Photo: Todmorden Book Festival Logo

Calderdale’s literary heritage – from moorland poetry to coded diaries – takes centre stage this November at the Todmorden Book Festival.

Held each autumn in the scenic town of Todmorden, the festival brings together readers, writers, and thinkers for nine days of inspiring talks, readings, workshops, and performances. With 19 events spanning crime fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic novels, history, and nature writing, there’s something for everyone visiting Todmorden this November. You can find the full programme here.

Nestled among dramatic hills and waterways, Todmorden is a haven for book lovers. Its vibrant markets, cosy cafés, and the town motto “Kindness” make it a welcoming base for exploring Calderdale’s literary landscape. Our 3-day itinerary offers inspiration for festival-goers keen to discover more…

Day 1: Todmorden – Markets, Poetry & Local Charm

Morning

• Todmorden Market: Start your day browsing handmade crafts, second-hand books, and local produce. Take a seat at the iconic Todmorden Coffee Bar, and choose from over 30 different freshly roasted coffees.
• Rochdale Canal Walk: Stroll along the canal to Summit, the highest point on the Rochdale Canal, where you’ll find Watershed, a sculpture and poem by Yorkshire poet Andrew McMillan.
• Incredible Edible’s Little Libraries: Keep an eye out for these charming mini-libraries dotted around town and along the canal—free to use and full of surprises.

Afternoon

• Stoodley Pike: A short hike or drive takes you to this towering monument with panoramic views of the Calder Valley—perfect for a moment of reflection or inspiration.
• Lyall’s Bookshop: Back in town, explore this independent gem filled with vintage paperbacks, poetry collections, and literary oddities.
• Cosy Spots & Board Games: Unwind at The Boardroom café with a hot drink and a board game, or visit The Willows for coffee, cake and loose leaf ethical teas. Upstairs, you might catch a willow weaving workshop by Creative with Nature.

Todmorden Book Festival Highlights:

• John Harris: ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ – Todmorden Hippodrome, Friday 7th November. In this extraordinary memoir, a father tells the story of how music has opened up the world to his son, James, one song at a time.

• Denise Mina: The Good Liar – Todmorden Hippodrome, Saturday 8th November. Hear from the internationally best-selling author of over twenty novels talk about her latest novel The Good Liar – a timely and gripping crime thriller that centres on a forensic expert responsible for a miscarriage of justice.

• Andrew Bibby, Andrew McCloy & Anita Sethi: Pennine Way: Celebrating 60 Years – St. Mary’s Church, Sunday 9th November. Find more events here!

Day 2: Heptonstall & Hebden Bridge – Poetry, Publishing & Woodland Walks

Morning

• Heptonstall Village: Visit Sylvia Plath’s grave in the quiet churchyard, often adorned with pens and poetry. Wander the cobbled streets and pop into the Heptonstall Museum for a glimpse into the village’s literary and textile past (check opening times before your visit).

Afternoon

• Hebden Bridge: Head down into this creative hub known for its independent spirit and literary scene.
  • Bluemoose Books: This award-winning indie publisher is based here, known for championing bold, original fiction, such as Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession and I Am Not Your Eve by Devika Ponnambalam.
  • Bookshops: Browse books at The Book Case, a long-standing independent bookshop, and the well-stocked Oxfam Shop, both reflecting the town’s progressive ethos.
  • Café Culture: Enjoy a break in one of Hebden’s many unique cafés—each with its own character, from rustic to artsy.
  • Hardcastle Crags: End the day with a woodland walk to Gibson Mill. The National Trust-run site includes a second-hand bookshop and tranquil riverside paths. Sylvia Plath’s poem Hardcastle Crags was inspired by this very landscape.

Todmorden Book Festival Highlights:

• Bobby Joseph: My Dad Fights Demons! Getting graphic with the UK Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph – Todmorden Hippodrome, Sunday 9th November.

• Stephen May: Novel Writing Masterclass – Todmorden Community College, Sunday 9th November. Find more events here!

Day 3: Mytholmroyd & Cragg Vale – Ted Hughes & The Coiners

Morning

• Mytholmroyd: Take a short train ride from Todmorden to the birthplace of Ted Hughes.
  • Visit 1 Aspinall Street, Hughes’ childhood home, now marked with a plaque and let out to holidaymakers by the Elmet Trust.
  • Walk up to Scout Rock, a dramatic cliff that Hughes described as “the curtain and backdrop to my existence.”
  • Learn about Benjamin Myers, whose book Under the Rock explores this very landscape, and whose novel The Gallows Pole tells the story of the Cragg Vale Coiners.
  • Stop for lunch at The Blue Teapot, an award-winning café known for its hearty, homemade food.

Afternoon

• Cragg Vale: Explore the moorland once home to the infamous Cragg Vale Coiners – an 18^th century counterfeiting gang known for clipping coins to make new ones!
  • Follow parts of the Coiners’ Walk, a self-guided trail through rugged terrain that inspired Myers’ fiction.
  • Optional: End your journey at The Hinchliffe Arms, a historic pub nestled in the valley, perfect for a pint and a good book by the fire.

Todmorden Book Festival Highlights

• John Robb: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Oasis – Fielden Hall, Thursday 13th November.

• Harriet Wistrich: Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men – St Mary’s Church, Friday 14th November.

• Storytelling Beyond Words Free Community Event – Todmorden Community College, Saturday 15th November.

• Amanda Dalton Writing Poems Masterclass – Todmorden Library, Saturday 15th November. Find more events here!

Places to Stay

If you’re making a weekend of it, then you’ll be sure to find plenty of cosy hideaways in Calderdale to come home to after a day of exploring – some even with their own literary connections! Check out our suggestions below, plus full selection here.

• 1 Aspinall Street, Mytholmroyd – stay in Ted Hughes’ childhood home, lovingly restored in 1930s style to capture the ambience of the era when Hughes lived there.
• Kilnhurst Old Hall Annex, Todmorden – stay in this characterful grade II listed annex to Kilnhurst Old Hall, once the home of the author, artist and traveller William Holt.
• Two Hoots Cottage, Todmorden – stay in this lovely cottage just below Stoodley Pike, with gardens and surrounding views across the valley.
• Stoodley View Shepherds Huts, Todmorden – stay in these luxury Shepherd Huts each with their own wood fired hot tubs and views of Stoodley Pike.