A fairy-tale-like village surrounded by idyllic Yorkshire countryside; it’s no surprise as to why Haworth continues to be such a hotspot for outdoorsy folks!
With plenty to explore in town – plus a plethora of walking trails weaving through the local landscape – the most renowned walk by far is the Brontë Falls Trail.
A legendary waterfall ramble teeming with jaw-dropping vistas throughout, this walk is never one to disappoint.
Even better, after your venture you’ll also have the joy of grabbing a brew and perusing the quirky shops along Haworth Main Street. Get in!
To help keep you on track when visiting Brontë Waterfall, we thought it’d be handy to compile this comprehensive guide, giving you the full low-down before you set out on the trail.
Interested in taking a walk-through Brontë Country yourself? Then let’s dive right in 👇👇
Why is it called Brontë Waterfall?
The historic village of Haworth is most famed for its ties to the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne); three of England’s most iconic 19th Century poets and novelists.
During their time living in Haworth, Brontë Waterfall was a popular walking spot for the three sisters and clearly had a BIG influence on their writings.
The ruined farmhouse – Top Withens – located near the waterfall is even said to be Heathcliff’s home in Wuthering Heights!
With the waterfall being named as an ode to the sisters, the countryside surrounding Haworth has likewise been dubbed Bronte Country.
Fun fact – During your visit to Haworth and Brontë Falls, you’ll likely see a large number of Japanese tourists. This is because “Wuthering Heights” (titled “Arashigaoka” in Japanese) is regarded as one of the most influential novels in Japan authored by a non-Japanese woman!
Seen as a sort of pilgrimage for these overseas fanatics, look out for signposts along the Brontë Falls walk since many will have Japanese translations.
Where do you park for the Brontë Waterfall walk?
Car park: Haworth, Keighley BD22 8DS
There are several nearby locations you can park to start the Brontë Waterfall walk.
The primary spot (where we usually go) can be located on the Parsonage Museum car park beside Haworth Main Street. Reasonably priced, you can conveniently pay via an app on your phone if you don’t have any loose change handy.
Alternatively, there are a few free spots available on the small stretch of road between The Old Sun Inn and Cemetery Road on West Lane – though they unsurprisingly fill up quickly so I wouldn’t bank on parking here!
A third parking option is also the free car park at Penistone Hill country park. Personally, we don’t like to park here however, since we prefer to finish our ramble in the heart of Haworth so we can explore afterwards.
Brontë Waterfall walk (direct route) step-by-step guide
There are two main walks to Brontë Falls.
The first is a straightforward there-and-back right route, taking you directly to the waterfall before simply returning the way you came.
A well-signposted & relatively gentle trail, start the walk by heading along Cemetery Road, keeping straight until you approach a crossroads.
Keep an eye out for traffic before crossing directly ahead onto Enfield Sign Road. You should see Lower Laithe Reservoir to your right.
From here, just stick to the footpath and follow signs for Brontë Falls.
Once admiring the spectacular views of the cascading waterfall and surrounding scenery, simply turn around and come back the way you came!
Brontë Falls Trail (circular route)
Alternatively, for those wanting a slightly longer & more varied ramble, you can instead carry on pass Brontë Waterfall via a popular circular route which loops around the opposite end of Lower Laithe Reservoir.
Shortly after crossing Brontë Bridge, the path will fork in two. Take the gentle hillside trail to the right which opens up fabulous views of the valley towards the reservoir’s glistening waters.
Follow the trail along Back Lane and then onto Main Street, passing the reservoir just before taking a right turning up Reservoir Road.
From here, you can rejoin the original trail by swinging a left back onto Cemetery Lane, leading you back into the heart of Haworth.
Both walks aren’t very difficult and should be suitable for most. My pregnant partner had no issues completing the direct route on our most recent visit.
Just be sure to take care with your footing near Bronte Falls, since the terrain becomes rather rocky and uneven here. Likewise, the footpaths can also get pretty darn boggy if there’s been any recent downpour, so safe to say walking boots are a must!
How long is the Brontë Waterfall Walk?
The direct walk to Brontë Falls and back from Haworth should take around 45-minutes each way. Nevertheless, we’d definitely recommend taking some time explore the waterfall & surrounding area once arriving. Take some pics, have a picnic, and maybe even dip your toes in the ice cold waters!
Allowing time for a breather once reaching Brontë Waterfall, the direct route should take roughly 2 hours in total.
Alternatively, if you decide to take the full circular route, I’d say your waking time will probably fall closer to the 2 hour 30 minutes – 3 hours range.
Brontë Falls poem
As you gaze at the waterfall, to the right you’ll also spot a poem attached to one of the nearby rocks which reads:
O Lord
How Manifold
Are thy works!
In Wisdom Hast
Thou Made Them All:
The Earth Is Full
Of Thy Riches
Father Almighty wonderful Lord,
Wondrous Creator, be ever adored;
Wonders of nature
sing praises to you,
Wonder of wonders-
I may praise too!
Brontë Bridge
Brontë Bridge is another famed structure located by Brontë Falls.
Looking like something pulled straight out of a fairy-tale, this petite clapper footbridge has unsurprisingly become something of a picture-taking hotspot over the years.
Top tip – Close to the Brontë Bridge, also be sure to look out for the Brontë Chair; a chair-shaped rock where the Brontë sisters used to sit and tell stories during their visits here.
Bronte Waterfall and Top Withens
For diehard Wuthering Heights fans, chances are you’ll also want to check out Top Withens during your outing!
A 30-minute walk from Bronte Waterfall, the now derelict farmhouse is well worth a visit if you’ve time.
Coming in at just over a mile each way once reaching the waterfall, cross Bronte Bridge and take the left path up Enfield Side Road, following signposts labelled for Top Withens
All in all, you’d probably be looking to add another 60-90 minutes towards your total hiking time if visiting Top Withens, so I’d absolutely recommend bringing along some hiking snacks to keep energy levels topped up!
More resources
Yorkshire is teeming with outdoor wonder! For more fantastic treks in the local area, why not head on over to our ‘Best Walks Around Hebden Bridge’ post?
Likewise, for more waterfall inspiration, also be sure to check out our comprehensive post listing the 10 BEST Waterfalls In Yorkshire.
From cascading falls big and small, we’ve even thrown a few hidden gems in there for good measure!
Happy walking 🚶 🚶