Whilst I am really enjoying - and admittedly sometimes fretting - watching the BBC TV series Happy Valley, I have been a bit concerned, about the viewing public's impression of our place, Calderdale, Yorkshire. I really like Happy Valley, the creator Sally Wainwright and the Red Production team, have done a great job with the story-line and shooting the series. The cast are played out by Sarah Lancashire, James Norton and other superb co-actors. The characters are gritty, real, mad, crazy, nice, fun and often spooky.

The thing is, these sorts of dark scenes, with the good, the bad and the ugly, the really nasty criminals, can be found anywhere in the world. It just so happens Happy Valley is filmed in our quirky, yet beautiful part of Yorkshire.

I just wanted to show with my photography, what it can be like around here, from the beautiful landscapes to it's people, on the bright side... 

Autumn's on the way with this picture of the day possibilty of a Hebden Bridge Terrace

Some of the terraced dwellings here in Hebden Bridge...

Hebden BridgeTerraced buildings

 Sowerby Bridge Wharf, on the Calder & Hebble canal, with the Wainhouse Tower on the hill...

Autumn in Calderdale

 Just down the Ryburn Valley is the Old Bridge Inn and St Bartholmews, Ripponden...

and looking up the valley towards Greetland and Elland...

There are plenty of us normal folks around here, doing festivals and other odd things... Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade 2015 These shots are from the Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge...

Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade 2015

There is a dark side to the local's behaviour, like here at the Todmorden mid-winter swim...

Todmorden Swimming Club's New Year Swim at Lee Dam, Lumbutts, Todmorden

And the Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival...

It's fair to say, some of the locals around here are a little cranky, in Cragg Vale...

There are some of us that work really hard...

Cyclist on the Tour de France route, above Hebden Bridge, Calderdale others just like to sit back and enjoy the ride...

Motor Bike Calderdale

Some are always in a rush...

Midgley Fete at Recreation Ground, Midgley
Pictured are actions from the hay bale races

and others will just watch their step, at the National Trust property Gibson Mill, at Hardcasle Crags...

Whether you are into the spring colours of the bluebells at Hardcastle Crags...

Or heather on the moors...

Heather on Norland Moor, Halifax, Yorkshire

Stomping around at the Bridestones...

Or moon-rises, if that's what you like...

We've got lots of friendly police officers...

Open Day at Halifax Police Station, Richmond Close and lots of great places to enjoy and discover....

The question is, are you brave enough to come and explore the Real Happy Valley, in Calderdale, Yorkshire, England.

If you enjoyed this blog, you may want to see a previous blog of mine, 101 Reasons to Live, Work and Love Calderdale http://www.bfpix.co.uk/blog/2015/10/101-reasons-to-live-work-and-love-calderdale

Contact me here http://www.bfpix.co.uk/contact.html

Bruce