The Meanderthals: "BRONTE" !

HOWARTH - 8.5 Miles

Walkers:- Paddy, Frank, Mike, John R
Anthony, Jim C, Jim D, John W
........and by special arrangement... Martin.

Today's walk was approached with some trepidation by the older members of the group, ( Ahem... We're all OLD !) as it was planned to be 7.5 miles with some tough and at times steep moorland terrain. Nevertheless nine Meanderthals gathered in Fulwood for an early start as we were driving more than our usual distance to celebrate Charlotte Bronte's 200th anniversary.

Once we had arrived in the vicinity of Howarth there was plenty of parking available and we chose a roomy lay by overlooking the valley. From here it was just a short walk, first along the road and then across a field, before we entered the busy and famous centre of Howarth.

Almost before we realised it we had passed the Bronte's home, the "Parsonage" (vicarage ?) which can be seen here behind the group and were virtually in the main street. 11 o'clock was now upon us and we soon succumbed to the blandishments of a cafe proprietor and and found ourselves seated in front of a variety of beverages. Below you will see the first mountainous challenge that Anthony was to face and conquer .

As we left the cafe we were accosted by a couple of ner-do-wells loitering on the church steps outside who begged to be allowed to join us.

Now it was time to get a move on and start our walk proper. The path led us through a remarkably well populated graveyard before a sharp right turn pointed us in the direction of the open moors

Far from being the lonely and isolated moorland of the Bronte sisters novels, the popularity of their writings meant that the area was quite busy and within the vicinity of the township well visited - particularly by Japanese tourists who seemed to be everywhere.

The path was broad and well trodden and at first led us gently upwards away from the crowds but never away from the groups and individuals who shared our destination.

Those of us who tended to loiter and talk became momentarily lost as we encountered a crossing (of a road) and the leading group had disappeared over some very near horizons. We took the road ahead until a helpful young lady walking her dogs shouted after us and pointed to where the leaders were waiting for us some distance down another route. The stragglers followed them down towards a reservoir but turned sharp left as they met up and followed an even clearer path still rising gently upwards towards our target "Top Withins".

This level and broad path soon degenerated into a rocky, tortuous and difficult path which ended in the delightful "Glen" wherein lay the "Bronte Bridge". It was lunch time..

Once ensconced in a suitable spot and comestibles produced from rucksacks there followed a strange conversation about what were the favoured "Butties" . "Egg" appeared to take that accolade. The sounds of imbibition and mastication "Munch Munch Slurp Slurp !" continued for some while. Perhaps because the road ahead looked rather daunting with "Top Withins" to be seen on the far horizon with a steep rise immediately in front of us and an ever bigger climb towards the "Top" itself.

Eventually we gathered ourselves together, packed gear back into rucksacks and prepared to leave. "The Bronte Bridge", however, was too good a photo opportunity to miss and as we posed upon it a very kind passing walker (young lady again) offered to take a photo so that we could all be on it. She didn't do a bad job either.

Shortly after this photo was taken Paddy slipped and the whole group fell over like a row of dominoes ( I Lie ! )

Once over the bridge it was a steep climb out of the valley and up to the fell side.

As we climbed this path the region's popularity to the Japanese was further evidenced by the way-signs which very helpfully had been placed wherever the path offered a choice of direction. Mike looks "Hardily" puzzled (Laurel and Hardily.) at the dual language sign post

I hope all you readers have noticed the delightful blue of the sky in the background which blessed us all day long.

Confusion reigned only momentarily and we were soon plodding onwards to "Top Withins" still seemingly faraway on the horizon.
There were few breaks now in the path's relentless upward progress but those that did appear allowed us some interesting breathing spaces.

But not for long. "Uppards" was the order of the moment.

We became convinced that someone was moving our target away from us as we struggled towards it. "LOOK ! There it is on the horizon."

Almost there. The last way post only a couple of hundred yards way from "Top Withins" which I may now reveal, in the best tradition of television reality shows, is thought to be the site of "Wuthering Heights" the desolate moorland hall in Emily Brontes world famous novel of the same name.

In my opinion (I cannot, I'm afraid say, "humble opinion") the reconstruction of the ruin is most unsympathetic and makes the building look modern thus destroying the ancient atmosphere of the place. What do you think ?

The length of our stay was something of a battle between the beauty of the surrounding views and the chilling wind which swept around the ruin. But, after finishing off our coffee/tea, we began our descent. Now it was Down, Down, Down, as we followed a different route back towards Howarth and the waiting cars.

"Withering Sights at Wuthering Heights"

You may notice the similarity to a range of snow-capped alps.

A brief upward section in a long downward trek.

A large solid object on the path !

What's this on the path ?

In the far distance we could now see a small red object which was identified as Frank's car . Some distance to go yet though and so we plodded sturdily on with knees feeling the burden of going continuously downhill.

Just briefly......... as we arrived back near Howarth we were reminded that today was the Birthday of our Queen and As Mr Corbyn said later that evening. "You may or may not like the institution but the queen herself has done a great Job" (NOT word for word.) This primary school had celebrated the occasion.

And so we arrived back at the cars. Here dear reader I can reveal (more revelations ?) a lovely surprise. Martin, after several weeks missing, had joined us . Not for the full walk, as his leg was not entirely "Mended" yet but to explore Haworth by himself and then to meet us at the end of the walk with a most welcome glass of ice cool shandy.

Well done Martin - glad to have you back.

And well done too to Anthony who led us on a walk that can only be described as MAGNIFICENT ! WELL DONE

p.s. Jim D got "Walker of the Week" for dragging his octogenarian frame all that way .

p.p.s "What's this on the path" answer ..... Tadpoles !

A few more photographs from the walk.