Centred around an ancient church, Penistone is a historic market town in South Yorkshire with magnificent views across the surrounding countryside. It lies in a rural region known for the Whitefaced Woodland, a rugged breed of sheep listed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Things to do in South Yorkshire
In the heart of Penistone is Saint John the Baptist Church, a Grade I-listed building with sections dating back more than 1,000 years. Admire its 24-metre-high tower that was erected around 1500 and take note of its stainless steel weathervane shaped like a fish. Stained glass adorns many of the church’s windows, with several over 100 years old.
Penistone makes an ideal base for visiting the Wentworth Castle Gardens, a National Trust-operated property that exhibits a variety of landscaping styles. Surrounding a stately home, it was once regarded as the “finest garden in England”, with a magnificent Victorian conservatory and a monument to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu among its attractions. After exploring the themed gardens and surrounding woodland, you can browse in the second-hand bookshop or grab a drink at the on-site cafe.
Connecting Penistone with Denby Dale is the Pen-Den Trail, a nine-kilometre-long multi-use trail that follows the trackbed of the Sheffield to Manchester railway. It winds past stone-built station buildings and through rural countryside, which can be enjoyed while hiking, cycling or on horseback.
Getting around South Yorkshire
Penistone is a 30-minute drive from Sheffield and just under an hour from Manchester. Manchester Airport is 45 minutes away while Leeds Bradford Airport is an hour’s drive from Penistone. Regular trains connect to the Penistone railway station and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.