Harrogate is known for its elegant gardens, historic spas and sweeping views across the Stray. But have you ever stopped to really listen to it?

asoundmapofharrogate.co.uk is a new project that invites you to do just that. Through field recordings and a flaneur’s lens, I’m exploring the town in a different way-by ear.

Field recording is the practice of capturing sounds from the world around us. It could be birdsong on the Pinewoods path, footsteps on Parliament Street, or the quiet hum of a café on Cold Bath Road. These recordings offer a snapshot of a place in time-not just how it looks, but how it sounds.

Psychogeography is about how places make us feel. It’s about walking with no set route, following your curiosity, and paying close attention to your surroundings. It’s often used to explore how urban spaces affect our mood, behaviour and memories.

When you combine field recording and psychogeography, you get a richer, more personal picture of a place. Instead of simply walking through Harrogate, we’re wandering, listening and noticing. We’re tuning in to the layers of everyday life that often go unheard.

This sound map isn’t just about capturing pretty sounds-it’s about revealing stories. The laughter in Valley Gardens. The echo of passing trains at Hornbeam Park. The quiet between the shops just after closing time. All of these sounds tell us something about what Harrogate is, and who it’s for.

In a fast-paced world, it’s easy to rush from one place to the next without stopping to notice what’s around us. Field recording and psychogeography slow us down. They ask us to listen closely-to place, to people, to the past and to the present.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing recordings from different parts of town. You’ll be able to follow walks, listen to locations, and even contribute your own sounds.

Whether you’ve lived in Harrogate all your life or are just passing through, we hope this project helps you experience it in a new way. Not just as a place to visit, but as a place to listen to.