9.44 k (5.8 miles) - 2hr 30 m
OS OL21 - South Pennines.
However, getting there proved to be the most difficult part as my Sat-Nav first wanted me to do a u-turn in the middle of a three lane road and then wanted to take me down a No Through Road - and I thought technology was there to help us. Anyway the walk begins at a car park on Moor Side Lane (GR SE 018361). Immediately opposite the car park a track runs away to Drop Farm and is clearly marked to Top Withens.
The way is very straightforward with good, clear signs and shortly after the farm strikes out across the moor before meeting a good track that heads towards Harbour Lodge (GR SD 998353). The path circumnavigates the farm and, after a short climb, contours around Harbour Hill before dropping down Crumber Dike. At the bottom of the Dike the Bronte Way is encountered and the path begins to climb towards the pinnacle of the walk, and its ultimate destination.
We carried on slightly past the farm to grab our first cache of the day - transferring a "trackable" that had first started life in Western Australia via. the Druid's Temple to its current position !!
The other point of note (and one which all guide books make) is that the signs are duplicated in Japanese, although the one in the picture is the only one I saw and no Japanese were spotted to justify their existence !
Once Top Withens had been conquered we retraced our steps down the Bronte Way eventually grabbing our second cache of the day close to Bronte Bridge (GR SD 998358). From there the path is straightforward, although signs of erosion, and led us back to the car and a more gentle journey back without the aid of Satellite Navigation !!
A fantastic walk on a day like today - it may be different in the depths of winter. Usual set of photographs are available
Hi Jim and Gill - We love your blog and think the descriptions and photography are inspiring. We wondered if you would like to plot your walks on the Walk4Life site ( www.walk4life.info ) if we give you a supporters log in and you could link to it from your site - and vice versa you can have a link to your blgo from Walk4Life so visitors have a real feel for the walk and not just the route ( which is all we offer) - For instance here is one the National Trust have put on http://www.walk4life.info/walk/bath-skyline - If you are interested please email us walk4life@walkengland.org.uk
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