7.5 Mile Walk - Stanbury | Ponden Kirk | Ponden Reservoir | Oakworth Moor | Oldfield

 

Ponden Kirk is thought to have been the inspiration for Penistone Crag and the Fairy Cave in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

Distance: 7.5 miles

Ascent: 1400 ft

Walking: Andrew

Weather: Sunny then clouded over later. Cool.

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Starting point: Main Street, Stanbury

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

Another amazingly varied walk from Stanbury. Being a sunny day at the weekend, I decided to avoid Top Withens and concentrate on the Worth Valley.

After climbing up Back Lane past Bully Trees Farm, I found myself surprisingly breathless so it was a good excuse to look back down the hill towards Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir

Lost gloves are a common sight when walking round here but they don't often come in pairs

The route I was following would take me across Oakworth Moor, behind the white house in the distance

Lower Height Farm

Having turned off the main Top Withens path and over a couple of stiles, I approached Upper Heights Farm

Ponden Reservoir from just above Far Slack

Approaching Master Stones

Ponden Reservoir from just below Master Stones

Master Stones

Looking across Ponden Slack and Oakworth Moor from close to Birch Brink

Oldfield and Oakworth in the distance from Birch Brink

Ponden Reservoir again

Looking ahead to Ponden Kirk, the rocky outcrop near the horizon, from Birch Brink

Looking across Ponden Clough, deep ravine in the distance is Dean Clough, with Oakworth Moor beyond. 

A zoomed-in view of Dean Clough with Crag Bottom just to the left of it. I will pass these later on this walk

The path ahead across Birch Brink then down Ponden Clough and below Ponden Kirk is clearly visible. Having taken the top path over Ponden Kirk a few weeks ago, I decided to take the lower one today.

Looking back down Ponden Clough to Ponden Reservoir, Oldfield and Oakworth

Ponden Kirk from Birch Brink

The path I'd just come along is the one on the right. I've never dared tackle it before because the drop to the left is pretty severe but coming the other way, you don't notice it as much and it isn't too bad. It's certainly worth it for the views, although I wouldn't do it when it's wet.

Halfway down a set of very uneven steps with a none-too-helpful handrail, the view really opens up.

Ponden Kirk from the lower path

Presumably, this mini-dam was built at the same time as the reservoir to control the flow of water coming off the moor

Ponden Kirk from below

On top of the dam. That bridge has seen better days.

If you look carefully, you can see the tricky steps down the clough on the left

Ponden Slack

Looking back across Ponden Clough. On the horizon to the right of the sign are Lower Heights Farm, Upper Heights Farm (in front of the plantation and Master Stones on the far right, which I'd passed earlier.

Ladder stile above Whitestone. Dean Clough is getting closer

New Laithe Road with the farmhouse at Old Snap in the foreground and Scar Top in the distance

Dropping down to Whitestone

A lovely old stone gatepost with slots for cross-rails, rather than a gate

The robin on top of this stile at Whitestone was singing its heart out so I stopped and watched it for a while.

Far Dean Fields Farm, seen from Whitestone. This short section is part of The Bronte Way.

Looking back to Whitestone Farm

Over the stile and left onto The Pennine Way

Heading down The Pennine Way to the North Western end of Ponden Reservoir

Silver birch trees on the edge of the reservoir

This grey heron didn't seem at all bothered by me and I got quite close to it.

The River Worth

Ponden Reservoir

Far Dean Fields Farm

I was fascinated by this ruined barn at Far Dean Fields Farm. There are loads of these around here.

The view over Throstles Nest up The Worth Valley

Looking back over the reservoir to Ponden Hall with Lower and Upper Heights Farms on the horizon

Dean Clough

Dean Clough - note the discarded car seat

Crag Bottom

Daffodils at Crag Bottom

The view across to the reservoir from Crag Bottom

An old quarry access road up to Crag Top

A long-abandoned stone quarry at Crag Top

Seems I'd climbed quite a way. Still a fair bit to go, though.

I wonder how long that's been there - and how it got there

The Pennine Way continues - uphill...

The vast expanse of Oakworth Moor

Turning off The Pennine Way, can you spot the path? No, neither could I.

I know what you're thinking but this is another one

A reminder, if it were needed, that life up here can be harsh

The path follows this wall right into the distance

Quite a long section here was extremely boggy. At this point, there was no way round it so I had to just plough on, sinking beyond the top of my walking boots and soaking my feet and legs.

Back the way I'd just come towards Burnt Hill

Across the Moor to Daisy Mount (the white house)

Another very boggy bit at Highfield Farm

Looking back from Highfield Farm

Looking back over the reservoir, Ponden Hall and, in the distance, Ponden Kirk can be seen.

Oldfield House Farm with Stanbury and Penistone Hill beyond.

Primroses at Oldfield House Farm

Manor Farm, Oldfield

Manor Farm, heading down to the river

Make-do and mend gates

Stanbury and Penistone Hill

The rickety old wooden clapper bridge over The River Worth

I'm told the bridge was originally painted white. It's very bouncy to cross and the main beam is rotting quite badly

The support strut on this side doesn't reach the ground any more and the left hand one is also broken

Looking up the valley, the chimney of the ruined Griff Mill is just visible in the trees.

Welcome to Stanbury

Looking back across the valley to Oldfield

Welcome to Stanbury

The church of St Gabriel, Stanbury

The old smithy and Horton Croft, the Quaker burial ground, were 45 burials were carried out from 1656 - 1718. I had a very interesting conversation about the history of the village with an elderly gentleman here (Mr Cole, I presume) who's joinery workshop is next door to the old smithy.