Discover Haworth through two distinctive themes: the Brontës’ lives and literary history, and the surrounding moorland. You can plan your stay around whether you’re most interested in visiting literary sites or exploring trails and scenery. The different routes and the historic railway also offer their own ways to experience Brontë Country.
Literary history and architectural heritage
At the parsonage, now home to the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë wrote works including “Jane Eyre”, “Wuthering Heights” and “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall”. The house was the family home from 1820 to 1861. The museum houses a collection of Brontë manuscripts, artworks, and household and personal items. The site is therefore connected not only with the famous novels, but also with objects from the family’s life.
When planning your museum visit, note that admission is not tied to a time slot; last entry is at 4 pm. Check the visitor information again before you travel. Haworth Conservation Area, with more than 80 listed buildings, is another part of the area’s architectural heritage. Another literary landmark is the Brontë family grave in the nave of St Michael & All Angels Church in Haworth. The Brontë Bridge is also considered one of the Brontë sisters’ favourite places.
Moorland and trails
Penistone Hill Country Park lies just outside Haworth. Its 72 hectares of moorland offer a range of walking trails for different ability levels. The park also features old quarries and small ponds. For a clearly defined route, try the self-guided Brontë Connection Walk, which follows the Pennine Way across Haworth Moor to Top Withins Farm.
Top Withens is a ruined farmhouse on Haworth Moor near Haworth, with expansive views across Brontë Country. The Brontë Waterfalls are most impressive after heavy rain. These features give the landscape trails different focuses: the park highlights moorland and walking trails, while the Connection Walk crosses Haworth Moor to a named destination. The Brontë Way, meanwhile, is a walking trail outside Haworth that links important places in the history of the Brontë family.
Other ways to experience Brontë Country
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is another part of the regional experience: this historic railway runs from Keighley to Oxenhope through Brontë Country and offers a five-mile journey. It’s a different way to explore than on foot: the focus here is a ride on the historic railway, while the park and walking trails let you explore the landscape on foot.
When choosing what to do, it helps to keep the different highlights in mind. The parsonage museum, the grave and the Brontë Bridge each lead to different aspects of Brontë history; Penistone Hill, the moorland trails and the waterfalls draw attention to the landscape. The routes also serve different purposes: the Brontë Connection Walk leads to Top Withins Farm, the Brontë Way links important places from the family’s history, and Penistone Hill Country Park has trails for different ability levels. This way, you can explore Haworth according to your interest in literature, moorland or both, without trying to combine every experience into a single outing.
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