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Tether
your horse & carriage in the Parsonage car park,
and leave by the pedestrian exit, turning right onto
the cobbled road. Put on your best bonnet and seek out
the back of the church. You can locate it from the chimes
every quarter of the hour, and by walking up the alley
(Opposite the Tourist Information Centre) towards the
Kings Arms Beer Garden. Then veer left afore 'e get
there.
At this sign, (see picture) "Public
footpath to Penistone Hill and Oxenhope", follow
the path keeping the dead on your right and the living
on your left. |
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At a gap in the railings on the
left, go down the four steps and turn right to follow
a tree tunnelled pathway. Hold your breath along here
so as not to catch the consumption.
Go through the gate, and at this
wooden signed post (pictured) turn right heading in
the direction of "Top Withins 3½; Bronte
Falls 2½; & The Bronte Way." Keep a
look out for a pewter mug Branwell dropped during his
drunken revelry. |
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Make haste along this 'ere path,
and past some buildings on both sides. At last you meet
a modern road which you cross over to arrive at a small
coach resting point and this track off to the left blocked
by the boulder.
Originally this was a massive
rock, but has since been whittled down to it's current
size having been used for cannon balls, grape and chain
shot, during the Napoleonic wars. Go past the rock on
the right (for 'tis bad luck some say, to tarry to the
left) and follow this main track all the way. |
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Many paths beckon you, both left
and right; heed 'e not any.
You will come upon the petrified
library. Here it is said that at the crossroads at dead
of night drearily, Branwell, ravaged by drink, was so
jealous of his sisters, that he did a deal with a Pendle
witch and turned all his siblings' books to stone.
You will see them over on your
right just before the crossroads 'ere, (see picture)
carry straight ahead. Do not turn at the crossroads. |
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You can see over to the right
the reservoir. Now in the distance you can just make
out a road, and a large triple road sign over on the
right, and near you, some picnic tables.
At this large rock (under which is reputed to be the
hidden opiate stash of Branwell) there is the start
of a pathway.
However, as the wooden signpost
states, there are toilets in a further 250 yards, if
you need them. Take the path (see picture) to the right
and head for the main road. It is signposted for "Bronte
Falls, Top Withins, and BronteWay." |
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Having
crossed the road, merely head down towards this infernal
contraption of gates and cattlegrid. (see picture) Follow
the wide dirt track past the green sign on your left
for South Penine Moors.
Enjoy the rugged pasture, heath
and wildlife on this long mile stretch of the walk.
Listen out for the lonely call of the love struck Cathy.
Romantic! |
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Follow your nose along this good
lane. You meet paving and steps down. Continue forward...
Well here it is.
The Bronte Bridge, Waterfall and Supermart. Notice to
the left is the waterfall, (somewhat bedraggled and
understated at the best of times) and here (see picture)
the bridge, rebuilt in 1990 after a torrent forced it
down the year before.
Take care not to lose your balance.
(as Bramwell always did; especially if he had had one
of his 'special little pills') Walk over the bridge
to follow the pathway ever upward. |
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You will probably want to catch
your breath here (see picture) at the kissing gate.
You probably won't feel like kissing anything at this
instance though?
Once through the gate, take the
paved path, and walk on up towards the next obelisk
Take a 'Bramwell pill'. Feel good. Tune in. Turn on.
In this space; no-one can hear you scream.
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Further
along, the path straightens and a squeeze gate manifests
itself. (see picture) Here "the grass grows up between
the flags, and cattle are the only hedge- cutters."
The route is fairly straightforward,
just keep following the obvious path. |
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Now
climb the four steps (see picture) of this wood stepped
style, "with vexatious phlegm", walk on.........Jump
gently across two babbling brooks at the valley bottom;
where "not only the murmur of the beck is distinguishable,
but its ripples and its gurgling over the pebbles, or
through the large stones which it could not cover." |
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Plod
onward. Upward... Vollied & ...
If you start to cough up blood now, at least be happy
that you had something in common with the Brontes.
This is the stiff-upper-lip bit.
Remember, -it's romantic to die young and talented.
Keep your head down and climb the paved laborious pathway
(see picture) to Top Withins. Look out for Charlotte's
liberty bodice, discarded in a fit of pique. Or was
it Byrons? |
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At
Congratulations fair hiker on reaching this juncture.
(see picture) You can tarry here a while to catch your
breath and seek out views, but sadly you have still an
uphill traipse. Go left
from here, but remember this signpost, for you
must return to this point again from High Withins
(next instruction) ruins. |
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Course
on upwards to the ruins of Top Withins. By now you will
"breathe as fast as a cat." Here there is
sheltered seating, (inside the doorway you can see in
the picture) where you can share your lunch with the
flies...
The weather here can vary: sometimes some seek shade
if the sun should shine; others passing puddles promptly
pursue protection from the pouring, pounding precipitation.
Once you have satiated your curiosity, return
back down the same path you came up, and pass,
on the left, the signpost again...but carry
on forward now, not down to the right. |
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Follow
the obvious track all the way as it undulates, taking
you past a smaller ruin, and some pleasant terrain.
Pass a farmstead on your left,
and at this juncture (see picture) take the left path
by the signpost, just past the large rock here.
Keep your spirits high by singing
'There's an old mill by the stream, Nelly Dean' |
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Soon
after; this scene manifests itself. (see picture) Go
over the cattle grid or through the gate. Follow the
good road down.
"Oh! these bleak winds and
bitter northern skies, and impassable roads..."
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Passing
the Stanbury Village sign, on the left, keep right and
wander through the village high street. There is a seat
in the middle on the left, where you can rest your weary
body and take in the views over the River Worth towards
Oldfield.
The "... chapel bells were still ringing; and the
full, mellow flow of the beck in the valley came soothingly
on the ear. It was a sweet substitute for the yet absent
murmur of the summer foliage, which drowned that music
about the Grange when the trees were in leaf." |
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| 17 |
Continue
all the way through Stanbury, past the school on your
right, and taking advantage of the pubs should 'e wish
it. Here (see picture)
Take the right turning, and head toward the reservoir.
(Before you turn, note the sign further down on the
right that warns of 'Ice' on the road - is a permanent
one... |
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Avoid
the fast moving vehicular transport along this narrow
road. The Lower Laithe Reservoir was completed 1925, is
24m / 78.8ft high, and has a capacity of 1314tcm / 289
million gallons of water. (see the education you get on
these 'ere walks?) Toilets are, apparently, seasonal;
ring 08451 242424 for further information!
Pass the pumping station (see picture), and head a
little uphill. Soon here on your left is a small junction
for Sladen Valley Water Treatment Works. Turn left down
here.
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You
are met by this sight (see picture) Take the right hand
fork (which has a post in the centre, and follow it all
the way. Watch out for the speed bump, and slow down to
15 mph. otherwise you may damage your undercarriage.
There are views over to your left and behind you. Over
to the right blueberries when in season. By Deuce!
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Reaching
the rise of the hill (see picture) turn left at the road
and walk past the Haworth Cemetery Gates on your right.
Beware of further consumption by a breath's snatch.
Continue along this road until a rock on the right
declares itself
'Penistone Hill Country Park'.
Cross the road in front of you that comes down from
the right, and then yards later, turn right onto the
main road into Haworth village.
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Walking
along the right hand side of the road soon after is
this gate contraption, (see picture) consisting of wall,
pole, and swing gate.
Go through 'ere and bear left
and head up along this pathe'd path.
"Here you may gather your
peat for burning..." You are n'ere but a cuckoo
spit away from home now. |
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This
gate (see picture) leads you back "...you will be
swallowed up in the anticipation of its fulfilment..."
to the Parsonage where, as you turn left by it, the car
park is in front of you and the end of the walk, under
tree shade.
"I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched
the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened
to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered
how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the
sleepers in that quiet earth." |
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Toilets
are at the entrance to the car park as you drive in; in
any of the pubs you pass; at instruction No.5 and there's
always the reservoir? (No.18) |
Quotes
are manifest from
"Wuthering Heights"
by Miss Emily Bronte. |
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