Penistone: Cultural History and Trails

Penistone combines places of cultural and historical interest with trails that offer very different insights into the town and its landscape. When planning your stay, it’s worth considering both: from an individual visit to the cinema or church to a signposted 25 km circular walk. This will help you decide whether to focus mainly on architectural history, events or trails through the surrounding area.

Cinema, church complex and local history

Penistone Paramount is a cinema with one auditorium and 344 seats. The venue also hosts live entertainment. Its programme includes musical performances by tribute and original artists, pantomimes and ballets, as well as choir, band and dance school events, comedy shows and local community theatre. The specific programme changes, so the range spans music and dance to stage comedy and community theatre. The building was constructed in 1914 as Penistone’s Assembly Hall. Its original function as an assembly hall is therefore part of the building’s history; today, it can be described as a cinema and event venue.

Another way to explore the town’s history is to visit the Church of St John. The listed building is Grade I listed and has stood at its current site in Penistone since Saxon times. The complex includes the St John's Sensory & Heritage Gardens and a Saunderson Memorial Spiral. The church, gardens and memorial spiral bring together the historic site and landscaped outdoor areas. Those interested in the development of the area’s heritage can also find a four-part timeline on platform 1 of Penistone station. It invites visitors to explore the area’s past.

The two cultural sites have different focuses: the Paramount centres on cinema and changing forms of live entertainment, while St John is distinguished by the long history of its site and its associated gardens and memorial features. The timeline at the station adds a perspective of its own on the area’s heritage.

Sheep Trail and trails around Penistone

The Penistone Sheep Trail takes visitors to six sheep sculptures and five sheep-shaped benches scattered around the town. The recommended route starts and ends at Penistone station, making the station a clear landmark for this circular walk through the town. The sculptures and benches give the trail its theme; together with its start and end point, they distinguish this town route from the longer trails.

The Trans-Pennine Trail offers a different kind of route planning. Near Penistone, it passes the station and continues towards Oxspring. From the station, you can reach the trail either directly via the left-hand side of the station or via the steps through the car park. Check access locally, as trail conditions may change. The station connection and the continuation towards Oxspring give you two specific landmarks for this section of the trail.

The signposted Penistone Boundary Walk is listed as a 25 km (16 mile) circular walk. It starts and ends at Cubley Hall, about a mile south of Penistone. The route passes through hilly countryside with hills, valleys and trees. The trails therefore differ not only in theme: the Sheep Trail focuses on art installations around the town, while the Boundary Walk is described as a circular route with a specified length and landscape profile. Trail conditions on the Boundary Walk may change; check the local route before setting off.

The Agricultural Show as a seasonal cultural event

The Penistone Agricultural Show also offers a glimpse of local events. The 2025 edition featured livestock competitions and agricultural machinery, food demonstrations, and competitions in handicrafts, home economics and horticulture. The programme also included craft stalls, music, classic cars, a dog show, food stalls and sales stalls. This selection applies specifically to the 2025 edition; individual areas and activities may change.

The show also includes a Food Hall, a covered market for local food and drink producers. Participating traders may vary from one edition to the next. In this way, the event combines a broad programme with a market area for local producers. Together with the Paramount and the historic sites, it forms a cultural offering made up of different formats: cinema and stage events, architectural and local history, and a show programme tied to a specific time of year.

Discover more destinations: Filey, Scarborough, Stockton On The Forest.

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