Walks: The Railway Children Walk through Haworth and Oakworth

This walk takes you past many of the iconic settings for the original film, including steam trains, dramatic countryside and the lovely village of Haworth.

Park in one of the car parks at the top end of Haworth and make your way to top of the cobbled main street next to St Michael and All Angels Church. The Bronte Parsonage museum is set behind the church and worth a visit on your 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 in the original film and the schoolboy runner, Jim, slipped and hurt his leg.

Pass through two kissing gates before turning right on to Station Road and head steeply downhill to Oakworth Station.

This is the most realistic period station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (used in both films) and you may see one of the frequent steam trains on the line.

The line was built by the wealth textile 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 station master 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.

Vale Fold Cottages

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.

Railway Children Walk map

Cross the rail lines at the west end of the station via the bridge and re-join 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. A visit to the Parsonage Museum or one of the many cafes beckons.

* Fact Box:

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. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

* Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales.

He has published 2 books on walks in the Dales, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks and The Dales 30 mountains. Available direct from the Where2walk website. 
Book a Navigation Training day (Beginners or Intermediates). All dates and information on the website. Next available date August 13.
Join one of his Navigation Weekend courses or “3 Peaks in 3 Days” guided walks in September.
Jonathan’s popular website, Where2walk.co.uk also features hundreds of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.