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.
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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Walking through Stanbury at the start of the walk
Ponden Reservoir and the Worth valley as I leave Stanbury
Haworth Moor..
..and Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir as I head down to cross South Dean Beck
Heading for Bronte Bridge
Looking down South Dean Beck to Stanbury
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Bronte Bridge and Bronte Waterfalls
The last of the sun for now on Harbour Hill
Stanbury in the distance after I crossed South Dean Beck and took..
..the path to Harbour Lodge
Hare Hill Edge and Stanbury
and Haworth Moor from Harbour Lodge
Round the back of Harbour Hill for the path up onto Oxenhope Stoop Hill
The view becomes much more extensive as I head uphill and now includes the hills around Skipton and Airedale
and as I gain the ridge the moors around Calderdale appear
The heather still in bloom brightens up the moors
Withins Height and Delf Hill from Dick Delf Hill
The moorland ridge is left for the Pennine Way to Top Withins
I have a great view of the Worth valley down to Haworth
Approaching the ruins of Top Withins
Straight on past Top Withins though for the Alcomden Stones. I'll be heading back to Top Withins later.
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.
The Worth valley and the moors of Bronte country
The moors above Calderdale to the southwest
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.
Hints of the fells of the Yorkshire Dales to the north above the moorland of Wolf Stones
Leaving the Alcomden Stones behind
Oakworth Moor and the Worth valley
Boulsworth Hill from the trig point on Stanbury Moor. The bump of Pendle Hill can be seen peeping over the moor on the right.
The moors of Bronte country
A short time later and I'm back at the ruins of Top Withins
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.
Stanbury and Lower Laithe Reservoir from the Pennine Way..
..down to Ponden Reservoir
By Ponden Reservoir..
Blue skies above me as I follow the Pennine Way up to Dean Fields
and the Worth valley below me
Nearly back in Stanbury as I pass the Old Silent Inn
Oldfield on the other side of the Worth valley
Back in Stanbury