Walk from Haworth to Bronte Waterfall

The walk is approximately 2¾ miles long, most of the walk is on reasonable footpaths, as you get near to the Bronte waterfall, it can be muddy in parts and there are some uneven steps. Advisable to wear sensible walking shoes.

From Tourist Centre head down Main St towards Church

Take a 360º view Haworth Main St by the Tourist Information Centre here…

Ordnance map here… (external link opens in a new window)

By the church steps, look out for the stocks. In the past the offender was put in them for a period of time as punishment.

The gift shop by the stocks was the post office from where the Brontes sent their manuscripts.

There is some confusion over which property on the Main St is the actual Post Office during the Brontes In the Trade Directory it states that between 1830-1857 William Hartley was Postmaster at Haworth, a  map of Haworth 1853 clearly shows the property in the photograph as the Post Office. 

In 1861 Edwin Feather became Postmaster, the post Office  located to another property, the Brontes were all dead by this time.

To confuse matters a book by Claude Meeker “Haworth home of the Brontes” (1895) claims a Samuel Feather as being the Postmaster. There is no known record of him as a Postmaster or living in Haworth. It has to be noted that at the time this book was published there was considerable interest in the Brontes and all sorts of claims were made.

Information about the Brontes here…

On the left of the path there is a font from the old church. It is inscribed William Grimshaw, A.B Minister AD 1742.

In 1742 he moved to Haworth where it is said Christianity was in decline. Very soon, due to Grimshaw’s passionate style of preaching it is claimed that over a thousand people came to hear him.

William Grimshaw being a close friend of John Wesley contributed to the establishment of the Methodist system, helping to build a Methodist Chapel in Haworth in 1748. Grimshaw died of fever, aged 55 in 1763 and is buried at St Mary’s Church, Luddenden.

Past the iron Kissing-gate, one of the paving slabs has a face carved in it. This was carved by Eric Sawley who was born in the 1920’s. He lived at Rock St Keighley and this stone was carved there by him when he was about ten. The council demolished Rock St and the paving stones were brought to Haworth. 

Tom Mix (1880-1940) was an actor mostly in silent movies. His career spanned from 1909-1935. He was in 336 films mostly westerns, where he would do his own stunts. He is one of  the figures on the front cover of the Beatles Sgt Peppers album.

Main rd junction, cross over, continue down the road, take the path left.

You can see Lower Laithe Reservoir started in 1914, work was delayed due to the Great War. It was officially finished on Tuesday 27th January 1925 when the Major of Keighley (Robert Calverley) closed the valves. It holds 281 million gallons of water. Click on panorama for detail.

Continue along the track crossing a cattle grid.

The next part of the walk is on open moorland and is an area of Special Scientific Interest, it is renowned for birds that breed here. These include Curlew, Golden Plover Peregrine and Merlin. Mid-March to mid-July is the crucial time for these birds as they court, make nests in the heather and grass, lay eggs and raise chicks. It is essential to their survival that you respect their habitat. 

You can help by: Keeping dogs under control, not to start fires, move away if you see an agitated bird, take your litter home.