Jonathan’s View “A literary landscape of industry, moors and deep valleys” About Bronte Country Bronte Country covers the area of moors north of Hebden Bridge and south of Keighley stretching east to west from Burnley towards Bradford. It is an area of vast moors riven with deep valleys. In the valleys are tucked away villages and small towns with an obvious industrial past. Mills abound and history is spread out before you. The walking is generally through wild moors and big open skies. There is little to distract the eye except birds and the distance views of the prevailing weather. Haworth Oakworth Station The centre of Bronte Country is the village of Haworth. Set on the side of one of the steep valleys the cobbled streets and traditional shops reflect a bygone era. Haworth was the home of the Bronte Sisters, Emily, Charlotte and Anne, our world renowned authors. Wuthering Heights, Emma, Jane Eyre and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall are their most famous offering and a whole industry has grown up around them. The Bronte Parsonage is where the sisters lived and open to the public The church where their father worked and graveyard are next to the house and many of the walks they took are nearby. (I will not mention the recent film, not even filmed near Haworth). However Haworth is also famous as the site of the Worth Valley steam railway and the setting for the film the Railway Children. The old fashioned stations and steam combine with the old fashioned village to make for a popular trip. Hebden Bridge Hebden Bridge is a sprawling linear village tucked within some steep side moors and accompanied by the River Calder. There are many interesting shops and the history reflected by the remains of the cotton mills which really is the areas history. Happy Valley was set here and within the series their are some excellent views reflecting its character. Away from the villages there is some high moorland interspersed with deep valleys. The deep valleys are perfect for the siting of reservoirs, of which there are many. Any Pennine Way walkers will be familiar with the terrain, wild and moody before they pass north towards the Dales. The Best Walks in Bronte Country Click on the links below for further details of my favourite walks in the area. Railway Children Walk. A popular walk visiting many of the sights of the Railway Children film. Discover Wuthering Heights. A classic landscape of wind swept moors and desolate ruins A Walk up Penistone Hill. A short walk from Haworth in the footsteps of Heathcliffe. Keighley Moor . A pretty reservoir tucked in to the moors with just birdsong around Ovenden Moor & Oxenhope. A long walk with outstanding views across high moorlands Moors & Reservoirs at Heptonstall. An remote walk taking in a section of the Pennine Way Other Things to do Bronte Parsonage Museum. The lifelong home of the Bronte sisters has exhibitions and memorabilia reflecting the era and how they lived.
