For my 39th birthday present, Geoff booked us a weekend away to Haworth. As we have been car-less since September, we travelled by train to Keighley and then then transferred to the Worth valley steam railway.
The stations along the line have been restored, you can purchase a rover ticket and get off at each station. Me and Geoff did this when Imogen and Jemima were small, but this weekend the weather was COLD and we didn't fancy waiting about for trains.
Haworth youth hostel is a lovely Victorian mansion overlooking the wild Pennine moors. When Imogen and Jemima were small we discovered youth hostelling, but when I was pregnant with Reuben and then when he was tiny, we stayed in a couple that fell below standard. Over this winter I have fallen back in love with youth hostels, they seem to be kept cleaner and many of them are lovely buildings in stunning locations with beautiful interiors ...
We couldn't make it any further than this peak, our hands even through gloves had become painful, so we'll save the Brontë waterfall and Top Withens for another day.
It felt special travelling by steam train to our final destination.
Oakworth station, a film location for the 70's film The Railway Children.
A mile walk from the railway station and we were at the youth hostel.
A Sunday morning stroll up to the village,
to see the pretty shops.
In 1820 Rev Brontë became curate at Haworth.
Haworth is famous as the home of the Brontë sisters.
This is the parsonage were the Brontë family lived from 1820 to 1861. Although sadly all Patrick Brontë children predeceased him.
Charlotte's novel Jane Eyre (1847), Emily's Wuthering Heights (1847),
and Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1848) were written while at the
Parsonage.
It is now the Brontë Parsonage museum.
Although it was very very chilly we took a walk up on to the moors.
Back down the cobbles...
and in a puff of smoke we were back home.
Feeling happy and wind swept and waiting for the predicted 10cm of snow to fall tonight...
Beautiful! I am envious. It is lovely, but the weather does look pretty miserable!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so magical to someone from Australia (well born and bred in NZ) I totally adore the history of other countries. Emily
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous and what a fun experience! Thanks for a fun post
ReplyDeletehttp://itsabouttakingthejourney.blogspot.de
Wow - I am jealous. Looks like the type of holiday that makes family memories.
ReplyDeleteOne day I am going to visit your fair country, and this post just reminds me WHY!
ReplyDeleteOh my! What an absolutely beautiful place to visit and fantastic way to get there. I love the look of the hostel and the parsonage, such gorgeous old buildings with so much history.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photography and looks like a very fun trip for all ~ Love trains!
ReplyDelete(A Creative Harbor) ^_^
I was back in England in August last year and was only able to get around the south. I still loved the moors but the southern ones are not like the Yorkshire Moors or any of the Northern ones. I am hoping next time we can get up that way again.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your pictures.
Janice
Hi i didn't know that train is still being used today, how wonderful to relive history in your case! I don't know what moors are, just read the word in pocket books before, so thanks for letting me be informed in a more personal way. It really looks so cold in your country, so i will keep you warm with my perennially warm photos as i live in the tropics at the other side of your world.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great trip! They have steam trains here to see, but I don't know any of them that are actually taking passengers! So special!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I'm so jealous, steam engines, moores and teh Brontes! What a great trip!
ReplyDeleteThat looked like an amazing trip! I'm your newest follower from the blog hop...www.iwouldnttradenothingformyjourneynow.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! We don't have youth hostels in this country, and certainly not as many amazing Victorian buildings.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful trip! Love the steam locomotive. Feels like being transported back to the 1800s.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip! I loved traveling along with you via pictures.
ReplyDeleteoh, you lucky duck! first -- I have been in plenty of hostels, and they never looked like that. Secondly, the Brontes! Love, love. How much fun was that, to be with family and ambling over the ground they walked. fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with youth hostels, but the buildings that you featured look amazing. It looks like you are making some great memories for yourself and those little ones!
ReplyDeleteow lovely that you have made memories whilst having a fab time
ReplyDeleteYay! That is a fab time you're having with your family. The place looks oohsome and you have wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Scudds
Love the British trains and stations.
ReplyDeleteWhat an outstanding time!
ReplyDeleteI love the train pictures second best!
The ones of your families are definitely my favorite ones!
Thanks for linking.
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