Top Withins and the Bronte Bridge from Haworth

Top Withins is an excellent objective for a walk from Haworth in the South Pennines. The Brontë family have strong associations with Haworth and this walk onto the moors perhaps gives you the chance to experience the landscape that dominated their writing.

Technical sheet

292943
A Haworth and Stanbury walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 11/08/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.82 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 202 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 184 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 382 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 231 m
  • ⚐
    District: Haworth and Stanbury 
  • ⚑
    Start: N 53.832057° / W 1.955785°
  • ⚑
    End: N 53.829047° / W 1.957232°

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Description

(S/E) From the car park make your way to the Church and take the path that runs to its right to pass the Parsonage Museum, which has a superb collection of artifacts pertaining to the Brontës. Follow the path signed to Haworth Moor which leads you onto a road. Turn left along the road and bear left at the first junction. After about 400 yards fork right to descend down a grassy track which leads to Lower Laithe Reservoir. Reaching the road follow it across the top of the dam, turning left at a T-junction to continue through the village of Stanbury.

(1) At the far end of the village, turn left along an enclosed tarmac lane. The lane deteriorates into a rough track. Reaching a fork, take the right-hand route, which is signed "Top Withins". The track climbs steadily with improving views to emerge onto open moorland. Ignore diverging paths and stay with the main signed route to join the Pennine Way. This area could be confusing in bad weather and some experience of navigation would be useful in mist.

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. Although most people turn back for Haworth at this point it is worth pressing on for another half mile or so to reach the relative solitude of the less visited moors beyond the ruins.

(2) From High Withins retrace your route towards Haworth for about two hundred metres and fork right along a path that heads in the direction of the Brontë Falls. The path descends through moorland with a stream to on your right. Follow the signs for the Falls crossing a number of walls which are crossed by stiles. Reaching a kissing-gate join the Brontë Way and descend to the Brontë bridge and falls. Reputed to be where the Brontë sisters spent some time the retrospective view is superb.

(3) Cross the bridge and turn left towards Haworth following the main path that climbs above the stream. The onward route is straightforward first crossing moorland. The path becomes a track and leads to a public road. Turn right along the road for a short way before taking a path that heads half left to climb slightly onto the higher ground of Penistone Hill Country Park. There are many paths in this area but the best route is take the clear path that follows the ill-defined ridge and then skirts the northern flanks of Penistone Hill to reach a road (grid ref. 027368). Cross over and follow the path taking turning left to reach Haworth churchyard and the end of the walk(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 234 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 2.81 - alt. 262 m - Turn left
  3. 2 : km 5.54 - alt. 382 m - High Withins
  4. 3 : km 7.22 - alt. 300 m - Cross the bridge
  5. E : km 10.82 - alt. 252 m

Useful Information

This walk covers some of the places and landscapes most associated with the Brontë family. Park in the car park close to the Brontë Parsonage (grid ref. SE 029373) in Haworth where Patrick Brontë was vicar. Family life for the Brontës was full of tragedy with Patrick outliving his son, five daughters and wife. The longest surviving daughters achieved considerable literary success with Charlotte's "Jane Eyre", Anne's "Agnes Grey" and Emily's "Wuthering Heights" all published in 1847. Despite the sadness the family endured today Haworth owes much to their lives and work.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Clarity of route description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Walk interest
4.7 / 5
Up hill and down dale
Up hill and down dale

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 05/10/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Started from Penistone Country Park car park, where there is plenty of free parking. Followed the route from there, into Haworth onto Stanbury, then as described and back to car park. Pick a good clear day and enjoy the Pennine views.

dave beef
dave beef

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 08/06/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

didn't quite follow the route in order to part off Shaw Lane near Oxenhope to use the free Car Parks there. (Diffcult to get car parking in Haworth) Increased walk also by going South of Penistone hill so about 8.5 miles in total.

Chrismerrell
Chrismerrell
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 03/09/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk. The last half is definitely the best

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