HAWORTH is a lovely cobbled street village under the wild moors of Bronte Country.

This walk, rather than tracing the history of the Brontes, explores the village and nearby lands of Haworth which provided the setting for the Railway Children film in 1970.

Start the walk in the centre of Haworth. Nearby is the Bronte Parsonage museum and church which is worth a visit on the return. From the centre of Haworth head down the cobbled street. Opposite the Fleece pub turn left down a steep lane heading towards Haworth rail station. Cross the main road but after 200 metres turn left before reaching the station. Turn right and then left through a gate and follow the surfaced path across Haworth Park. Turn left after a gate at the east end of the park and then right on to Mytholmes Lane. Follow the road for nearly half a mile to a garage on your right. Here go through a gate on to a footpath.

To the left there are views of Mytholmes Tunnel where the children waved red flags to stop the train and the runner Jim slipped and hurt his leg. One of the advantages of this walk in winter is that you can see all these film sets quite clearly! Pass through 2 kissing gates before turning right on to Station Road and head steeply down hill to Oakworth Station. This is the most realistic period station on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway, now run for tourists and often using steam trains but in the past used as part of the industrial heritage of this part of the country. The line was built by the wealth mill owners in the later 19th century. The station has many characteristics of the early 20th century with gas lights still operating and a lovely feel for the bygone age.

Cross the bridge and on the left is Station Cottage where Mr Perks lived. Follow the road as it bends right and then sharply left. Here take the lane past Vale Fold Cottages which also featured in the film before a stile on the left will entice you on to some open fields near Bridgehouse Beck. There are views across to Mytholmes Tunnel again. Before long cross the small river over a footbridge and join a minor road. Turn left and soon reach Haworth Station. There is a small quirky shop, great for rail enthusiasts, and I was delighted to see they stocked the narrow gauge (N gauge) railway models I used to use as a child. It is not easy to find!

Cross the rail lines at the west end of the station via the bridge and rejoin the lane (Butts Lane!) that now leads steeply up hill and back in to the main village of Haworth. Once back in Haworth there is a variety of excellent cafes and pubs but before settling down turn right to the top of the village and find the Bronte Parsonage Museum. This is where the famous literary sisters lived their short but inspiring lives surrounded by the wild moors and suffocating industrial smog. All in all this short walk is well worth doing when the village is attractively lit with its Christmas lights.

Fact File:

Distance: Roughly 2.5 miles. Height to Climb: 140m (460 feet)

Start: SE 030374. There is parking roadside in the village of Starbotton.

Difficulty: Easy. Mainly on lanes, road sides and some paths although there are a couple of short steep slopes.

Refreshments: Many and varied in Haworth.

Be Prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL21) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass.