Winter Walks, with Ron Freethy - around Haworth

BECAUSE of its close associations with the Bronte sisters, it is not often realised what wonderful walking country there is around Haworth.

Neither is it realised just how easy it is to reach Haworth from East Lancashire.

From Laneshawbridge, just outside Colne, it only takes 20 minutes to Haworth. No wonder Charlotte Bronte was a regular visitor to the Gawthorpe Hall, the home of the Shuttleworth family.

Much of the route between Haworth and Padiham would still be recognised by Miss Bronte even though around 150 years have gone by.

Winter walking in and around Haworth is by far the best idea because the Parsonage Museum in summer is often bursting at the seams and parking is at a premium. The museums, pubs and restaurants are also packed to capacity.

There is a wonderful walk up to Ponden Reservoir. Here Canada geese are resident. Here they are often found by wigeon, teal, pochard and tufted duck, plus occasional sightings of goldeneye and goosander.

Although the Bronte girls knew the Ponden area well, they would not have known of the reservoir which was built in the 1880s. They would, however, have recognised the river Worth surrounded by hawthorn trees (hence the name Haw-worth). I followed the river and watched dippers flying around the old stone bridges.

Overlooking the valley at this point is the Old Silent Inn, built as three cottages around 1700. It is said to have taken its name from the days of Bonnie Prince Charlie when his army of 1745 was in full retreat. He is alleged to have taken refuge at the inn and local folk were told to keep silent regarding his whereabouts.

This theme itself would have made an excellent novel but the Bronte girls found enough inspiration in the local area to write such masterpieces as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

Haworth itself stands astride a hilltop and its main street sweeps down into the valley. Here is the Worth Valley steam railway, which runs down to Keighley. It was here that the film The Railway Children was set.

There are splendid walks linking the stations and it was along this route in June that I watched four fox cubs playing close to their den. They ignored the steam train passing because they were accustomed to this sound, while still within the vixen's womb.

Haworth consists of a sloping cobbled street overlooked by old weavers lofts, ginnals and gritstone dwellings perched on steep outcroppings of the same sombre coloured rocks.

The noise of looms and the clatter of packhorse hooves have been replaced by the footsteps of tourists and the tinkle of teacups from the cafes.

The Bronte connection should be celebrated and the Parsonage Museum is one of the best organised of its type in Britain.

There is, however, more to Haworth than the Brontes. At Ponden there is a smashing mill shop. I love the wonderful winter walks on offer and the refreshments at the Old Silent Inn.

The locals may have kept silent about Bonnie Prince Charlie. I refuse to stay silent about this wonderful and well signed countryside and Haworth can be a winter wonderland within very easy reach of East Lancashire.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.