Well “worth” the wait
Travelling
is clearly one of my passions, I’m sure you’ve all realized that. Nothing beats
being able to skim through the many virtual tourist pages of the internet to
cherry pick my target destinations beneath the evening moonlight. On the
majority of occasions, I’m able to select where I’d like to explore next and
carry that trip out the following day.
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| Train times for today... |
However, there have been a few times
where I haven’t been able to immediately meet my goal. One example was my trip
to Bamburgh (read here) which occurred approximately three years after I’d
noted it down in my to-travel-to list. Haworth, the topic of today’s story, and
I encountered the similar issue. Try as I did during my free-time England, heading
to this little West Yorkshire village, which was famed for being the place where the
Brontë sisters lived, was just a bit difficult for someone residing much
further up north that had to rely on public transport.
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| Feeling tempted to head to Haworth already |
Yeah, it
was dreadfully frustrating. Especially since all the reviews and amazing photos
of Haworth’s shops, views, and the Bronte museum online looked incredibly
tempting.
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| Time to board! |
Being
unable to reach Haworth straightaway never tempered my dreams about it. So
finally, after three long years, fate turned around and gave me the thumbs up. I
soon found myself sitting on the train from Leeds to Haworth via Keighley with
perpetual excitement.
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| Memories of Le Tour De France 2014 |
From electric to steam
To get to
Haworth, the easiest way would be to drive. However, adventurers (or people
without a driver’s license) would be better off taking the steam train from
Keighley to Haworth.
Yes, you
heard me, steam.
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| Inside the train |
Trains and
I are accustomed to one another. But steam trains on the other hand, now that
was a whole new story. Watching the railway workers slowly steer the engine
from the back of one carriage to the front of a different one, I suddenly felt
as though I’d stepped back in time and visited the period in which The Railway
Children was set in. The feeling actually made sense once I’d stepped into
the train and was informed, by the sign on the table, that the Keighley
& Worth Valley Railway was actually where the famed movie had been
filmed.
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| Why hello there... |
I quickly sprang into action with my camera, snapping shots of burning
coal, the carriages’ interiors, and, would you believe it, dog water (it’s
important to cater for all members boarding the train you know!).
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| For thirsty furry friends only |
The Bronte parsonage
They say
it’s wise to save the best till last, but in this case, heading to the Brontë
parsonage museum first was definitely a smart choice. Why? Because there was SO
much to see (well, read to be more precise). Unfortunately, photography was a
big no no inside the house of the Brontë’s where the museum was based. However,
from a scale of 1 to 5, I’d definitely give it 5 stars. Apart from being able
to see the original manuscripts and items that belonged to the family, it was
truly interesting being able to wander through each room that the famed sisters
had once resided in. Will definitely head back again to visit (especially since
the ticket you purchase is valid for an entire year).
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| The Bronte Parsonage Museum |
Oh and I
totally recommend buying a Brontë novel from the shop – you can ask for a free
stamp saying that you’d purchased it from the museum itself.
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| The Bronte sisters |
Also,
there is a vintage bus that takes you up to the museum but I’d definitely suggest
getting there by foot. Good exercise AND you get to have a good look around all
of Haworth’s shops! Don’t forget to take photos of all the quirky little
building decorations too.
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| Bronte bears and more |
Eat, Shop, & Walk
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| Minions, plush toys and home-ware |
I think
anyone that visits Haworth would find it excruciatingly difficult to avoid
spending a couple of pounds or so on souvenirs. With so many locally-made
products and gifts, it’s honestly the perfect village for a Sunday boutique
shopping spree. It’s particularly suited for vintage lovers comme moi – think 40s-60s
clothes, shoes, hats and more!
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| So much choice! |
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| A colourful and tasty lunch |
And after
all that walking and shopping, I’m sure you’re bound to be hungry and thirsty.
Food and drinks are plentiful in Haworth, given the many teashops and pubs
plotted up and down the main street. My choice during my day there was Cobbles
and Clay, a colorful café where you can paint while you eat (just pick a piece
of pottery and some art equipment to get started). The veggie sandwich I had
there was honestly scrumptious.
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| Sheep and hedgehogs |
Hanging
out in Haworth and exploring every nook and cranny of it was definitely a
Sunday well spent. But like with all stories, an ending must follow. So at
approximately 4:30pm, I found myself waving a tearful goodbye to the beautiful
little village that I had befriended during my one-day trip. I therefore sought
comfort in my new copy of Wuthering Heights as the steam train slowly
swept us away.
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| Beginning a new chapter |
My final
verdict? Definitely “worth” the wait.
