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27th August 2017 - Haworth Moor and Stanbury Moor

Walk Details

Distance walked: 10.6 miles

Total ascent: 1752 ft

OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines

Time taken: 6.5 hrs

Route description: Stanbury-Back Lane-Bronte Way-Bronte Bridge-Forks House-Harbour Lodge-Oxenhope Edge-Oxenhope Stoop Hill-Dick Delf Hill-Pennine Way-Top Withins-Delf Hill-Alcomden Stones-Delf Hill-Top Withins-Pennine Way-Ponden Reservoir-Pennine Way-Dean Fields-Oldfield Lane-Hob Lane-Stanbury


A walk relatively close to home today with a visit to the Worth valley in Bronte Country. July last year was my last one and with the heather in bloom on the moors now was a good time to head back. Stanbury was again my start point and gave me good options for making up a route that takes in the moors around the head of the Worth valley. Today I took in part of Haworth Moor, the moors of the watershed between Calderdale and the Worth valley, Stanbury Moor, the Alcomden Stones and the area around Ponden Reservoir. I set off from Stanbury with sunny spells but these soon disappeared as it clouded over. Fortunately they returned after lunchtime and it turned into a lovely summer's afternoon for being on the moors, especially with the heather still putting on a good display.

​From the layby just of east of Stanbury I walked west through the village, then left up Back Lane. Just after a fork in the road I took a footpath on the left that descended to and crossed South Dean Beck to head up to and join the Bronte Way to Bronte Bridge. I crossed Bronte Bridge, continued on the path west past the ruins of Forks House and took a path down to and across South Dean Beck, then east to Round Hill and Harbour Lodge (this path was a bit difficult to follow). From Harbour Lodge a path took me round the south side of Harbour Hill and then up onto Oxenhope Stoop Hill, where a clear path follows the watershed west to the Pennine Way. I then followed the Pennine Way to the ruins of Top Withins before leaving it for the trig point on the top of Stanbury Moor and the Alcomden Stones. After paying these a visit I returned to Top Withins. From Top Withins I took the path north of the Pennine Way before picking it up further down to follow down to and around Ponden Reservoir to the road by the reservoir. I crossed the road and kept on the trail up to Dean Fields and the road above. I followed this road east and then took the bridleway down to Oldfield Lane, and at the bottom of Oldfield Lane, Hob Lane was reached for the return to Stanbury taking a field path that avoids the road and goes past the back of the village.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Walking through Stanbury at the start of the walk
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Ponden Reservoir and the Worth valley as I leave Stanbury
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Haworth Moor..
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..and Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir as I head down to cross South Dean Beck
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Heading for Bronte Bridge
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Looking down South Dean Beck to Stanbury
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Bronte Bridge and Bronte Waterfalls
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The last of the sun for now on Harbour Hill
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Stanbury in the distance after I crossed South Dean Beck and took..
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..the path to Harbour Lodge
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Hare Hill Edge and Stanbury
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and Haworth Moor from Harbour Lodge
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Round the back of Harbour Hill for the path up onto Oxenhope Stoop Hill
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The view becomes much more extensive as I head uphill and now includes the hills around Skipton and Airedale
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and as I gain the ridge the moors around Calderdale appear
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The heather still in bloom brightens up the moors
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Withins Height and Delf Hill from Dick Delf Hill
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The moorland ridge is left for the Pennine Way to Top Withins
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I have a great view of the Worth valley down to Haworth
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Approaching the ruins of Top Withins
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Straight on past Top Withins though for the Alcomden Stones. I'll be heading back to Top Withins later.
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The crest of Boulsworth Hill rises to the west. This is a great place to be on a fine summer's afternoon with the heather in bloom.
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The Worth valley and the moors of Bronte country
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The moors above Calderdale to the southwest
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Round Hill and Withins Height
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It was quite by chance that I happened to notice that this perched boulder looked familiar. Now I know where my South Pennines map cover photo was taken.
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Hints of the fells of the Yorkshire Dales to the north above the moorland of Wolf Stones
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Leaving the Alcomden Stones behind
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Oakworth Moor and the Worth valley
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Boulsworth Hill from the trig point on Stanbury Moor. The bump of Pendle Hill can be seen peeping over the moor on the right.
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The moors of Bronte country
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A short time later and I'm back at the ruins of Top Withins
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I didn't take the Pennine Way from Top Withins but a path that runs across the hillside above it. Looking back to the ruins, marked by the lone tree near the top of the hill.
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Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir from the Pennine Way..
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..down to Ponden Reservoir
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By Ponden Reservoir..
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Blue skies above me as I follow the Pennine Way up to Dean Fields
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and the Worth valley below me
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Nearly back in Stanbury as I pass the Old Silent Inn
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Oldfield on the other side of the Worth valley
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Back in Stanbury

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
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  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
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