From Wycoller to Haworth

Over the past weekend, I visited my friends in Burnley, Lancashire. Sue and I were at school together and our families have been friends since then. We have seen each other's children grow up and she now has four grandchildren. When I am back in the UK, I usually try to spend a couple of days with her, so this time I was looking forward to our brief time together.

As part of our 'getting fitter' regime, Sue invited me to join her on a walk from Wycoller to Haworth, a distance of nine miles across moorland. It was a fine day and not too warm; ideal for walking. This is one of the Bronte walks, so named because the Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) walked extensively in East Lancashire and West Yorshire gaining inspiration for their famous novels.

Wycoller is a popular place for a short walk, with its unusual bridges over the stream, which crosses the road, creating a shallow ford. The ruin of Wycoller Hall, believed to be the location of Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre is next to the stream. It has a huge inglenook fireplace, and visitors are still free to roam at will all over the site.

Currently, there are several willow structures which have been errected beside the stream, including this interesting horseback rider.

Leaving Wycoller the path climbs over the moors, providing magnificent views down into the valleys, many of which have small reservoirs. Crossing over this bridge we noticed how the iron minerals in the rock had leached out, oxidizing and staining the rocks below. As we walked back onto the path, after taking this photo, we noticed how the sound of the water running under the bridge gradually grew softer and softer and we spend a few minutes walking back and forth listening to the crescendos and diminuendos created in that environment.

At the border between the two counties there is a stone plaque, which was sited in 1986, naming the path as the Bronte Way. It also contains a red rose for Lancashire and white rose for Yorkshire. I of course stood on the Lancashire side, as I was born in Blackpool.

Further along we saw these stone steps, outside Ponden Hall, which would have been used for climbing into the carriages. I had been reminded of the enormous size of these carriages when I visited Shugborough Hall with 'the mums' (previous post).

We saw plenty of sheep and lambs, so here are a few; white with black faces and feet..

...pure white...
...and all black.



We took our time and were overtaken by several hardy walkers along the way. By the time we reached Haworth, six hours later our legs were aching and we were glad of a hot chocolate in the village. This is the Haworth parsonage, where the Bronte family lived. The home is open to the public and I have been round many years ago.



Sue's husband Henry met us in Haworth and drove us back to Burnley, where a welcome hot bath was waiting for us.