Bronte Country Landscapes

Starting from Bully Trees Farm, Back Lane, Stanbury, this is probably the second easiest and quickest way to get up to Top Withens. The easiest way is to follow the main track straight up past Upper Heights Farm (today’s return route – the upper one on the map above) and either way will give you great views of Top Withens ahead of you in the distance.

I could hear a cuckoo calling as I started the walk, the first one I’ve heard this year. This is usually a great place to hear them early in the morning this time of year.

The climb up past Bully Trees Farm can feel a bit of a pull but it sets you up nicely for the rest of the walk and once you reach the cattlegrid, the going gets a bit flatter and easier for quite a way.

When you get past the cattlegrid, it’s worth taking the time to look back at this view down the valley towards Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir.

Gates and stiles always invite you to explore the view beyond and this one heralds the start of a very scenic walk. At his point you can usually hear the Brontë Falls in the distance and, today, the cuckoo was still calling and getting closer.

Several ruined farms lie on this path, This one, Virginia, stands at the top of the steep-sided valley of South Dean Beck, just opposite the Brontë Falls.

I took a short diversion down an old sunken quarry track to South Dean Beck, where there are a couple of wooden bridges, presumably used by grouse shooters. The path seemed to peter out at this point but I assumed it continued along the beck. When I got home, I checked it on the 1861 OS map and it actually climbs up the bank for a bit before heading along the beck. I’ll have another look next time I’m up there.

Looking back down South Dean Beck towards the Brontë Falls, the sunken track can be seen running down the hill. The sycamore tree on the left marks the location of Forks House, the last ruined farm on this path before Middle Withens.

The Cuckoo stone stands close to the path but most walkers pass it by without even noticing it. It is possibly the remains of an ancient standing stone, part of a prehistoric burial site. For more information, click HERE.

There are innumerable distant views across Stanbury Moor to Top Withens on this walk so I’ll just show a few and save some for the next time I walk this way.

Made it!

Heathcliff and Cathy, the twin sycamore trees that stand next to the ruined farmhouse

The north-eastern wall inside the barn part of the building.

I’d just taken the above photo when the clouds suddenly rolled over the hills and 2 minutes later I took the one below. Thankfully, I’m fairly used to it by now but I’d imagine it would be disorientating for a first-time visitor.

For more information about Haworth and Brontë Country, the Brontë family, local history and traditions, where to stay, eat and drink, go to www.bronte-country.com or www.haworth-village.co.uk