Our Walks
Aimed at creatives wanting to experience the raw, untamed literary landscape of the legendary Brontë Sisters of Haworth.
I’m Jaiq, Haworth native, writer, artist and advocate of all things local. I’d love to share our creative-genius-inspiring Haworth with you.
I invite you to find your version of Haworth on one of our Walk & Write experiences.
Yes, be inspired by what and who has gone before but, ultimately, I invite you to seek and find your voice here, and the courage to 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.
3.30pm Session ends.
We will arrive back in Haworth at around 2:30pm for refreshments and the opportunity to sit, reflect and write some more; sharing your reflections with the group is encouraged but not obligatory.
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.
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.
12:30pm End of session.
We will arrive on Haworth Main Street at 2pm for refreshments and the opportunity to reflect and write some more, sharing your reflections with the group if you so wish.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
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.
12 noon End of session.
We will arrive back at Ponden Mill for refreshments and the opportunity to reflect and write some more, sharing your reflections with the group if you so wish.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
The Goit
Known colloquially as ‘The Goit’ it has been a favourite haunt of Haworth folk looking for a great place to picnic for decades.
A ‘goit’ is a man made channel dug to redirect water flow in order to better power the mills.
Haworth’s ‘Goit’ has such a Chanel, dug from Bridgehouse Beck to the waterwheel of Bridgehouse Mills.
You can still see the remains of the channel as we walk along this route.
While it isn’t particularly mentioned in the Brontë novels, you can be almost certain that the family would have known of this little Beck-side gem and would likely have been there with a picnic in the summer months.
Relatively easy underfoot and fairly flat. We do cross some fields, stiles and a tiny bridge – and the pathway isn’t made up in any way.
Easy to Moderate rural walk
3hours in total.
Walking: 1h 30mins
Writing: 1h 30mins
9am Walk starts
9:45am Rest, reflect, write, share inspirations.
10:15am Walk resumes.
11am Refreshments and a further opportunity to reflect, write and share inspirations
12pm End of session
We will arrive back at Ponden Mill for refreshments and the opportunity to reflect and write some more, sharing your reflections with the group if you so wish.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
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
12pm End of session
We will arrive on Haworth Main Street at 2:30pm for refreshments and the opportunity to reflect and write some more, sharing your reflections with the group if you so wish.
Refreshments included in the session fee are tea/coffee and a slice of cake.
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.
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, adventurers and artists among us.
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