25th February 2024 - Stanbury Moor and Top Withins
Walk Details
Distance walked: 7.9 miles
Total ascent: 1292 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Penistone Hill Country Park-Bronte Way-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-The Height-Pennine Way-Ponden Slack-Ponden Clough-Middle Moor Clough-Alcomden Stones-Stanbury Moor-Top Withins-Pennine Way-South Dean Beck-Harbour Lodge-Haworth Moor-Moor Side Lane-Penistone Hill Country Park
It was a spur of the moment decision to head out for a walk today as I couldn't resist the temptation of better than expected weather. Given that I'd left it late it had to be local, so I made the short drive across the moors to Bronte Country for a walk across Stanbury Moor and Haworth Moor, all very familiar territory. There was low cloud on the moor tops when I arrived at Penistone Hill Country Park at 1100, but the sun was already breaking through, and it didn't take long for the cloud to lift and break up to give some late winter sunshine for the afternoon. Worth heading out for.
From the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park I crossed Moor Side Lane and took the Bronte Way west along the track then footpath down to Bronte Bridge, crossed it, and followed it up onto the moorland of The Height. I joined the Pennine Way here, and that took me north down to Ponden Reservoir, and up past Ponden Hall before leaving it for a track on the left that I followed up onto the moorland of Ponden Slack. A footpath was taken from here up to and along the northern edge of Ponden Clough to Ponden Kirk, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way from Ponden Kirk along a path up Middle Moor Clough to the Alcomden Stones, then to the trig point on Stanbury Moor, then to the ruins of Top Withins. I briefly followed the Pennine Way north from here before taking a footpath on the right down into the valley of South Dean Beck, leaving that footpath for another on the right down to and across two footbridges and up across the moor towards Harbour Hill. I followed the footpath around Harbour Hill and down to Harbour Lodge, where I got onto a track that took me east across Haworth Moor to Moor Side Lane, and back to the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park.
Total ascent: 1292 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 4.5 hrs
Route description: Penistone Hill Country Park-Bronte Way-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-The Height-Pennine Way-Ponden Slack-Ponden Clough-Middle Moor Clough-Alcomden Stones-Stanbury Moor-Top Withins-Pennine Way-South Dean Beck-Harbour Lodge-Haworth Moor-Moor Side Lane-Penistone Hill Country Park
It was a spur of the moment decision to head out for a walk today as I couldn't resist the temptation of better than expected weather. Given that I'd left it late it had to be local, so I made the short drive across the moors to Bronte Country for a walk across Stanbury Moor and Haworth Moor, all very familiar territory. There was low cloud on the moor tops when I arrived at Penistone Hill Country Park at 1100, but the sun was already breaking through, and it didn't take long for the cloud to lift and break up to give some late winter sunshine for the afternoon. Worth heading out for.
From the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park I crossed Moor Side Lane and took the Bronte Way west along the track then footpath down to Bronte Bridge, crossed it, and followed it up onto the moorland of The Height. I joined the Pennine Way here, and that took me north down to Ponden Reservoir, and up past Ponden Hall before leaving it for a track on the left that I followed up onto the moorland of Ponden Slack. A footpath was taken from here up to and along the northern edge of Ponden Clough to Ponden Kirk, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way from Ponden Kirk along a path up Middle Moor Clough to the Alcomden Stones, then to the trig point on Stanbury Moor, then to the ruins of Top Withins. I briefly followed the Pennine Way north from here before taking a footpath on the right down into the valley of South Dean Beck, leaving that footpath for another on the right down to and across two footbridges and up across the moor towards Harbour Hill. I followed the footpath around Harbour Hill and down to Harbour Lodge, where I got onto a track that took me east across Haworth Moor to Moor Side Lane, and back to the car park at Penistone Hill Country Park.
Route map
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A misty view across the Worth Valley to Oakworth before I set off
Following the Bronte Way towards Bronte Bridge..
Looking back down on Bronte Bridge as I take the footpath up onto the moorland of The Height
and across the valley of South Dean Beck to Haworth Moor, Harbour Lodge, and Oxenhope Stoop Hill
Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir from The Height
Ponden Reservoir comes into view below as I join the Pennine Way
Following the Pennine Way down to Ponden Reservoir..
Ponden Hall sits on the hillside above
Ponden Reservoir from above before I leave the Pennine Way and head for Ponden Clough
Making my way up the track onto the moorland of Ponden Slack. I'll leave it for a footpath up the hillside on the left.
I join another track along the northern side of Ponden Clough
My lunch stop with a view down Ponden Clough to Ponden Reservoir
Before I move on I take in the view from Ponden Kirk
I leave the path along the top of Ponden Clough for one up Middle Moor Clough to Alcomden Stones
At the Alcomden Stones. Looking down Walshaw Dean towards Heptonstall Moor. That patch of water in the distance is Gorple Lower Reservoir.
Looking northeast across Middle Moor to Oakworth Moor
The crest of Boulsworth Hill to the west beyond the top of Walshaw Dean
The gentle rise of Round Hill to the south
Looking back to the Alcomden Stones as I follow the path to the trig point on Stanbury Moor
At the trig point on Stanbury Moor. Boulsworth Hill and Crow Hill in the distance to the west and northwest.
Looking north across to Wolf Stones and Oakworth Moor
Making my way to Top Withins and I have great views across Bronte Country to enjoy...
At the ruins of Top Withins
From Top Withins I follow the Pennine Way, then the path down to and beside South Dean Beck..
Looking back up to Top Withins and Stanbury Moor
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Crossing the footbridges over South Dean Beck..
Looking back to Stanbury Moor as I follow the footpath between Harbour Hill and Oxenhope Edge
Heading down to Harbour Lodge
Following the track east across Haworth Moor to Moor Side Lane
The slopes of Stairs Hill and Oxenhope Stoop Hill to my right
Looking back to Harbour Lodge with Oxenhope Stoop Hill on the left
Penistone Hill is back in sight at the end of a very enjoyable walk