7th September 2014 - Stanbury Moor & Top Withins
Walk Details
Distance walked: 7.3 miles
Total ascent: 1125 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Stanbury-Back Lane-Pennine Way-Ponden Reservoir-Ponden Hall-Ponden Slack-Ponden Kirk-Middle Moor Clough-Alcomden Stones-Delf Hill-Top Withins-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-Moor Side Lane-Stanbury
I stayed fairly close to home for todays walk in Bronte Country on what turned out to be the perfect day for a tramp across the heather moors. Blue skies, fluffy clouds and enough of the heather still in bloom to provide some great colour. The first half of the walk was very quiet and it wasn't until I reached Top Withins that it became busier and I passed a steady stream of people heading up as I was heading down. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.
From the large layby just to the east of Stanbury I walked back through the village along Hob Lane and then left up Back Lane. At the fork in the road I took the right hand one, which I followed to its end. This was where I joined the Pennine Way down to Ponden Reservoir and around to Ponden Hall. Past Ponden Hall I took the track left signposted for Ponden Kirk and then the well signposted path up across the moor to it. From Ponden Kirk I followed a path past a line of grouse butts up Middle Moor Clough and then through the heather to reach the Alcomden Stones. A clear path through the heather took me to the trig point on Delf Hill and across Stanbury Moor to the ruins of Top Withins. My route back was a path down into the valley of South Dean Beck to the Bronte Bridge, the Bronte Way to Moor Side Lane and up Moor Side Lane to Stanbury.
Total ascent: 1125 ft
OS map used: OL21 - South Pennines
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Stanbury-Back Lane-Pennine Way-Ponden Reservoir-Ponden Hall-Ponden Slack-Ponden Kirk-Middle Moor Clough-Alcomden Stones-Delf Hill-Top Withins-Bronte Bridge-Bronte Way-Moor Side Lane-Stanbury
I stayed fairly close to home for todays walk in Bronte Country on what turned out to be the perfect day for a tramp across the heather moors. Blue skies, fluffy clouds and enough of the heather still in bloom to provide some great colour. The first half of the walk was very quiet and it wasn't until I reached Top Withins that it became busier and I passed a steady stream of people heading up as I was heading down. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.
From the large layby just to the east of Stanbury I walked back through the village along Hob Lane and then left up Back Lane. At the fork in the road I took the right hand one, which I followed to its end. This was where I joined the Pennine Way down to Ponden Reservoir and around to Ponden Hall. Past Ponden Hall I took the track left signposted for Ponden Kirk and then the well signposted path up across the moor to it. From Ponden Kirk I followed a path past a line of grouse butts up Middle Moor Clough and then through the heather to reach the Alcomden Stones. A clear path through the heather took me to the trig point on Delf Hill and across Stanbury Moor to the ruins of Top Withins. My route back was a path down into the valley of South Dean Beck to the Bronte Bridge, the Bronte Way to Moor Side Lane and up Moor Side Lane to Stanbury.
Route map
It's a beautiful morning as I set off from Stanbury. The countryside I'll be walking through on the first part of my walk lies ahead. The Worth valley is down to my right and I can see Ponden Reservoir in the distance.
Heading up Back Lane
Looking back on Stanbury and that's Lower Laithe Reservoir on the right
Ponden Reservoir and the Worth valley. I'll soon reach the Pennine Way.
Onto the Pennine Way for a short spell down to and round Ponden Reservoir
Ponden Reservoir from its dam
and a little to the left the steep sided Ponden Clough. I'll be heading up onto the moorland to its right.
Ponden Reservoir from Ponden Hall. This is where I leave the Pennine Way and head for access land.
Onto the open moor
Looking across to the moorland of the Wolf Stones..
..and down the Worth valley
Up into the heather
I really liked this spot as the path crossed Red Mires Beck
Stood on the craggy outcrop at Ponden Kirk and the beck tumbles down the hillside into Ponden Clough
Finally at the Alcomden Stones. From Ponden Kirk I followed a line of grouse butts up Middle Moor Clough and then there was some pathless heather bashing. Ingleborough and Penyghent can be seen in the distance through the gap between Crow Hill and Wolf Stones.
The crest of Boulsworth Hill to the west
Barden Fell, Beamsley Beacon and Middleton Moor in the distance
The moors around Widdop to the southwest. There's a little bit of Lower Gorple Reservoir in view.
Delf Hill. I saw the trig point on it on my way up.
A clear path through the heather will take me to it
Looking back to the Alcomden Stones across a carpet of heather
At the trig point on Delf Hill and it's the perfect day to take in the view from up here. Beyond the nearby moors I can see the outlines of Ingleborough, Penyghent, Buckden Pike and Great Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales.
Boulsworth Hill behind the Alcomden Stones and that bump just poking over the top of the moor on the right is Pendle Hill
Barden Fell and Beamsley Beacon in the distance beyond Oakworth Moor
It isn't a wild and windy moor today
Leaving the trig point behind..
..as I walk above Stanbury Moor..
..to reach the ruins of Top Withins
From Top Withins I then followed the path down into the valley of South Dean Beck to Bronte Bridge
Looking back to the lonely tree at Top Withins
At a very busy Bronte Bridge
Above the valley of South Dean Beck with Stanbury on the hillside in the distance. I'm going to follow the Bronte Way across the northern flank of Haworth Moor to Moor Side Lane.
Looking across to Bully Trees Farm on Stanbury Moor. Oakworth Moor in the distance.
On the Bronte Way..
Lower Laithe Reservoir. Just a short walk up the road to Stanbury.