Exploring Oakworth - Part 14 - Oakworth | Haworth | Urban Common | Harbour Lodge

 

Church Lane, Haworth

Distance: 10.5 miles

Ascent: 1300 ft

Walking: Andrew

Weather: Overcast with occasional showers. Cold & windy.

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Starting point: Station Road, Oakworth

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

The weather forecast was not too good so I hadn’t planned a route for this walk but decided I’d just set off and see where I ended up. 

My first intended destination was Keighley Moor Reservoir but, by the time I got to Irish Lane, the going was pretty rough, so I decided to head down into the valley.

Haworth is always a good bet, even on a dark, cold miserable day, as the weather adds to the atmosphere. Having got to the churchyard and taken a few photos, there were signs of improvement, so I headed over Penistone Hill and up onto Haworth Moor to explore some different footpaths around Harbour Lodge.

Christ Church, Oakworth was built in 1846 at a cost of £2000.

One of many old buildings in the village that have been re-purposed

Bridge Street, Oakworth.

Denby Hill Road, Oakworth

Irish Lane, Oakworth. Having got this far, I changed my mind about heading for Oakworth Moor due to the biting wind and driving rain, and headed back down to the more sheltered area in the valley.

Oakworth viewed from Irish Lane

Tim Lane, Oakworth with Haworth on the hill opposite.

Haworth seen from Tim Lane.

Tim Lane.

The view up the Worth Valley from Tim Lane

Lord Bridge

Friendly locals at Lord Bridge

Oakworth from Lord Lane, Haworth

The 18th century Manor House on Changegate, Haworth is Grade II listed.

This 17th century house, 26 & 28 North Street, is also Grade II listed.

Church Street, Haworth

The Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth, where the Bronte sisters lived and wrote their famous novels in the mid 19th century.

The cawing of the rooks that nest in the churchyard trees adds to the eerie atmosphere of the place.

Lower Laithe reservoir and Stanbury from Penistone Hill

Milking Hill Farm with Lumb Foot beyond

Lower Laithe Reservoir

Lower Laithe Reservoir and Stanbury

View from Intake Farm

A characterful gate at Intake farm

Looking back towards Intake Farm

The remains of an old dry stone wall on Intake Farm

Another view of Stanbury across Lower Laithe Reservoir

Ruined farm buildings

Near Enfield Side

A wonderful example of local craftsmanship at Near Enfield Side

A newly repaired ladder stile onto the main path to the Bronte Waterfall

The view back over Near Enfield Side to Stanbury

The ruins of Middle Intake Farm

Bully Trees Farm and Cold Knoll Farm

Harbour Hole Bottom. From here the stream drops down to the Bronte Waterfall and into Salden Beck

A grouse butt at Harbour Hole Bottom

Harbour Hole Bottom

A memorial to a former moor keeper near Harbour Lodge

Haworth Moor and Leeshaw Reservoir

The view ahead towards Oxenhope

Alpacas at Windle House Farm

Hanging Gate Lane, Oxenhope

The view from Hole across to Brow Top, Lees and Cross Roads with Keighley in the distance

Hole 

Looking back towards Hole

The Old Hall dates back to 1621 and is one of the oldest buildings in the village. There are two long tunnels in the cellar, one of which connects to the church. These were used by the original owners, The Emmotts, to help fellow catholics escape persecution at a time when it was illegal to practice their faith.

This copper sign listing local places of interest was erected in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.

An appropriate message at the moment.

Relatively new cafe with a 1940s theme, inspired by the village's hugely popular annual 1940s weekend, held every May. Let's hope it can go ahead this year.

Main Street, Haworth

Sundial on a very old house on North Street, Haworth. They also have a number of beautiful old fire insurance plaques on the wall.

Oakworth, seen from Mytholmes.

The third of the 1843 public notice plaques (see previous walks), warning of the potential consequences of trespassing on Ebor Lane or Providence Lane.

Providence Lane, Oakworth and Lower Providence Mill chimney from Mytholmes Lane

Mytholmes Lane as it passes over Mytholmes Tunnel

Vale Mill, Oakworth

Perks' cottage from the film The Railway Children. The house to the right wasn't built when the film was made.

Oakworth Station.

3 Mile Linear Walk - Stanbury | Top Withens

 

The now ruined farmhouse Top Withens (or Top Withins) is believed to have been built in the late 16th century and remained inhabited until around 1890. The location is thought to have inspired that of Wuthering Heights in Emily Bronte's famous novel, although the building itself bore no resemblance to the one in the book.

Distance: 3.3 miles

Ascent: 500 ft

Walking: Andrew & Gaynor

Weather: Overcast & hazy

OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines

Starting point: Bully Trees Farm, Back Lane, Stanbury

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

The first time we've been up to Top Withens for a few weeks and the first time it's been clear enough to enjoy the spectacular views for a while. 

I've been fortunate to experience this walk in just about every type of weather and today was cold, still and hazy and felt very peaceful. The only sounds were the many babbling streams and the grouse cackling away. We didn't spot or hear any of the recently returned curlew, in fact most of the wildlife seemed to be keeping a low profile for a change.

Lower Height Farm

Upper Heights Farm

Near Upper Heights Farm

The view across to Oakworth Moor from Flight Hill, close to Master Stones

Flaight Hill

The view ahead to Top Withens

Scar Hill and Sandy Hill with Crumber Hill in the distance

Still a little way to go. The ruins of Lower Withins Farm can be seen just beyond the wall.

The ruins of Lower Withins Farm, which was demolished in the 1930s

One of many interesting features in the walls round here. I'm not sure what this one's purpose was but I'd be interested to find out.

Lone Sycamore tree alongside the path with Top Withens visible in the distance.

The ruins of Middle Withins, which, like Lower Withins, was demolished in the 1930s.

Top Withins. After being abandoned in the 1890s, the building stood empty until it was bought in 1903, along with Lower and Middle Withins, by the Keighley Corporation. In the 1930s when the other two farms were demolished, Top Withens was secured to prevent vandalism, although time has since taken its toll and the roof has long since gone and little remains of the house. The bulk of the ruin is the livestock barn that was attached to the house.

I can't help thinking that it wouldn't have felt as remote up here in the Bronte's time as it does now. There were at least two other working farms close-by, as well as a number of stone quarries. The fact that the building is now a ruin adds to the feeling of remoteness and desolation.

The two sycamore trees to the south of the ruin are popularly known as Cathy and Heathcliff

The view down Dean Beck from Top Withins

The southern side of the ruin

The plaque placed on the building by The Bronte Society doesn't exactly fill the visitor with excitement about the location's links to Wuthering Heights, having, in many cases, made a pilgrimage half way round the world to get here. Whilst the sense of what it says may be true, the wording doesn't exactly reflect the romance of the story.

The board outline the history of the building is very informative and well worth taking the time to read. It's interesting to see how the building used to look and relate that to what remains.

Heading back down to Middle Withins

Approaching Upper Heights Farm

Dry stone wall near Upper Heights farm

View over Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir from Bully Trees Farm

Dry stone wall at Bully Trees Farm

An old stone quarry at Bully Trees Farm with the wind turbines at Ovenden Moor in the distance

A squeeze stile at Bully Trees Farm

Bully Trees farm