Kathy Hamilton For a Brontë fan, to visit Haworth feels like a pilgrimage. The village, nestled in the heart of West Yorkshire was home to Anne, Emily and Charlotte Brontë and provided the inspiration for all of their works. Visiting here brings their world to life.
Set amongst glorious rolling hills and moorland, Haworth is one of the region’s most famous villages, thanks to it’s three most famous residents. However, there’s a lot more to do here. There’s something for every fan when they visit Haworth. The legacy of the Brontë sisters is felt throughout the surrounding area. From the Parsonage they called home to the wild Yorkshire moors they loved to walk in.
What To Do When You Visit Haworth
Home to 6,379 permanent residents, Haworth is a thriving place. The Old Main Street has a collection of independent and antique shops as well as some delicious cafes, restaurants and pubs. Two personal favourites include The Black Bull, where Branwell Bronte’s chair still resides. And The Hawthorn, a cosy Georgian restaurant that was once home to a famed clock maker.
The Brontë Parsonage
The first stop for most fans is the Brontë Parsonage. Nowadays it is home to a museum dedicated to the Brontë family, run by the Brontë Society. For modern fans, this is a cornucopia of delights. The Parsonage is largely restored to how it looked when the Bronte family lived there. And The Brontë Collections housed here are the largest and most important in the world.
Particular treats are the tiny books of juvenalia, the table all three sisters sat down to write at as well as Charlotte’s dress. As a huge fan, it was moving to see the rooms as the Brontë ‘s would have seen them.
Considering how private the sisters were in their own lifetimes the Brontë Parsonage houses an amazing array of artefacts relating to their lives. For this, we have Charlotte’s husband to thank. After her tragic death, he set about cementing her legacy alongside that of her sisters. As such, from the 1850s onwards the Parsonage has been a pilgrimage site for ardent fans.
Tickets and Times
Opening Times:
The Brontë Museum is open to visitors from 10.00am every day. You can find detail information about ticket prices here.
Useful Tip: Your ticket to the Brontë Museum is valid for a year and also entitles you to access any special exhibitions.
St. Michael and All Angels Church
St. Michael and All Angels Church sits within a stone’s throw of the Brontë Parsonage. It’s a beautiful village Church, although it’s not the original structure the Brontë sisters would have known. This being the third Church to inhabit the same site. However, no visit to Haworth is complete without stepping inside its doors. Inside the church, close to the altar, is the memorial stone of Charlotte and Emily Brontë. Anne is buried in Scarborough. It’s a particularly moving place, and a perfect reason to reflect on their short lives.
Tickets and Times
The church is usually open daily and is free to enter. Although do bear in mind that it is a working church and as such there may be services.
Top Withens (Inspiration for Wuthering Heights)
If you find yourself in the mood for a particularly bracing walk, channelling Emily’s love of the moors, a hike to Top Withens is a must. Its location is rumoured to have inspired Wuthering Heights and as you leave the village behind and emerge into the glory of the Yorkshire moors it’s impossible not to feel invigorated. I also found myself with a growing respect for the Brontë sisters, imagining them tackling the walk, with rougher roads and dressed in full Victorian gear. It was tough enough for me, clad as I was in hiking boots, trousers and a raincoat!
The circular route takes in the Brontë Falls, famously described by Charlotte Brontë as a ‘perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful’. We saw the Falls after heavy rain, and they were amazing. Although this did make getting there slightly more difficult. On the return route, you’ll also walk past Lower Laithe Reservoir, a beauty of Victorian engineering.
You can begin the walk from Haworth and it’s a stunning route and well worth the effort involved. Just make sure you pack enough water, as there are no places to fill up along the way.
You can see a map of the route here. Although be warned, this is an 8 mile (13.39 km) round trip across open country. As a result, the walk is unsuitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and small children.
Tickets and Times
The Moors surrounding Haworth are open to the public all year and are free to walkers.
Useful Tip: Keep an eye out for birds as you walk, with peregrines, curlews, merlins and golden plovers all breeding around Haworth Moor.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Did you know Haworth has another literary connection? The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway line and its stations have been used in numerous period film and television productions including the films The Railway Children and Testament of Youth.
For enthusiasts of steam locomotives, it’s a perfect addition for a visit to Haworth. Offering scheduled steam train journeys every weekend of the year as well as events and locomotive galas.
Tickets and Times
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway runs steam trains between Keighley railway station and Haworth railway station at weekends, bank holidays and daily in summer. You can find detailed times and prices here.
Planning Your Visit to Haworth
So after reading about its delights, hopefully you want to visit Haworth! The next step is working out how to get there.
Getting to Haworth
Haworth is in West Yorkshire, 43 miles from Manchester, eight miles west of Bradford and three miles south of Keighley.
Flying:
If you are planning to fly to Haworth from somewhere outside of England you have two Airport options. Leeds Bradford to the East and Manchester to the West. Both airports offer national and international flight options and have easy to access public transport routes towards Haworth.
Public Transport:
Starting from Leeds: Catch a local train to Keighley. Then, if you’re planning a summer trip you can even catch the steam train mentioned above from Keighley to Haworth! Alternatively, from Keighley you can take the aptly named Bronte Bus (B3) to Haworth.
Journey Time: 1 Hour 12 Minutes
Starting from Manchester:
Head to Manchester Victoria station and jump on the train going towards Hebden Bridge. From here, you also catch the Bronte Bus (B3) to Haworth.
Journey Time: 2 Hours 3 Minutes
For more information on trains and train timetables click here.
