It sounds like a scene from a Gothic romance novel - winding cobblestone streets, dark stone cottages and rugged moorland.
In fact it’s what you’ll find at the gorgeous Yorkshire village of Haworth, nestled in the stunning Pennine landscape.
But the village’s literary connections do run deep; it became the home of the famous Bronte sisters, with the wild scenery inspiring Emily Bronte to write Wuthering Heights.
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A must-do for literary fans is to visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum, which is operated by the Bronte Society, one of the oldest literary societies in the world.
The Parsonage was the home of the Bronte family and you can experience the sisters’ day-to-day lives at the museum, which boasts an impressive collection of furniture, clothes and their personal items.
For an even more immersive experience lace up your walking boots and head up to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse near to Haworth which is said to inspire the Wuthering Heights house.
The ruin itself lies on the Pennine Way and it is a challenging walk, located four miles from Haworth, but worth it for the breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape and to see the real-life inspiration for the house.
Halfway between Haworth and Top Withens is the Bronte Waterfall, a gentle stream which cuts through the moorland, with a quaint stone bridge crossing over it.
But there’s more to Haworth than the Brontes. At the heart of the village is the Main Street, a cobblestone road where you’ll find a range of independent shops and cafes with views of the moorland in the distance.
Step inside the Cabinet of Curiosities, a family-run business selling handmade soaps and candles and housed in a former Victorian chemist shop, with plenty of original features.
Or pick up a tasty treat from Mrs. Beightons Sweet Shop, which has jars upon jars of traditional sweets for sale.
Even Haworth’s old railway station doesn’t fail to impress, and you may even spot a steam train passing through. There’s a heritage railway which runs from Keighley to Oxenhope and it even appeared in the 1970 film version of The Railway Children.
How to get there:
It takes around an hour and 20 minutes to drive to Haworth from Manchester.
You can also take the train to Hebden Bridge where you can catch a bus to Haworth.
