A Walk in Haworth

Though I've forgone any of those 'must do more exercise' type resolutions, a nice wintery walk in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside is pretty much the best way to  start a new year! 

Haworth is one of my favourite places to go walking (or even just to go). It's close enough, has an adorable village full of quaint tea rooms and cosy pubs as a start and finish point, and is always full of friendly, funny dogs. It's also not too long or intense for those of use recovering from two weeks of eating celebrations in front of the tv, or ill-prepared for the fickle Yorkshire weather. 

(By which I mean, yes - despite getting them out and ready, I forgot to actually pick up the gloves and hats I'd set aside - and it can be a wee bit breezy up on t'moors!)

Ah well, at least the sun was shining! 

It's a popular spot for walking, both with those who enjoy a little potter in the great outdoors, and with those literaty fans who flock to the area becasue of its association with the Bronte sisters. You can follow the path from their home at the Parsonage to the (alleged) setting of Wuthering Heights, taking in a couple of the writers favourite spots along the way. 

We met a few folk who must have been doing this particular route for the first time as they seemed distinctly unimpressed by the pretty but barely discernable trickle that is the Bronte Waterfall. "Is that it?" Yes, yes it really is! 

After crossing the (conveniently named) Bronte Bridge, we could choose to keep wandering to Top Withens (the ruined farmhouse said to be the inspiration for the setting od Emily Bronte's famous novel), or to start heading back towards civilization (by which I mean 'the pub'). 

Slightly ashamed to admit we thought it best to leave the longer walk to a warmer day and take the short route back LIKE THE COWARDS THAT WE ARE. 

The return route took us past some very chilled out sheep and through the little village of Stanbury, where we called into 'The Friendly' for a quick drink before setting off on the home stretch - past Ponden Reservoir and back to the comforting arms of Haworth! 

I had intended on visiting the Bronte Parsonage Museum when we got back to the village, inspired by the TV screening of 'To Walk Invisible' just a few days before .... but it seemed like I wasn't the only one to have the same idea, as the museum was rammed and the whole village was busier than I've ever seen it before (I couldn't even find a table at any of the tea rooms!) so we decided we'd save that too for a future visit - though I did manage to stock up on sweets at Mrs Beighton's, and buy myself a Wuthering Heights colouring book from the museum shop (queen nerd!) 

We did find some surprise chickens playing out in the graveyard! I'd only expected sheep so these friendly little fellas made me smile... then it was back to the car to see if we could track down some decent cake on the way home!