Monday 10 August 2015

362 September Walks from Haworth

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 12th September 2015

and will be from

Haworth and Brontë Country

Haworth is a hilltop village not far from Bradford

in the heart of West Yorkshire's Bronte Country.

Heather covered moors with great expansive views

Situated above the Worth Valley amid the bleak Pennine moors, Haworth is internationally famous for its connection with the Bronte sisters, who were born in Thornton (near Bradford), but who wrote most of their famous works while living at the Haworth Parsonage (which is now a museum owned and maintained by the Bronte Society), while their father was incumbent parson at the adjacent Haworth church.

Other attractions include the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway,
an authentic preserved

steam railway which has been used as a setting for numerous period films and TV series, and which also plays a starring role in the village's annual 1940s weekend where locals and visitors alike don wartime attire for a host of nostalgic events.

Several public footpaths lead out of the village, and there is much scope for rambling, though perhaps the most famous walk leads past Lower Laithe Reservoir to the picturesque (but unspectacular) Bronte Falls, the Bronte Bridge, and the Bronte Stone Chair in which (it is said) the sisters took turns to sit and write their first stories. This path (which forms part of the 64 km (40 mile) long Bronte Way) then leads out of the valley and up on the moors to Top Withens, a desolate ruin which was (reputedly) the setting for Heathcliff's farmstead in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights". [N.B. Top Withens can also be reached by a shorter walking route departing from the nearby village of Stanbury.] Also nearby is Ponden Hall (which is believed to be the house called Thrushcross Grange in "Wuthering Heights").

Back in the village of Haworth itself there are many good tea rooms, souvenir and antiquarian bookshops, restaurants, pubs and hotels (including the "Black Bull" - where Branwell Bronte's demise into alcoholism and opium addiction allegedly began). As such, Haworth makes an ideal base for exploring the principal attractions of Bronte Country, while still being close to the major cities of Bradford and Leeds.

There will be 3 walks;

A Walk led by; Steve Edwards

B Walk led by; Beverley Kelly

C Walk led by; Terry Simmons

The heather is in full bloom now and covers the hill sides

A Walk from Haworth 2015

Walk Leader:Steve Edwards
Distance: 10 Miles app
Total ascent: 1485ft

This walk visits some of the places and landscapes usually associated with the Brontë family. Patrick Brontë was vicar in Haworth and his life was marred with tragedy outliving his son, five daughters and wife. Three of the daughters Charlotte, Emily and Anne are well known as poets and novelists. Charlotte achieved renowned literary success with "Jane Eyre", Anne with "Agnes Grey" and Emily with "Wuthering Heights" all published in 1847.

The coach park has no toilets so we either take a brief walk back into the town before we set off, or use an opportunity on route to visit the loo.

Basically our route heads out of town, down and across Lower Laithe Reservoir, through the village of Stanbury and meanders through the fields to eventually start climbing onto Stanbury Moor towards Top Withins. The track climbs steadily with improving views to emerge onto open moorland.

The ruined farmhouse of Top Withins is said by some to be Wuthering Heights but this is strongly disputed by experts. We shall never know the truth but the scenery is certainly superb and in wild weather the location is probably full of literary promise with superb views of the surrounding moorland. Hopefully a good spot for lunch.

Most people turn back for Haworth at this point, but we continue on for another half mile or so to reach the relative solitude of the less visited moors beyond the ruins. We then head homeward via Dick Delf Hill and Oxenhope Stoop Hill towards Brontë Bridge and Falls which is reputed to be where the Brontë sisters spent quite some time. The view is superb.

This walk hasn’t any real height to it, and the walking is good under foot, but some of the moorland tracks may be muddy and wet so it’s worth sticking on the gaiters if you have any.

If we maintain a fair pace we should be back in Haworth in plenty of time for a wander around plus tea and cake.

B Walk from Haworth 2015

A Historic Walk between Two Counties

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly

Distance: 9 Miles app

Total ascent/Descent: 1300ft

This excellent walk was George Mann’s 2004 choice which I enjoyed so much and recognise him as a great walk leader that I am redoing it as a tribute to him.

We start at Laneshaw Bridge in Lancashire (Free Toilets) and head towards Wycoller alongside Wycoller Beck.

Arriving at this picturesque ancient village we cross one of seven ancient bridges to view the remains of Wycoller Hall, the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre.

Keeping our eye open for the Panopticon, we continue on the Bronte Way, alongside the beck, gradually climbing and enjoying the views and heading towards the highest point of the walk and our lunch stop.

Watersheddles Reservoir is undergoing a £1.4m modernisation and the footpath has been diverted a little. Continuing along the Bronte Way we cross the river Worth and climb up to great views.

Passing Ponden Hall (Thrushcross Grange in "Wuthering Heights ) and reservoir (may be canoeists) we then join the Pennine Way towards Bronte Bridge and waterfalls—the steepest bit.

Now back on the Bronte Way we have a scenic fell side walk towards Penistone Country Park, a historic mining area with some spectacular panaramic views of Bronte Country.

Nearly at the end of our walk it is downhill to the coach and the delights of Haworth Village.

C Walk from Haworth 2015

Walk Leader:Terry Simmons
Distance: 5.5 Miles app

Total ascent/Descent:

THE WALK STARTS FROM THE COACH PARK SO PLEASE DRESS FOR WALKING. WE FIRST GO TO THE VILLAGE FOR COFFEE/TEA THEN AT APPROX 11.15AM WE LEAVE VIA THE CHURCH STEPS AND HEAD FOR PENISTONE HILL TRIG POINT, GREAT VIEWS OVER THE MOORS, THE WALK CONTINUES ALONG TO BRONTE BRIDGE AND AT A POINT ABOVE HERE WE WILL HAVE OUR LUNCH. WE THEN TRAVEL DOWN TO THE VILLAGE OF STANBURY WE GO PAST LOWER LAITHE RESERVOIR AND EVENTUALLY BACK INTO HOWARTH.

A FEW POINTS OF INTEREST WHEN WE ARRIVE BACK ARE THE CHURCH, THE PARSONAGE AND OF COURSE THE VILLAGE ITSELF.

THE WALK LENGTH IS APPROX 5 1/2 MILES AND EASY, THE RISE UP TO PENISTONE HILL IS PROBABLY THE ONLY CLIMB.

IF THE WEATHER IS POOR, AT SPRINGS FARM THERE IS A ROUTE DIRECTLY BACK INTO HOWARTH IF REQUIRED.

ENJOY THE DAY