Step straight into the pages of a Brontë sister novel on this incredibly wild and windswept walk in the West Yorkshire moors. Located in the village of Haworth, within the affectionately termed ‘Brontë Country‘ is a fantastic circular walk to Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens – the remote and ruined farmhouse thought to have inspired Emily’s Wuthering Heights. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the walk, including passing through the historical Penistone Hill Country Park.
We hope you find this guide helpful. For other great nearby walking trails in Yorkshire, read our guides about Hardcastle Crags, Ilkley Moor and Stoodley Pike.
What Is Brontë Waterfall & Top Withens?
Brontë Waterfall is a beautifully quaint and unassuming cascade located in the rugged moorland of Brontë Country. The area is so called because of its association with the Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne. In fact, Top Withens, which is an old dilapidated farmhouse reached on the Brontë Waterfall Walk, is thought to be Emily Brontë’s inspiration for Wuthering Heights, the home of the Earnshaw family in her book of the same name.
Once you’ve been, the wild and beguiling landscape certainly conjures up haunting images of Heathcliff crying out for his lost love. Well, you might need to use a little imagination, but the inspiration is definitely palpable.
The South Dean Beck flows into Brontë Waterfall, which looks much more impressive after a bout of rain.
So, where exactly are Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens located?
Where Is the Brontë Waterfall & Top Withens Walk?
Brontë Waterfall and Top Withins are located near the pretty village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, England. The area falls within the South Pennines and can be reached easily from the major cities of Leeds and Manchester. The walk to reach Top Withins via Brontë Waterfall begins from Haworth and passes through Penistone Hill Country Park, an abandoned quarry.
How to Visit Brontë Waterfall
The only way to visit Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens is via a walk. The walk we’ll describe below begins from Haworth village, before ascending up into the moorland through Penistone Hill Country Park, to Brontë Waterfall and Bridge. Once at the waterfall, you have the option to head back to Haworth or continue on to Top Withins. All in all, the walk takes a few hours to complete, covering a distance of 12km. Indeed, this walk will delight literature fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Brontë Waterfall Walk Map & Stats
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 12km (7.5 miles)
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 310m
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Trailhead: West Lane, Haworth
- Map: Wikiloc
Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk Description
Dan and I began the walk from West Lane in Haworth, as we arrived early enough to grab a free roadside park. From there, we headed into the picturesque village to join the Brontë Waterfall trail at St Michael’s Church. The Brontës’ father was the vicar here, and, with the exception of Anne, you’ll find all of the family interred together in the family tomb. It’s worth checking out as you pass through.
The trail cuts between the church and the Black Bull Pub, where you’ll pass through the church grounds and past Top Car Park (another parking option).
You’ll pass a wooden signpost that will indicate the way to Top Withens and Brontë Falls. Follow the trail for roughly 3.5km, climbing sharply up into Penistone Hill Country Park, before gradually descending into the valley of the waterfall.
Brontë Waterfall
You’ll find Brontë Waterfall tucked into the rock bed of the valley wall on your left. It trickles playfully down into Sladen Beck. You can take an unofficial trail up the hillside to explore a little more of Brontë Falls up close. It’s often muddy, so take care.
The waterfall wasn’t in full flow when we visited, but it was still worth walking to nevertheless. The moss-covered rocks and secretive setting make Brontë Waterfall quite beautiful. At the base of Brontë Falls, back on the main trail, you’ll find a rock with a plaque and poem inscribed on it.
Brontë Bridge
Once you’ve enjoyed Brontë Waterfall, the walk continues by crossing the Sladen Beck River using the Brontë Bridge. There is a stone on the other side of the bridge popularly referred to as the Brontë Chair, as that is what it’s loosely shaped like. It’s also thought that the sisters would sit here and tell stories.
Top Withens
A stone staircase leads out of the Brontë Waterfall valley and begins to ascend into the moorland. The landscape becomes more barren and remote. The trail is exposed and can feel quite windy and harsh in the elements. Almost ‘wuthering’, you might say. But for us, it just added to the feeling of getting lost in the literature.
The walk to Top Withens is easy to follow, passing numerous stiles and dodging any unforgiving boggy sections. It won’t be long till you’re spying the haunting shape of Top Withens farmhouse in the distance. In reality, it’s just a dilapidated farmhouse. But, the magic of the visit all depends on how much you’re willing to let your imagination run wild.
At Top Withens, you’ll find a small plaque outside. It’s worth a quick read. It basically states that Top Withins bears no resemblance to how Emily Brontë described Wuthering Heights in her novel, but that its situation may have been in mind when she wrote her book. So, if you thought you were going to stumble across an exact replica of Wuthering Heights, you’ll be a little disappointed.
Following the stone-flagged path away from Top Withens, the walk retraces the initial trail you walked up before you meet a fork in the path. Take the trail to the left and continue to enjoy the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk through the desolate moorland landscape.
Eventually, the trail joins with Back Lane. Follow this country lane as it descends back into Haworth.
So, now that you know all about the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk, let’s look at some practical tips for visiting.
Useful Things to Know Before You Go
There are a few useful bits of information and things to know before visiting Haworth and walking to Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens. Let’s start with how to get to Haworth in the first place.
How to Get to Brontë Waterfall
The quickest and easiest way to get to Haworth for the Brontë Waterfall Walk is to drive there yourself. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, we recommend hiring a car using Rentalcars.com. You’ll find a wide variety of cars on Rental Cars for good prices. The website is user-friendly and booking online is super easy.
Brontë Waterfall Parking
Dan and I arrived early at Haworth and found free roadside parking here, on West Lane on the northern side of the village. But, there are numerous car parks to use. After all, Haworth is a tourist attraction in its own right, regardless of whether you choose to walk to Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens.
- Brontë Parsonage Museum Car Park: open 8am to midnight, charges apply, but they’re currently as little as 80p/hour. Not ideal if you’re after an early start like we were.
- Brontë Village Coach and Car Park: located south of the village centre and just a few minutes walk from the bottom of Main Street. Charges apply.
- Haworth Car Park: this small but centrally located car park is open 24 hours and fills quickly. Charges apply.
- Central Car Park: this is a privately owned car park, so check charges upon arrival. Location-wise, it’s hard to beat.
Public Transport
It’s possible to get to Haworth for the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk using public transport. The B3 Bronte bus runs frequently in the area, and you can pick it up from Hebden Bridge and Keighley, depending on which direction you’re travelling from. It’s fairly straightforward to get a train from further afield to both of these towns.
We recommend using Google Maps and the Trainline to help plan your journey.
Despite public transport being an option, we recommend driving (if that’s possible) as it’s much simpler and less time-consuming.
Brontë Waterfall Facilities and Amenities
You won’t find any public amenities along the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens walking trail. There are public toilets in Haworth’s Central Park, located here. Alternatively, you’ll find plenty of tea rooms, cafes and restaurants in Haworth to make use of.
Other Things to Do in Haworth
- Lower Laithe Reservoir: the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk skirts, albeit widely, around Lower Laithe Reservoir. Detouring to the reservoir is a nice way to extend the walk should you wish. As you descend from the moors onto Back Lane, look out for Reservoir Road on your right. This will take you to Lower Laithe.
- Penistone Hill Country Park: the initial stages of the Brontë Falls trail pass through Penistone Hill Country Park. The area used to be the site of three now disused quarries named Dimples, Penistone and West End. The area is full of rock boulders and small ponds and is particularly great for mountain biking. There’s also a short heritage trail describing its past use and geology.
- Brontë Parsonage Museum: the Parsonage was home to the Brontë family from 1820 to 1861. It’s the place where Charlotte, Emily and Anne wrote their now incredibly well-known and well-loved novels. Now, the Brontë Parsonage is a museum and a popular place to visit for any literature fans.
- The Brontë Way: The Brontë Way is a 69km (43 mile) trail starting near Birstall close to Bradford, finishing at Gawthorpe Hall in Padiham, Burnley.
Visit Yorkshire Dales National Park
If you’re looking for more naturally beautiful places to visit in Yorkshire, then you’ll have to go to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Below, we’ve listed some of the best places to visit and walks to do in the Dales.
- Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge (coming soon): climb Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside during this incredible full-day hiking challenge.
- Aysgarth Falls: explore three spectacular Aygarth falls in North Yorkshire.
- Cauldron Falls (West Burton Falls): a lesser-known but utterly beautiful waterfall that’s close to Aysgarth Falls.
- Hardraw Force (coming soon): it’s one of the most famous waterfalls in Yorkshire after featuring in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
- Ilkley Moor: an expansive moorland in West Yorkshire that falls just inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary.
- Simon’s Seat and Bolton Abbey Waterfall: discover the incredible rocky outcrop at Simon’s Seat and the underrated Bolton Abbey Waterfall in the Valley of Desolation.
- Ingleton Waterfalls Trail: a forever favourite, the Ingleton Falls Trail never gets old.
- Cautley Spout: this is England’s highest waterfall above ground and can be seen on a walk around Howgill Fell.
- Brimham Rocks: although technically located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s another jaw-dropping National Trust attraction, and needs to be seen to be believed.
- Conistone Pie and Dib Circular: a lovely circular walk taking in the limestone landscape surrounding the small town of Conistone.
- Settle Caves and Waterfall Walk: from nearby Settle, you’ll visit Catrigg Force, Attermire Scar and Scalebar Force.
FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about visiting Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens.
Why Is it Called Brontë Waterfall?
The falls are named Brontë Waterfall due to the association with the Brontë sisters who grew up and wrote their novels in the area. Charlotte Brontë even described the falls as “fine indeed; a perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful“.
How Long Is the Brontë Waterfall Walk?
The Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk is 12km long, taking 3–4 hours to complete.
Was Top Withins the Inspiration For Wuthering Heights?
Although Top Withens doesn’t actually resemble Emily Brontë’s depiction of Wuthering Heights in her novel, the ruined farmhouse is still widely believed to have been her inspiration.
Is the Brontë Waterfall & Top Withens Walk Dog Friendly?
Yes, but you must keep your dog on a lead. Gates and fences even have signage instructing you to do so. This is because the moorlands are famous for their birdlife including curlews, golden plovers, peregrines and merlins.
What to Wear and Pack
Below, you’ll find our hiking gear essentials for the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk through Penistone Hill Country Park.
- Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots: these hiking boots are super comfortable and lightweight.
- The North Face Venture Jacket: a fantastic windproof/waterproof jacket.
- Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great backpack for walking, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
- The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece Jacket: an excellent warmth:weight ratio fleece jacket that’ll help keep you warm.
- Columbia Convertible Trousers: a value for money pair of water-resistant convertible trousers.
For a longer hiking gear list, check out our 66 Travel Items You Must Travel With. For a general list of everything else you’d need for travelling, read our Packing Checklist.
Travel Insurance
If you’re travelling from abroad, travel insurance is a necessary evil, especially if you’re hiking and exploring the great outdoors.
SafetyWing is an excellent budget-friendly travel insurance provider. Personally, Dan and I have used SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance many times to insure our trips. The Nomad Insurance is fantastic value for money with a smaller additional cost to add a partner. Unlike most other insurance companies, there’s an option to pay on a monthly basis, similar to having a prepaid phone plan. Better yet, there’s no lock-in contract. In addition, you can cancel at any time, which will take effect the month after.
For shorter trips, it’s also possible to use Nomad Insurance for trips lasting just days or just 2–3 weeks. Indeed, SafetyWing is cheaper than almost all other travel insurance policies and covers just as much and sometimes more.
SafetyWing is a modern travel insurance company that is certainly leading the way in terms of how travel insurance should work in the future.
Bonus Tips
- A hit in Japan: you’ll notice the signposts indicating the way around the Brontë Waterfall and Top Withens Walk are also translated into Japanese. That’s because the novel is overwhelmingly popular in Japan, and many tourists flock to Haworth to take on the famous waterfall walk.
- Early bird gets a parking spot: to nab a free roadside park, you’ll need to arrive early. Also, to enjoy a quieter trail, avoid weekends and school holidays if possible.
- Yorkshire weather: although a spot of rain does wonders for the Brontë Waterfall, the exposed nature of the moorland walk to Top Withens is not so forgiving in a downpour. Check the weather here before you head out.
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