzled with local borage honey.

And if you need to do some more vintage shopping, combine your visit to Todmorden with a trip to the bustling weekly flea market, held every Thursday.

Images by Jen Chillingsworth

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One the the best things about autumn has to be walking in the woods. The crunch and rustle of leaves of a dry, sunny day, or the squelch of mud on a wet one, I love it all. And that earthy smell of rotting vegetation and damp air, just tinged with woodsmoke, so particular to this time of year, has me reaching for my wellies and hat.

Otley Chevin has become a firm family favourite for woodland walks. It lies about ten miles north of Leeds, just a mere thirty-minute car journey away, yet you feel like you are out in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. The Chevin is a large wooded ridge with wonderful views north to the market town of Otley and the Wharfe Valley.

One of the reasons we love it so much is the way you get the best of both worlds; that feeling of being deep undercover amid hundreds of trees, then suddenly coming to a break in the woods and seeing the most staggering vista in front of you.

It’s lovely in spring and summer too, of course, but there is something really special about the Chevin when it’s cold, when you can walk for as little or as long as you want, watching the kids get muddy and climb trees, when you can see winter skies through the bare trees, and then pile into the car afterwards and go home for hot chocolate.

Images by Gillian Roe

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Everyone who’s heard of Saltaire has heard of Salt’s Mill (that huge old industrial building which now houses a beautiful retail and gallery space), but there’s an awful lot going on in the village itself which often goes unnoticed.

Steeped in Victorian history and as picture-perfect as a place gets, Saltaire is  now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Think row after row of pretty terraced houses built from local stone, narrow cobbled roads, and back alleys filled with geraniums in pots and lines of washing flapping in the breeze. But the village is not a museum, no, it’s alive and thriving, buzzing with residents, students and tourists alike.

A wander up the main street will reward you with some fantastic vintage shopping (although bear in mind that most shops are open Wednesday to Sunday) and a lot of opportunities for some leisurely browsing. Rad Studio is well worth a visit with its gorgeous selection of design-led homewares and gifts. There are bakeries, cafes, an ice cream parlour, bars and restaurants, with Don’t Tell Titus being a local favourite for lunches and drinks.

Victorian town planners loved their parks and Robert’s Park – and the ‘ice cream barge’ that is always moored there – doesn’t disappoint. It has wide open spaces by the water’s edge, a bandstand, manicured gardens and some of the prettiest park benches I ever saw, plus a huge playground for the little ones. It’s an ideal spot for a picnic on a sunny day.

You see, there is so much more to Saltaire than people realise. Next time you visit, walk up the hill into the heart of the village, towards the shops and houses, towards the hustle and bustle of a thriving community. You wont be sorry you did.

Images by Gillian Roe

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Ilkley has two very special shopping delights that I always return to at this time of year in search for unique and beautiful gifts.

Firstly, Covet, a beautiful relaxed homeware store that spills out onto the cobbled grove, like an all year round festival of fairy lights, upcycled cushions and picnic blankets. Inside there are ceramics and wooden plates, easy but elegant clothing and handmade jewellery. The shop’s speciality is unique vintage and fair trade treasures from across the globe, beautifully displayed under huge industrial lamps. Covet has that effortlessly stylish quality of the sixth former you so wanted to be like at school. Very cool and yet entirely unaffected, just like its proprietor, the lovely Lorraine.

A short walk across the square and you’re at Nora’s Accessories, lovingly run by Victoria. Bold and Noble maps, personalised bunting, Helkat Design cushions, especially commissioned Ilkley Destination Prints and Betty and Walter washbags are just a few of the gorgeous treats awaiting you at her award winning shop. With a focus on British and handmade design, Victoria’s personality shines through. There is always a cheery hello and the calming fragrance of a True Grace candle to welcome you.

My favourite discovery earlier this year was an engraved vintage teaspoon by The Cutlery Commission for my mum on Mother’s Day. Beautifully gift wrapped by Victoria, her eyes filled with tears as she opened it. I’m hoping to find something that has just the same effect this Christmas!

Image courtesy of Nora’s Accessories

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A few years ago, Hebden Bridge was named the ‘fourth funkiest town in the world’ and its little boutiques and quirky shops are worth driving up the few miles from Manchester at any time of the year. But when the town really comes into its own is in autumn, when the steep hills above the valley turn golden red and the smell of burning wood rises out of the old weavers’ cottages.

My favourite walk is along the Rochdale Canal towards The Stubbing Wharf where poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes used to drink. Narrowboats glide past silently while the mossy dry stone walls offer some protection from the harsh winds that lash down from the moors. Down here, it’s so peaceful and quiet. If the weather is mild, you might want to venture further on towards the Fox and Goose pub and then tackle the steep climb up to Heptonstall, a perfect little cobblestone village with a spooky ruined church and two cosy pubs with open fires. I couldn’t think of a nicer place to be on a dark October night.

Image by Anna Regeniter

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One of the joys of Yorkshire is that you can be walking in glorious countryside one minute and just a short train ride away from the buzz of city life. With the new Trinity Leeds, Harvey Nichols and Victoria Quarter, Leeds has enough glitter and sparkle to keep any fashionista happy. But for more chilled shopping delight, I recommend The Craft Centre and Design Gallery, tucked beneath the steps of Leeds Art Gallery.

Here you will find the loveliest of contemporary British craft – from unique handmade jewellery to ceramics, glass, textiles and limited edition prints. With the work of over 300 hugely talented designers beautifully showcased and a rich programme of exhibitions, there is always something new to fall in love with.

Browsing and purchasing complete, wander next door through the Gallery’s Gift Shop (look out for Lizzie Prestt’s stunning Leeds city skyline gifts), to the Brewbar Espresso for coffee and a delicious Propermaid cake. Dandelion and Burdock cake anyone? With charming and engaging baristas, great music and decor, it’s just the spot to celebrate finding the perfect gift or simply reflect upon the creative treasures of the Craft Gallery.

Image courtesy of Leeds Museums and Galleries on Flickr

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My favourite cinema is the Cottage Road Cinema in Headingley. It is one of the oldest running independent cinemas in the country, and has managed to retain a certain charm and elegance.

You can still pick the seats you would like to sit in, and the old gentleman serving at the ticket booth will offer you the option of paying £1 extra to gain entry to the Pullman seats, which offer the best views in the house and are covered in red velvet! Sweets, drinks, popcorn and ice cream are available at a very reasonable price, and I especially like the offer of a cup of tea for 50p!

After finding your seat, the curtains come up and you are treated to the film of your choice and perhaps a few trailers (no half an hour of car adverts allowed here). When the film is long, there’s always a welcome intermission, allowing you to run to the toilet or stretch your legs, or buy an ice cream from the vendor who still comes to the front of the auditorium. So civilised!

I especially love their classic film nights which are on every six weeks. The retro adverts are a great addition, and the playing of the national anthem at the end makes everyone want to stand up and cheer!

Image courtesy of atoach on Flickr

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Last weekend a good friend and I decided to let our creativity run wild by trying out some pottery painting at Salt Pots – a gorgeous, welcoming, bright and colourful ceramic studio. You can choose from a huge range of pottery to paint then you just pull up a chair at one of the tables and the lovely owner Kate explains exactly what to do, before bringing you your personal pot of water and taking any tea or coffee orders.

My friend and I are not naturally creative but there was lots of inspiration around – different brushes, sponges, stencils and transfers to use and lots of Kate’s creations on display to get the creative juices flowing. The sun was coming in through the big windows, there were kids and grown-ups deep in concentration and Jack Johnson playing in the background. We may not have done a great deal of chatting – too busy trying to paint within the lines – but we had such a lovely couple of hours. It’s a surprisingly relaxing thing to do! Before we’d been there 15 minutes we were already talking about what we would paint when we come back and who we would bring with us next time.

Image courtesy of washtennawcc on Flickr 

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