Walks in Stanbury
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Stanbury on foot.
Walk: Haworth Moor and Top Withins
A hearty moorland walk past Lower Laithe Reservoir and over Haworth Moor to the abandoned stone farmhouse of Top Withins. The Route what3words for start point: ///flute.model.aunts Start / Finish Point: Lay by car park area Cemetery Road, Haworth, BD22 8EN Distance: 6.2 Miles GPX Route Map walkshirehaworthtotopwithensDownload Walk Description From the layby car park on Cemetery Road in Haworth, with the bench in front of you, turn right, and walk towards the cemetery. At the gate on the right, take the public footpath that runs initially parallel to the road, but then starts to move away to the right. Follow this path to go past a works on the right to reach Reservior Road. Here, Lower Laithe Reservoir will be straight in front of you. Turn right and follow the road along the top of the embankment, and then up to Sun Lane. Turn left, and walk through the village of Stanbury - taking care as the pavements often disappear! Carry on past the village school and out of the village past the traffic calming islands. At the road junction, veer left along Back Lane - ignoring the no through road sign - and continue along the lane. At the junction, keep to the left, and then at the end of the lane, head to the right, along the path marked “Private Road”. As this is a public footpath, you are allowed to walk on it. Follow this path, and then at the junctions, keep to the right, to walk past two farm buildings on the right. This is now part of the Pennine Way. The path heads alongside some walled fields on the left, before clearly turning to the left to eventually find the remote abandoned stone farmhouse of Top Withins. Once you’ve investigated, retrace your steps until you see a clear path branching out to the right. Take this path and when it joins another, turn left. Follow this to walk alongside South Dean Beck. Ignore the next two paths branching off, and stick to the main path - although the landscape is wild, stick to this clear path. After a while, three more paths branch off, and you should ignore those too. Just after the edge of a walled field, at the junction of paths, head to the right, which is the easiest way to Bronte Bridge. Cross over the bridge, and look for the Bronte Waterfalls. Don’t turn down the path on the right, but continue on what is now part of the Bronte Way. Follow this very clear path, with green fields on the left and moorland on the right. Keep on this path until it reaches a crossroads. Here, head straight across, and down along Cemetery Road - keeping safe as it is a narrow road. Follow this all the way back to the laybe car park.
Walk: Brontë Way
The Brontë Way is a scenic and literary trail that winds through the rugged landscapes of West Yorkshire and into Lancashire, offering a journey into the world of the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. The trail is a tribute to the Brontës' enduring legacy, inviting walkers to immerse themselves in the history, culture, and evocative landscapes that shaped the authors and their stories. Route What3Words: ///valley.stem.vibrates Distance: 44 miles (71 km) Start: Oakwell Hall, Nova Ln, Birstall, Batley WF17 9LF Finish Location: Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley Rd, Padiham, Burnley BB12 8UA OS Walking Map & GPX Download Our OS map below shows the full route. Under the map, you can find a GPX file download for your navigational device. bronte-way-routeDownload Walk Description As you journey along this trail, you'll encounter various locations, each with a unique connection to the Brontës. Below is an overview of the key points along the route, highlighting their significance to the Brontë legacy. Oakwell Hall, Nova Ln, Birstall, Batley WF17 9LF Oakwell Hall is a striking Elizabethan manor house that served as the inspiration for "Fieldhead" in Charlotte Brontë's novel Shirley. The hall is steeped in history, with its well-preserved interiors offering a glimpse into the kind of environment that Charlotte imagined for her characters. The trail then goes through Birstall, a quaint village near Oakwell Hall. Gomersal Gomersal is where Charlotte Brontë’s close friend, Mary Taylor, lived at the Red House. The house and its surroundings played a significant role in Charlotte's life and were also immortalized in Shirley as "Briarmains." The Brontë Way then skirts past Cleckheaton. Cleckheaton was a bustling mill town during the Brontës' time. Liversedge Liversedge is where the Brontës’ friend, Ellen Nussey, lived. The town is mentioned in letters between Charlotte and Ellen, revealing the close-knit connections between the Brontë sisters and their circle of friends. The Brontë Way then passes through Hightown. Thornhills Thornhills was once the home of the Taylor family, friends of the Brontës. The area captures the essence of the moorland settings often depicted in their novels, providing a backdrop to the Brontë sisters' stories. The walk then goes through Bailiff Bridge, Shelf, Westwood Park and Clayton. Thornton Thornton holds significant importance as the birthplace of the Brontë sisters. The village is where Patrick and Maria Brontë raised their family before moving to Haworth. The Brontë birthplace, now a museum, is a must-visit site for anyone on the trail. The route then passes through Keelham, past Thornton Moor Reservoir, Leeming Reservoir and Oxenhope. Haworth Haworth is the heart of Brontë country, where the Brontë Parsonage Museum is located. This village was the Brontës' home from 1820 and is where they wrote most of their works. Walking through Haworth, visitors can explore the church, the parsonage, and the surrounding moors, all integral to the Brontë story. The route then passes through Penistone Hall Country Park and past Lower Laithe Reservoir. Brontë Waterfall The Brontë Waterfall is a significant landmark on the Brontë Way, often visited by the sisters themselves. The picturesque waterfall, located near Haworth, is a place of natural beauty that continues to draw Brontë enthusiasts. Ponden Reservoir Ponden Reservoir, near Ponden Hall, is believed to have inspired locations in Wuthering Heights. Ponden Hall itself is thought to be the model for "Thrushcross Grange" or "Wuthering Heights" in Emily's novel. The route then passes Watersheddles Reservoir - located on the border between Yorkshire and Lancashire - through Thursden, Lee Green Reservoir, Hurst Well Bridge, Lennox Street Stepping Stones - a unique crossing point along the trail, then past Holbeck Park and Wood End. Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley Rd, Padiham, Burnley BB12 8UA Gawthorpe Hall is the final significant stop on the Brontë Way. Charlotte Brontë was a frequent visitor here, and the hall remains largely unchanged from her time. The stunning architecture and surrounding gardens provide a fitting conclusion to the Brontë Way, connecting the literary heritage of the Brontës with the grand historical homes of their time. This journey through the Brontë Way not only allows you to walk in the footsteps of the Brontë sisters but also to experience first-hand the landscapes that inspired some of the greatest works of English literature. Each stop on the trail offers a unique glimpse into the world that shaped the Brontës, making it a pilgrimage for both literary enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors.
Wuthering Heights Walk
Leave the popular village of Haworth and explore the lonely moors beyond where the Bronte sisters found inspiration. Includes visits to Wuthering Heights and the Bronte Bridge. The Route what3words for start point: ///lovely.rekindle.suffix Start Point: Haworth. Car Park at the top end near church Finish Point: Haworth Distance: 9 Miles GPX Route Map brontewalkDownload Walk Description The Brontë Sisters lived in Haworth during the 19th Century and they drew their inspiration for novels such as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre from long walks in the moors above the village. After heading out of Haworth the walk crosses the moors to the Brontë Bridge, Seat and Waterfall before climbing to Top Withins farmhouse. Here the walk joins the Pennine Way and drops back through the village of Stanbury to Haworth. Accommodation There are loads of cosy rooms and holiday lets in Haworth.
Walk: Oxenhope - Leeming Reservoir - Thornton Moor Reservoir
A stroll through the quaint village of Oxenhope in the foot of the South Pennines with wonderful views of the Worth Valley from the reservoirs on it's outskirts. The Route what3words for start point: ///narrowest.ledge.televise Start Point: Oxenhope Finish Point: Oxenhope Distance: 5 Miles GPX Route Map oxenhopeDownload Walk Description Starting Point: Next to Oxenhope Station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Step off the train at Oxenhope station, and you're not just arriving in a village; you're stepping into a living movie set and a gateway to Yorkshire's industrial past. As part of the celebrated Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, one of the finest examples of preserved steam railways in the country, Oxenhope station has graced the silver screen in films like "The Railway Children." For fans of both history and cinema, arriving by this mode of transport isn't just convenient—it's like riding through time itself. The old mill workers' cottages line the streets. Many of these historical buildings have been repurposed into homes, but they've lost none of their vintage allure. From the train station the two-mile uphill journey is not for the faint of heart. This stretch is also the battleground for the village's annual straw race, where competitors sprint up this steep hill while carrying a bale of straw on their backs. While you won't be carrying straw, the incline provides its own challenges, offering a workout that'll make the ascent all the more rewarding. Upon cresting the hill, you'll find yourself by Leeming Reservoir. Pause here and to soak in the view - a panorama of the valley that stretches far and wide. Having feasted your eyes and filled your lungs with fresh air, it's time to begin the descent back to Oxenhope. Cap off the adventure with a visit to one of the local pubs for a hearty ale, sumptuous pie, or some classic Yorkshire fare.
Walk: Ovenden Moor and Ogden Water
The walk in West Yorkshire visits one of the most attractive reservoirs in the area and crosses some high moors with stunning and wide ranging views. The Route what3words for start point: ///selling.efficient.deferring Start Point: Oxenhope Finish Point: Oxenhope Distance: 10 Miles GPX Route Map ovendenmoorandogdenwaterDownload Walk Description Start in Oxenhope and walk south over the moors towards Ogden Reservoir. The reservoir is surrounded by some attractive woodland full of wildlife and the views impressive when crossing the dam wall. The walk then climbs back to the open moors. On one side of the moors is a wind farm, on the other another reservoir, this time a venue for watersports. The return to Oxenhope is down a fine lane with views across the mills and moors of Haworth.