Haworth, Top Withins, Alcomden Stones, Stanbury, West Yorkshire
[ 12.1 km] Wed  29 Jul 2009

SE 0209 3709
Parked opposite the cemetery above Haworth. Set off walking SW along the minor road by Penistone Hill. I crossed over Moor Side Lane and was then on a farm track which is also the ‘Bronte Way’. It’s the firs time I’ve walked in this area so the moors are all new to me. There was full cloud overhead and rain was forecast for later. After Far Intake the track dwindled a bit and then a minor branch took me down to South Dean Beck. A small stone footbridge had a sign by it saying Bronte Bridge destroyed by flash flood 19th May 1989 rebuilt March 1990 this stone donated by the Bronte Society.

Top Withens

Information on Top Withens.

Alcomden Stones

I crossed it and followed a nice path past the ruins of Forks House where it dwindled a bit before joining a more substantial path higher up. This is the Pennine Way. I turned left to continue higher to the ruin I’d first seen a while back. The ruin of Top Withins is reputed to be the original inspiration for Wuthering Heights, the Earnshaw home in the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Considering how famous the location is supposed to be there wasn’t a single soul around. I hadn’t seen anyone since leaving the car. I followed a small path onto Delph Hill and the trig point. I was expecting a very wet bog after all the rain we’ve had recently but the going wasn’t too bad. The area called Alcomden Stones was visible ahead so I decided to take a look. I’m glad I did as the whole area was fascinating to wander around.

The ground was a bit rough as I descended to Middle Moor Clough and I passed several grouse butts as I descended to pick up a path above Birch Brink. The area is also known as Ponden Kirk on the map. The path followed the contour for a while before heading down to a farm track at Far Slack then to Near Slack. It improved to a country lane and joined Back Lane which I followed to the village of Stanbury on the Haworth to Colne road. The forecast rain now started to arrive but fortunately it wasn’t too heavy. It was nice to wander along the road on foot and have time to admire the various stone buildings. I turned right to follow the road over the Lower Laithe Reservoir embankment then left up a track back to the car.

The Manor House in Stanbury