Bradford’s Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve named one of the modern “Seven Wonders of the World” by Conde Nest Traveller for 2026

There was some great news for Yorkshire and particularly West Yorkshire recently, when on 7^th January the global luxury travel magazine Conde Nest Traveller listed Bradford’s Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve in its annual list of new wonders of the world. Each year Conde Nest list “Seven NEW wonders of the world” and this year the UK and Bradford was on the list along with other locations in places as far away as Algeria, El Salvador and Canada.

Not to be confused with the ancient Seven wonders of the world such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or the Great Pyramid at Giza, or even the newer wonders of the world such as the Taj Mahal, Great Wall or China or Machu Picchu, the Conde Nest Traveller list aims to direct readers as to where they should be looking for each year to find “wonder in the modern age”.

Bradford’s Pennine Gateway got the following write up…

"One of the reigning monarch’s ongoing Kings Series of nature reserves, the Bradford Pennines Gateway is part of a nationwide initiative to protect and celebrate the UK’s natural heritage, enhance biodiversity, and give local communities better access to nature.

Rather like King Charles himself, there’s something stoic and un-showy about this 1,272-hectare region, resided in, and beloved by, the Brontë sisters and encompassing Ilkley Moor, Penistone Hill Country Park, Harden Moor and Bingley North Bog.

Right on the upland edge where Bradford begins to fray into heathery oblivion. These are landscapes of unhurried drama: undulating moors, wind-polished gritstone tors and views that collapse into long, moody distances broken only by the slow, stately flap of a marsh harrier.

New trails knit the old wool villages of Haworth, Stanbury and Thornton into a tapestry of slow travel, with signposted routes pointing you towards medieval packhorse bridges, secret waterfalls, and a pub or two that still understands a proper pint. If Britain ever needed proof that the everyday could still surprise, the Bradford Pennines Gateway delivers with quiet aplomb".

Not a bad write up from a magazine who describe themselves as being “the most discerning, up to the minute voice on all things travel, offering both inspiration and intel”. This will really help attract more international visitors to the region and hopefully generate enough intrigue from others living in the south of the UK to come up and take a look at what they are missing!

Now I live in Burley in Wharfedale on the edge of Rombald’s Moor, a huge expanse of wild moorland consisting of 14 smaller moors including Ilkley Moor and Burley Moor and part of the national nature reserve. The award didn’t come as a surprise as I spend hours exploring the Moors with my dog Bronte and have guided many people over the Moors to show them the unique landscape, wonderful views, incredible history and varied wildlife.

The actual Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve was officially designated in 2025 and links eight sites within the Bradford and South Pennines area.

These sites are:

• Ilkley Moor

• Pennistone Country Park

• Shipley Glen

• Baildon Moor

• Trench Meadows

• St.Ives Estate

• Harden Moor

• Bingley North Bog

Many people have probably heard of Ilkley Moor from the famous folksong “On Ilkley Moor Bah tat” and people are probably aware of Haworth which sits on the edge of Pennistone Country Park, but I doubt whether many people from outside of the region will have explored locations such as Shipley Glen and St.Ives estate.

So I would encourage people to come and see the area for themselves and fall in love with this stunning Pennine landscape. Here is a quick summary of the 8 locations.

Ilkley Moor

One of Ilkey’s greatest attractions  having been attracting visitors to the area for hundreds of years to bathe in the ice cold springs running off the moors edge. As well as being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it is also a haven for ground nesting birds such as curlew, lapwing and grouse (shooting was banned by Bradford Council on Ilkley Moor).

Famous for land marks such as The Cow and Calf Rocks, the Moor has lots of pre-history in the form of cup and ring marked stones as well as a small stone circle known as The 12 Apostles.

From late July for 2 months the heather blooms turning the moorland into a sea of purple.

Pennistone Hill Country Park

This location is situated just outside Haworth, once home to the famous Bronte sisters who used to walk the wild moorland which probably inspired the novel Wuthering Heights. This 72 acres of Moorland has a large number of walking routes for all including challenging hikes or leisurely strolls.

The site is made up of a number of now disused quarries where you can walk and take in the dark millstone grit rock faces.

For a free map - https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2089/penistonehill.pdf

Shipley Glen

This is a narrow ravine lined by oak trees ad numerous rocky outcrops and crags. The woodland gives way to heathland as you ascend to the top of the ravine. It also is home to Shipley Glen Tramway which opened in 1895 and is Britain’s oldest working cable-hauled tramway run entirely by volunteers.

A former Victorian pleasure park, the woodland now is a haven for woodpeckers and a popular place for families and hikers.

Baildon Moor

A popular location with walkers close to the market town of Baildon and part of the larger Rombalds Moor. It’s quite exposed and popular with kite flyers as well as model aeroplane enthusiasts. From the top of the Moor there are great views across the Aire Valley and like Ilkley Moor, plenty of Neolithic cup and ring marked stones to explore.

Trench Meadows

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) close to Shipley Glen. There are 4.7 hectares of lowland meadow – a nationally rare habitat. The area is important for its range of grasses and its species rich number of wildflowers.

St. Ives Estate

The largest park in Bradford district spanning 217 acres. This vast woodland contains many pathways and cycle tracks as well as lakes for fishing. The woodland is famous for its bluebell woods in the spring and with its wealth of wildlife its a haven for birdwatchers.

Harden Moor

Another expanse of Moorland north of Harden and close to Cullingworth. The moor has many gritstone outcrops and there is much evidence of pre-history and bronze age settlement. Famous for the Altar Rock (also known as The Druids Altar), a gritstone outcrop on the Western edge of Airedale.

Bingley North Bog

An expanse of wetland close to Bingley Five Rise locks. The bog was formed after the last glacier in the area melted and the moraine or sediment beneath was deposited and became waterlogged. As plants slowly decayed a layer of peat was built up forming the bog we see today.

This wetland bog has a diverse wildlife with newts, toads and frogs as well as a vast variety of birdlife. There is a walking trail around the bog.

I was honoured to be asked by Sky News to come on and speak about the Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve making the Seven Wonders of the World list for 2027. Sarah Jane Mee the newsreader/host said she could tell I was “fizzing with excitement” about the award. Whilst I have never been described as fizzing before, I took it as a compliment!

I hope this blog creates enough intrigue to come and visit and see the area for yourself if you haven’t been before. It really is a magical part of the world, a hidden gem and somewhere I have known for years is one of the wonders of the world!