Last Of The Summer Pies: Exploring Oakworth - Part 13 - Dockroyd | Mill Hey | Haworth | Penistone Hill | Bronte Waterfall | Stanbury

The Bronte Waterfall

Distance: 9 miles

Ascent: 1000 ft

Walking: Andrew

Weather: Foggy

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Starting point: Station Road, Oakworth

Photography: Andrew using Nikon D750 / Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8

After the warm sunny weather of the previous day, I had a full day's walking and taking photos planned, only to be greeted by thick fog. I wasn't going to let that put me off though. The usual views across the valley from Penistone Hill and Haworth Moor were pretty much obscured but I still ended up taking loads of photos, as always.

This hidden footpath runs parallel to Station Road down from Dockroyd

This path links Station Road and Providence Lane with this section passing the old dry mill pond known as Gingerbread Dam.

The sawn-off bottom section of an old cast iron lamp post, set into the wall at Gingerbread Dam.

The mossy walled footpath that runs down the side of Gingerbread Dam to Hoot Corner. Vale Mill can just be seen through the trees.

Hoot Corner, the corner of one of the buildings at Vale Mill.

A sluice gate that regulated the level of a large mill pond at Vale Mill which was drained in the 1980s

Vale Farm and a beautiful kissing gate in the traditional Oxenhope style, which the owners of the farm had made to match a number of field gates nearby.

Footpath that runs from Vale farm to Ebor Lane alongside Bridgehouse Beck and, further on, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

Moss like this is a common feature on the dry stone walls around here. It appears to glow in low light.

Ebor Mill chimney can just be seen through the trees and mist.

Last year's beech leaves still clinging on.

Ebor Mill

Ebor Mill. Work is well under way to convert the remaining buildings into apartments.

A warning to anyone thinking of walking on Ebor Lane in 1842 not to bother or risk prosecution. This plaque matches the one on Oakworth Hall at the top of Providence Lane and there is another on the old toll house at the far end of Ebor Lane.

Primitive Methodist Chapel, Mill Hey looking very sorry for itself

Telephone box (working) at Haworth Station

Victorian post box at Haworth Station

A very old sign at the junction of Butt Lane and Main Street, Haworth

Main Street, Haworth

Seems the global pandemic is affecting everyone

Probably related to the railway, this mile stone is situated outside the Hawthorn restaurant on Main Street

Looking back down Main Street

This ginnel runs off the top of Main Street

The Bronte Parsonage Museum and St Michael and All Angels Church

Snowdrops in Haworth churchyard

A suitably atmospheric Bronte Parsonage Museum

Heading from the churchyard towards Sowdens farm

Heading up towards Penistone Hill

Looking back towards Stonecroft Farm

Waymarker on Penistone Hill

Silver birch tree on Penistone Hill

Great to see a flock of lapwing here

Flocks of sheep and lapwing

You can normally see Top Withens from here

The Bronte Bridge crosses Sladen Beck. There is no actual evidence that the Brontes ever visited here but it is more than likely

The Bronte Waterfall. It's unusual to see so much water coming down the falls. When most of the visitors are her in summer, It is barely a trickle

Oh well, that proves it then.

The Bronte Bridge

Looking back towards the waterfall

Virginia, apparently.

I've never seen meadow pipits, golden plovers or short eared owls but there are plenty of the others. The lapwing and curlews have returned recently and the grouse have been noisily claiming their territory for a while.

This small flock of sheep at Bully Trees Farm always look like they are a band posing for an album cover

An interesting section of dry stone wall at Bully Trees Farm

Back Lane, Stanbury

An opportunity to see a traditional stone roof close up with a weather-beaten door thrown in for good measure

The tiny church of St Gabriel in Stanbury was built in 1848 having been commissioned by Patrick Bronte, the sisters' father. Charlotte is thought to have taught Sunday School here. It was known as Stanbury Church until it was dedicated to St Gabriel on it's 150th anniversary in 1998.

A rough track off Main Street, Stanbury, with a view across the valley

The Wuthering Heights Inn is one of three pubs in Stanbury, the others being The Friendly and The Old Silent Inn. It dates back to 1763 and was originally called The Cross, a name which is still used by locals.

The impressive Manor House, Main Street, Stanbury was built in 1753 by George and Mary Taylor and is Grade II listed. Unfortunately, it appears to be in need of a considerable amount of TLC.