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Why MCard is your best friend this Spring
21 March 2023As the days get longer, the weather warmer and the flowers bloom, there’s no better time to start discovering what West Yorkshire has to offer this spring. With an MCard ticket you can have the freedom of unlimited journeys on any bus or train, across the county, leaving you with more time to spend on planning your perfect West Yorkshire adventure.
Download our MCard Mobile app for IOS and Android smartphones where you can buy and store tickets on your device. With day, weekend, family and group tickets available, there’s no simpler way to travel as they are also valid on each and every operator within West Yorkshire. Here is a handy breakdown of the tickets available:
Perfect Days Out with a WY Daysaver, unlimited travel on any bus or any train across West Yorkshire.
| Bus | Bus & Train |
| U19 - £2.50 | Family - £15.00 |
| Adult - £4.50 | Group - £26.00 |
Hop from seeing bluebells in Middleton Woods in the morning to having tea and scones in Haworth in the afternoon without having to worry about which operator takes you where.
Discover the wonderful world of West Yorkshire this Spring with MCard.
We have put together some spring activities which you can chop and change as you please to create your ideal day out in West Yorkshire. Use West Yorkshire Metro’s handy journey planning tools to plan your trip.
Flowers and Woodlands in Spring 
Bluebell woods across the UK are a highlight of spring. April and May are the prime months to enjoy the emergence of these charming purple and blue flowers that enjoy shady glades. With the turning of the seasons, West Yorkshire is awash with colour as it springs into life and flowers begin to bloom.
There is nothing quite like a walk amongst the bluebells to bring spring to life, but you will need to be quick as they will be gone by the end of May. Temple Newsam is a great place to see spring blooms. The woodlands surrounding the estate are scattered with bluebells to enjoy. Make sure to bring your camera and capture them with the fantastic backdrop of the estate.
Hardcastle Craggs is another wonderful bluebell spot, see it in in its arguably most picturesque season of spring as bluebells awash the woodlands creating a blue glow and vibrant smell along the pathways and valley sides. Or if you are Kirklees way, try Honley Woods, bluebells are a sign of ancient woodland and Honley Woods is one of the best kept semi-natural woodlands in West Yorkshire and a hot spot for the flower. It’s said the wood is also home to many prehistoric burial sites including both the bronze and iron age.
Bounce from bloom to bloom across West Yorkshire with a DaySaver ticket, you can’t go wrong with all day travel on any bus for just £4.50.
Charming villages and towns
West Yorkshire has a wealth of picturesque, history rich villages and towns which are perfect for an afternoon of strolling along the cobbled streets in the spring sunshine. Handsome hamlets edge valley streams and canals. We have picked out a few below that we think radiate picture perfect charm and are perfect for relaxing in after a sunshine soaked walk.
Marsden
A gateway to peaks, valleys and a wealth of outdoor delights, plus mixed is an eclectic mix of industrial heritage and contemporary food and drink spots.
Haworth
Internationally renowned as being the home of the literary giants, the Brontë sisters, Haworth exudes timeless charm. Its cobbled streets are perfectly framed in the rolling moors backdrop, making it a great spot for anyone wanting a new Instagram post.
Heptonstall
Set atop the hillside from Hebden Bridge, it is always worth the few hundred feet climb up to Heptonstall. Don’t let its quiet charm fool you, it is one of the most historic villages in Yorkshire and is even the resting place of Sylvia Plath, one of the most dynamic and admired poets of the 20th century.
Saltaire
A unique village situated just outside of Bradford; it was founded by industrialist Titus Salt in 1853. Awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status in 2001, the village is renowned for its well-preserved industrial village of the second half of the 19th century. If you like history, Saltaire is a must. The famous Salts Mill also houses one of the largest collections of David Hockney’s in the world.
Discover West Yorkshire’s most amazing viewpoints
With the wintry weather, hopefully behind us, start the new season with a spring in your step and take a stroll up to some of our region's most spectacular vistas. See how many you can tick off over the Eastertide. Here are a few of our favourites that are accessible by public transport.
Cow and Calf Rocks is probably the most famous vista in West Yorkshire, where you can see miles into the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale AONB.
The Surprise View walk at Otley Chevin is a great stroll for anyone wanting to dip a toe into the world of walking for the first time. It is also a good walk for children as there are lots of interesting things to see and do along the way. On a clear day it is rumoured that you can see the tip of York Minster.
Castle Hill is a great spot to capture views overlooking much of Huddersfield and surrounding areas. Together with Victoria Tower, the Victorian monument which stands on the hill's crest, Castle Hill is arguably Huddersfield's most recognisable landmark.
Walk in the footsteps of the famous Brontë sisters
Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum and explore the beautiful home and surroundings that inspired classic Brontë novels. The museum is close to the Brontë Waterfalls and the Brontë Bridge, considered to be the sisters' favourite places in the village of Haworth where they grew up. A great spot to go with the weather warming up.
Visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle
Check out one or all four of the fantastic Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle venues: The Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Leeds Art Gallery and The Henry Moore Institute. Each is only a 30-minute bus or train from each other, so you can enjoy an afternoon, a day or a weekend at all four great venues, a DaySaver or Weekender ticket will have you covered for however you want to pace it. Plus, one of the earliest and most uplifting signs of spring is seeing new-born lambs coming into the world, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a great spot to see them.
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