Guest post by Rosie Preston-Cook, who lives in Haworth, West Yorkshire and blogs at www.busymumlifestyle.co.uk about health, wellbeing and family life. As well as blogging she works as a communications manager for the NHS. Her family is 11-month-old Seth, 15 year old Harry, husband Stuart and Darcey the Basset Hound. Follow Rosie on social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.
Situated ten miles out of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Haworth, not only has a fascinating history, but it is a great spot for a day out or a weekend break.
The village would most certainly have been another forgotten Yorkshire place if an Irish vicar had not made his way there in 1820. He was Patrick Bronte and his children were Charlotte Bronte, Anne Bronte and Emily Bronte, writers of some of the most famous literature of the 19th century. Fans now flock to see where famous novels including Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall were penned.
In addition, Haworth boasts breathtaking scenery, quirky independent shops, cafes, and restaurants along with a steam railway. At the centre of all this are the famous Haworth cobbles.
Here are just a few things to do in Haworth.
Steam Railway
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a beautiful steam railway running from the village of Oxenhope through Haworth and to Keighley. If it looks familiar it was used as the setting for The Railway Children film from the 1970s. They also do a host of events including a beer festival and a range of Christmas trips for children.
Shopping
If you want quirky shops Haworth has them this in bucket-loads. You will be hard-pushed to find a more eclectic selection. Shops include unusual gifts, art, books, photography along with chocolate treats and an old-fashioned sweet shop.
The Cabinet of Curiosity at the top of the Main Street is famous for being a regular haunt of the ill-fated Bronte brother Branwell who bought his opium there when it was an apothecary. It is now a delightful shop with some lovely individual products.
I’ve only mentioned a few of the great shops on the Main Street. You really need to visit yourself to see the great selection of offer.
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Probably the most famous building in the village is the Bronte Parsonage Museum at the top of the Main Street. It is a treasure trove of artefacts from the lives of the Brontes, with everything from clothes and furniture to writing equipment and toys.
Seeing the humble residence of the Brontes really drives home the magnitude of their achievements. At a time when women enjoyed few privileges and fewer rights; the vote not arriving for another century. A range of events take place each year and the museum also has a great gift shop.
Walking
If you really want to immerse yourself in the Bronte experience a walk to Top Withens is a must. An abandoned farmhouse, Top Withens is thought to be the inspiration for the Earnshaw Home in Wuthering Heights. You can access it via Penistone Moor and to Bronte Waterfall or drive up to Stanbury and walk from there.
You need good walking attire as the weather is often changeable and the footpaths steep. It is a breath-taking walk, with some of the most beautiful scenery in the Yorkshire Dales. It is a fabulous way to see the landscape that inspired the literature.
If you want something a bit less hilly try the Railway Children Walk. It is a circular walk and can be done in sections.
There’s a link here to a full map.
Also, if you have smaller children Haworth’s Central Park is lovely for a stroll around and also has a children’s play area. The park is just across the road from the bottom of the Main Street.
Haworth really does have something to offer everyone from young children to those looking to escape into the countryside. When lockdown restrictions are lifted make sure you head over and see this beautiful part of the world.
