Brighouse occupies a prime position at the lower end of the Calder Valley. The town sits alongside the Calder and Hebble Navigation - part river, part canal. Brighouse canal basin is busy with boats; the towpath a characterful pre dinner promenade. Victorian values are uniquely mirrored at the Smith Art Gallery, whose art was vetted for moral tone. Brighouse offers privately owned bed & breakfast and self-catering accommodation, such as The Lodge @ Birkby Hall and Ravensprings, as well as a selection of branded hotels - Premier Inn Brighouse, Days Inn and also the Waterfront Lodge and Prego Restaurant. The area is popular for conference visitors with easy access to the M62.

Up river, Elland derives its name from the de Eland family who owned land there in the 14th century. Today, the town indulges in nostalgia twice over; at the Vintage Rex Cinema, complete with cinema organ and interval for ice-cream, and at Joseph Dobson's, family confectioners since 1850 and 'hone of the Mint Imperial'. The selection of quality, family-run shops gives Elland town centre a homely appeal. In nearby West Vale, you will find Andy Thornton Architectural Antiques, with 60,000 square feet of showroom to explore. The Calderdale Way footpath also starts its journey at West Vale, under the oak canopy of North Dean Woods.