Bronte Walks

Some of my Bronte related guided walks include the following:


Haworth and Surroundings

Haworth Bronte Parsonage Museum
The above photographs of Haworth Village appear by courtesy of www.bronte-country.com

A taste of the moors:

A walk from the Bronte Parsonage Museum around Penistone Hill, an area of moorland on the Brontes’ doorstep! Hear about the sisters’ love of the moors, and readings from Wuthering Heights. Distance: 1 mile. Moderate

Haworth village:

A walk to discover the Haworth of the Brontes’ time - not quite how it is now, though many of the original buildings remain! Distance: 1 mile. Easy

Keighley at the time of the Brontes:

A walk around the Brontes’ nearest town to discover the places they would have known and visited. Distance: 2 miles. Easy

Ponden Hall - model for ‘Thrushcross Grange’?:

A walk from the Bronte Parsonage Museum across the moors, following part of the Bronte Way to Ponden Hall. Was this the model for ‘Thrushcross Grange – or Wuthering Heights’? Distance: 5 miles, using local bus to return to Haworth. Hard. […] tbc

Top Withens: inspiration for Wuthering Heights?:

A walk from the Bronte Parsonage Museum across the moors via the Bronte Waterfall, to Top Withens, said to be the inspiration for the home of the Earnshaws and Heathcliff. The surroundings are certainly ‘wuthering’, but does the house match Emily’s description? Distance: 6 miles (using local bus for last 2 miles), or 8 miles. Hard


Shirley Country

Oakwell Hall
The above photograph of Oakwell Hall appears by courtesy of Dave Cropper Photography

Mary Taylor Walk, friend of Charlotte Bronte:

A walk from Red House, the home of Charlotte’s lifelong friend, Mary Taylor, and model for ‘Briarmains’ in Shirley, seeing places Mary Taylor would have known. Return to the Red House for a guided tour of the house (optional), and a chance to see the exhibition, ‘The Secret’s Out’. Distance: 3.5 miles. Moderate

Oakwell Hall: from ‘Fieldhead’ to ‘Briarmains’:

A walk from Oakwell Hall, the model for ‘Fieldhead’, Shirley’s home, to Red House, ‘Briarmains’, home of the radical Yorke family in Charlotte Bronte’s novel. Return to Oakwell Hall via St. Peter’s Church, (‘Briarfield Church’), to see Ellen Nussey’s grave. Optional guided tour of the Oakwell Hall. Lunch available at the café. Distance: 2 miles. Easy

Shirley and the Luddites:

A walk from outside Spenborough Pool, Bradford Road, Liversedge to see places associated with the Luddite uprising of 1812 described in Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Shirley. Return via Clough House, Hightown, the home of Patrick & Maria Bronte at that time. Distance 2.5 miles. Moderate


Shibden Hall

Shibden Hall Shibden Hall boat house
The above photograph of Shibden Hall appears by courtesy of Dave Cropper Photography

Shibden Hall: the Wuthering Heights connection:

A walk from Shibden Park Boathouse, Shibden Hall Road, Halifax to Law Hill, to see the other area that inspired Emily Bronte’s famous novel! Hear the story of Jack Sharp, possibly the real-life model for Heathcliff! Return to Shibden Hall. Refreshments available in the onsite cafés. Optional Guided Tour of Shibden Hall. Distance 3.5 miles. Hard


Thornton

Thornton Village
The above photograph of Thornton appears by courtesy of www.bronte-country.com

Thornton - Birthplace of the Brontes:

A walk from the Old Bell Chapel in Thornton, through the village to see the Bronte Birthplace and Kipping House, the home of their good friends, the Firths. Return via the Old Bell Chapel. Distance: 1.5 miles. Easy

The Bronte Way to Moscow !

A walk from the Old Bell Chapel, Thornton, following in the footsteps of Patrick Bronte as he did his parish round, from Denholme to Moscow (in Thornton!). Distance: 4.5 miles. Hard.


Key to Walks

Easy: mainly on the flat, usually in villages or towns.

Moderate: some slopes, stiles and off-road footpaths

Hard: may include steep slopes, stiles and rough, boggy ground

Walking at Red House

For more information, please contact me.