Be Your Own Brontë
Inspirational Walk & Write Experiences in Haworth
Be Your Own Brontë
Connect deeply with nature, literary history and your own voice.
Nestled on the wild, windswept moors of Yorkshire, Haworth has long been a place where imagination stirs and stories take flight. Home to the legendary Brontë sisters, this landscape whispers of untold tales, fierce passions, and quiet resilience.
Be Your Own Brontë invites you to step into a world of awe and adventure. Our unique, guided walking and writing experience blends thoughtful exploration of the stunning landscape with creative inspiration.
As you wander the landscapes that shaped Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, you’ll be encouraged to connect deeply—with nature, with history, and with your own voice.
Come and walk amid some of England’s most storied scenery. Where Charlotte, Emily and Anne enjoyed moments of reflection and connected with their inspired genius.
Come and Be Your own Brontë.
Top Withens
We start our walk in Haworth, near the Bronte Parsonage Museum, and walk via Stanbury up to Top Withens. An uphill moorland hike takes us past the last occupied farmhouse in the area and some beautiful far-reaching views across the landscape. Top Withens sits on the Pennine Way and is thought to have been the inspiration for Emily’s Wuthering Heights in her epic novel of the same name. Our return route swings by Brontë Falls and we finish the walk back in Haworth, near the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Rough underfoot, typical of moorland hikes. Inclines, gravel pathways, grassy areas, overgrown sections, climbs and descents, rocky patches.
The route back takes us over a stream with stepping stones, which can be more difficult to ford when the water levels are higher. (In which case an alternate route may be chosen)
Medium-Challenging Difficulty.
5hours total.
Walking time: 3hrs 30m
Writing time: 1hr 30m
The circular route is just shy of 9 miles and the round trip takes around 4hrs with the scheduled stop mid way to share ideas and write.
10:30am Walk starts
12:15pm Rest, write, picnic lunch, share inspirations and reflect.
12:45pm Walk resumes
2:30pm Refreshments and another opportunity for reflection, shared inspirations and writing.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
NOTE: We advise you bring water and a light lunchtime picnic to enjoy during our stop at Top Withens.
3.30pm Session ends.
Ponden Kirk
Starting at Ponden Mill, we follow the outline of Ponden Reservoir, past Ponden Hall and through farmland before a steep climb up the hillside. Once at the top, all the hard work is well worth it, as a vista opens up that will take your breath away. A trek across the flat top of the hill, (Ponden Clough), takes us over the beck, (twice!), to Ponden Kirk, a beautiful spot thought to be the inspiration for Emily’s Pennistone Crags.
Rough underfoot, typical of moorland hikes. Inclines, gravel pathways, grassy areas, overgrown sections, climbs and descents, rocky patches.
The route back takes us over a stream twice, so waterproof boots are a must.
Moderately Challenging.
3hrs in total.
9am Walk starts.
9:45am Time for reflection, shared inspirations and writing
10:15pm Walk resumes.
11:00am Refreshments and a further opportunity to reflect, share inspirations and write.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
12 noon end of session.
Private Group Walks
Get in touch if there’s a desire to take a guided walk as a group activity. We can limit participants to just your group and we can tailor the walk to suit the abilities of the group. Contact us today.
Call: 07719 723959
email: hello@beyourownbronte.co.uk
Request a Walk
Get in touch if you’re in Haworth on a day when there is no walk, or if you’re in Haworth on a day when there is no scheduled walk to your preferred destination. We’ll let you know if we can accommodate your request.
Brontë Falls
This moorland hike takes us from the Brontë Parsonage Museum across Pennistone Moor and onwards in the direction of the Pennine Way. We stop off at the small, gentle waterfall frequented by many Haworth residents in days gone by, before heading back to Haworth via Stanbury.
Rough underfoot, typical of moorland hikes. Inclines, gravel pathways, grassy areas, overgrown sections, climbs and descents, rocky patches.
Medium difficulty.
3hrs 30minutes in total.
Walking time 2hrs
Writing time 1hrs 30m
The circular route is just shy of 5 miles
9:00am Walk starts
10:ooam Time to sit and reflect, write and share inspirations
10:30am Continue the walk.
11:30am End of walk refreshments, where we can further write, share and reflect.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
12:30pm End of session.
Penistone Hill
While Penistone Hill is still a moorland area and a little rough underfoot, this walk makes for an easier and flatter stroll.
There are places to sit among the heather and contemplate the wonders of the moorland and the dramatic landscapes beyond.
We start at Haworth Church Steps and skirt the graveyard and allotments until we reach the moorland. On Penistone Hill, we can take in the Literary Landscape sculpture exhibition by Martin Heron and then enjoy our period of reflection and writing deep in the heather, before heading back to civilisation via West Lane and across the fields to the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Gravel pathways, grassy areas, overgrown sections, rocky patches, some boggy patches, some gentle climbs and descents.
Moderate in Difficulty.
3hrs in total.
Walking time: 1h 30m
Writing time: 1h 30m
The circular route around Penistone Country Park has many places to stop, reflect, share ideas and write.
9am Walk starts
9:45am Rest, reflect, write, share inspirations
10:15am Walk resumes
11am Refreshments and the opportunity to write, reflect, share inspirations.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
12pm End of session
Haworth
We are lucky to have the opportunity to host and meet so many global travellers who come here to walk in our stunning landscapes, to learn more of our literary heritage, to shop, to eat and to stay. Here’s what you need to know.
Treat Yourself
Delightful and different, Haworth’s cobbled Main Street is lined with all manner of quirky shops, selling an ecclectic array of books, gifts, food goodies, homeware, clothing, antiques and flora.
Food & Drink
Delicious menus are provided by over 25 restaurants, pubs, bistros, take aways and food outlets within 1 mile of Haworth Church. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dine and snack yourself silly if that’s what you want to do!
Home From Home
Haworth’s hotels, inns, B&Bs, holiday cottages and glamping accommodation are a few of the places visitors can rest their weary heads after a day of adventures in Brontë Country.
Places To See
Explore the Worth Valley via Heritage Steam Railway or walk the corridors of the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Outdoor adventures are plentiful and don’t miss Haunted Haworth’s ghost tour!
Explore Beautiful Yorkshire
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Wear?
Yorkshire is a mass of lush green hills because we get plenty of rain.
We do get very hot days too.
Always wear sturdy, fit-for-purpose walking shoes. Layers are best to suit the changeable climate and carry a light waterproof in case of inclement weather.
What can I expect on the day?
We usually aim for a maximum party size of 10 on each walk.
Walks start at a local point, the times vary, so check your ticket and instructions email.
Walk durations vary according to which event you have booked. This can be between 30 minutes and 2 hours each way.
Walks are at a leisurely pace, punctuated with stopping places to take in the raw beauty of the moorland vistas and give you time to reflect, make notes, take photos, etc.
Once returned to the starting point, we stop off, (we’ll have booked the venue in advance), and enjoy refreshments and a further chance to write or gather our thoughts and inspirations.
The whole session lasts between 3 and 5 hours, depending on which event you’ve chosen. Check your ticket and instruction email for details.
Can I bring my dog?
Your four legged furry friend is very welcome on walks and Haworth is an exceptionally dog-friendly place to visit.
They’ll probably get muddy and most likely wet, but if your dogs love a good romp, they’ll get it in Haworth.
Respect for Countryside Rules:
During lambing season, dogs must not be allowed to injure or worry livestock.
Farmers have the right to shoot dogs causing a nuisance or harm to any of their animals.
Read the Kennel Club’s guidance here.
If you feel this is unfair, or if you can’t abide by this strict rule of the countryside, please do not bring your dog.
Respect for Wildlife:
Dogs are natural predators, and their instinct to chase and hunt can be detrimental to wildlife, so it’s crucial to keep them under control and avoid areas where protected species may be present.
Ground nesting birds flourish in the moors around Haworth and dogs must not be allowed to disturb their nests, the eggs or the fledgelings.
Hares and deer live on the moorlands and if your dog catches a scent and follows their natural instinct to hunt, the chase could endanger not only the prey, but also your dog; risking it getting lost, falling down a ravine, being shot or being caught in wire fences when running over unfamiliar landscapes.
Your Responsibilities:
Picking up after your dog is absolutely essential, not only for hygiene but also to prevent the spread of diseases to livestock.
Always take your used waste bags with you to deposit in the next bin. Leaving them hung on trees or thrown into the undergrowth is completely unacceptable, causes harm to wildlife and spoils the natural beauty of the area.
If you are spotted doing this, be prepared for a dressing down by disgruntled locals, farmers, rangers and other visitors – we are not backwards at coming forwards when the beauty and safety of our local landscape is put at risk through carelessness & laziness.
How accessible are the walks?
The routes we take and the places we aim to get to are inaccessible by road and necessitate being on foot, through the countryside, over moorland, crossing streams, using stepping stones, through boggy and muddy terrain.
Wheelchairs and Walking Aids
As such, the walks are unfortunately unsuitable for wheelchair or walking aid users.
Pushchairs and Young Children:
Pushchairs are unsuitable and unsafe to use on these walks.
Younger children may prefer to not take part in these walks. It is your discretion and your responsibility to gauge your child’s hiking ability and decide whether or not to bring them along.
NOTE: You are wholly responsible for ensuring your child’s safety and comfort on these walks.
Injury and Illness:
If you are generally unsteady on your feet, have sustained an injury that impacts your movement or are suffering cramps, lightheadedness or dizziness, we strongly advise you to not attend these walking events.
Can I pay on the day?
No, unfortunately not.
We open up slots for walks throughout the spring-summer season.
For our walks to be successful, we need to know the numbers in advance.
Part of the walk involves stopping off for refreshments, we need to book the venues for this in advance, with numbers.
Also, you will need our information pack sending to you in advance so you know exactly what to expect. This will include terms and conditions that you’ll need to have read, understood and signed before you’ll be allowed to accompany us on the walk.
How do I pronounce Haworth?
1. It’s not “Har-worth”
2. It’s nor “Horr-worth”
3. It’s not “Hay-worth”
4. It’s not “Hoe-warrth”
The correct pronounciation of the English village name of Haworth sounds like you’re asking a question of the planet… let me explain:
The first syllable ‘Haw’ is pronounced the same as the as the interrogative word ‘how?’
The second syllable ‘orth’ sounds a bit like ‘earth’
Put it together to get ‘how-earth’
hɔːwərθ
It is warranted to note that we Haworth natives flatten the ‘er’ sound in the second syllable ‘earth’ so the name sounds more like ‘how-uth’
haʊəθ
I’m not going to get into the details of those natives who drop the first H, (‘Ow-uth), nor those for whom the ‘th’ at the end becomes a nondescript ‘ff’ sound… (‘Ow-uff). These are definitely stories for another day!
These beautifully raw and naturally wild Yorkshire landscapes challenge, uplift & inspire the writers, artists and adventurers amongst us.
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