11 Places in England to Visit for Book and Nature Lovers
Literary walks inspired by novels, poetry and storytelling landscapes in Northern England
There’s something quietly magical about walking through a landscape that once inspired a book. Whether it’s a moor that shaped a Gothic novel, a riverside path walked by poets, or a grand estate that became a fictional home on screen, we’re so lucky to have so many places in the UK that once inspired the world’s best pieces of literature.
If you love books and being outdoors, Northern England is especially rich in places where literature and landscape overlap. From the Lake District to the Peak District, the Yorkshire Moors to Northumberland’s beautiful coastline, these are places where writers walked, imagined, and set their stories (and where you can walk in their footsteps).
Here are some of my favourite places in Northern England for book and nature lovers, each paired with a walk so you can fully experience the landscapes that inspired some of the world’s best novels.
Grasmere, Lake District (William Wordsworth)
Grasmere is one of the clearest examples in England of landscape shaping literature.
This small Lake District village was home to poet William Wordsworth for many years, with the surrounding fells, lakes and woodland paths appearing again and again in his writing.
Walk: Wordsworth Way
A gentle circular walk that takes in Grasmere village, the lakeshore and nearby woodland — offering the same slow, reflective scenery that inspired much of Wordsworth’s poetry. It’s an ideal route for book lovers who enjoy quieter paths and a sense of stillness.
Navigation: follow the route here
Hurst Green, Lancashire (The Tolkien Trail)
The Tolkien Trail near Hurst Green in Lancashire links countryside walking with one of the world’s most famous fantasy writers.
J. R. R. Tolkien regularly walked this area while his son studied at nearby Stonyhurst College, and many believe the Ribble Valley’s rivers and rolling farmland influenced his visions of Middle-earth.
Walk: The Tolkien Trail
A scenic circular route following the River Ribble and estate paths around Stonyhurst, this walk feels quietly pastoral, with lots of places for a proper Sunday lunch after your stroll.
Navigation: follow the route here
Haworth, West Yorkshire (The Brontë Sisters)
Few places in England are as strongly tied to literature as Haworth.
Home to the Brontë sisters, this small Yorkshire village sits on the edge of vast, open moorland that directly inspired Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
Walk: The Brontë Way / Haworth Moor Walks
Walking out from Haworth onto the moors towards Top Withens allows you to experience the raw, exposed landscape that shaped the Brontës’ writing — dramatic, bleak, and incredibly beautiful.
Navigation: follow the route here
Hathersage & Hope Valley, Peak District (Jane Eyre)
Hathersage offers one of the Peak District’s most intriguing literary connections.
North Lees Hall, just outside the village, is widely believed to have inspired Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre.
Walk: Hathersage to Stanage Edge or North Lees Circular
This walk combines quiet lanes, open moorland and expansive views across Hope Valley — a landscape that feels perfectly suited to Gothic storytelling.
Navigation: follow the route here
Heptonstall & Hardcastle Crags (Sylvia Plath)
Heptonstall is one of Northern England’s most moving literary places. Poet Sylvia Plath is buried in the village churchyard, overlooking the Calder Valley. The story behind this place is a poignant one. Sylvia Plath’s life was marked by profound creativity alongside deep personal struggle, and Heptonstall is where she is buried following her death in 1963.
Walk: Hardcastle Crags
The wooded valleys and rushing streams of Hardcastle Crags National Trust site are a striking contrast to the open moors elsewhere on this list, perfect for autumn walks through the woodlands.
Navigation: follow the route here
Chatsworth Estate, Peak District (Pride and Prejudice)
Chatsworth House is famously associated with Pride and Prejudice, having appeared as Pemberley in the 2005 film adaptation.
Walk: Chatsworth Estate Walks & River Derwent
The estate’s riverside paths and surrounding parkland allow you to walk through a setting that feels lifted straight from a classic novel, even without stepping inside the house.
Navigation: follow the route here
Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales (Harry Potter)
Malham Cove offers a dramatic connection to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The limestone pavement at the top of the cove featured in scenes with Harry and Hermione, but the landscape itself is the real highlight.
Walk: Malham Cove Circular
This classic Yorkshire Dales walk combines limestone scenery, waterfalls and wide-open views.
Navigation: follow the route here
Whitby, North Yorkshire (Dracula)
This beautiful North Yorkshire town is inseparable from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with the town and its abbey playing a key role in the story.
Walk: Whitby Abbey to Robin Hood’s Bay
This clifftop walk forms part of the iconic Coast to Coast walk, finishing up at one of the prettiest villages in North Yorkshire.
Navigation: follow the signs for the Cleveland Way / Coast to Coast path from The Abbey
Lyme Park (Pride and Prejudice)
Lyme Park offers a second, equally famous Pemberley — this time from the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Walk: Lyme Park Moorland Walks
The wide, open moorland surrounding the estate gives expansive views across the Peak District fringes and offers a quieter, wilder feel than Chatsworth.
Navigation: Follow the route here
Haddon Hall (A Living Period Novel)
Haddon Hall feels like a place that belongs in a book before you even know its literary connections.
Used as a filming location for adaptations of Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, this medieval manor sits above the River Wye in a quietly beautiful valley.
Walk: Bakewell to Haddon Hall Circular
Riverside paths and gentle countryside walking make this an ideal stop for book lovers who prefer atmosphere over grandeur.
Barter Books & Northumberland Coast (A Book Lover’s Pilgrimage)
No list for book lovers would be complete without Barter Books, one of the UK’s largest second-hand bookshops, set inside a former railway station.
Pair a visit with coastal walks nearby for a perfect blend of reading and fresh air.
