Haworth: I went to the Brontë country by bus and this is my biggest regret

All aboard the Bronte bus from Keighley to Hebden Bridge via Haworth. Our reporter Sophie Mei Lan Malin went to find out more.

Transcript

00:00I decided to go by foot and public transport to head to the Bronte country. Yes, howeth here I come.

00:08Dear gentle reader, we're off on an epic journey today.

00:13So first of all, this little one I'm going to inspire by picking up a copy of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights in Wakefield Library.

00:22Now sadly so many young women today don't realise the impact the Bronte's had on literature and women's rights

00:30and also how many things are shaped today thanks to their work and their passions.

00:36So I thought I'd start them young whilst the oldest ones are off wanting to search out the latest beauty products.

00:44Next stop Wakefield Westgate station where I bought a ticket for just over 12 quid return.

00:50As you can see behind me is the depths of Wakefield Prison aka Monster Mansion.

00:56But actually lies a very sad story of the women who used to be put there.

01:02Back in the day of the days of the Mulberry Bush, it was believed that a lot of women had mental health problems

01:10and I'm sure many prisoners still do today as a result of the system but also prior to that.

01:17But also women who hadn't been married and were single mothers.

01:21There was all sorts of people who were wrongly chastised here in Wakefield.

01:27Anyway, let's get the train.

01:29A quick stop in Leeds and then I changed trains.

01:33First stop Keithley or is it Keeley?

01:36Anyway, we're off to get the Bronte bus.

01:39As it was a short walk to Keithley bus station, I did get a very scenic view of some of the Keithley and Worth Valley Railway

01:47as well as Keithley Town Centre.

01:50Then it was all aboard the Bronte bus.

01:53For £2 every 20 minutes you can get to the Bronte country.

01:58Luckily I jumped on one that runs hourly.

02:02And while the bus is plastered in the history of the Brontes, the bus itself is really modern.

02:08They were actually introduced in 2015.

02:10The route from Keithley to Hebden Bridge rebranded as the Bronte buses.

02:18Honestly, the bus ride itself was a bit of a tourist sensation, especially if you're fans of the Brontes.

02:25Now I know there's a lot of faults with public transport but this is what I love.

02:29We jumped on Bronte bus, we got to see some of Keithley and Worth Valley Railway

02:34although it's currently undergoing some refurbishment work.

02:38And then now we're here at Howarth station.

02:41We went past the Bronte restaurant and now we're just about to discover the old post office.

02:47So I think the bus driver showed us an old post office, not the old post office.

02:54Now it's a steep walk up over Railway Bridge, aka the Bronte Bridge.

03:00And we're off but it's nice because when you walk, you also get to see Keithley.

03:06The Worth Valley Railway is just phenomenal.

03:09I like to think I'm quite fit but you weren't joking when that lovely lady told me where to go and it was steep.

03:16We'd reached the top and it was well worth the journey because, wow, the main street is so picturesque.

03:24And to be honest, it looks idyllic and it looks how you imagine a scene to be in Wuthering Heights.

03:31However, in our next video, we discover more about the Brontes and the real situation of what Howarth was like back then

03:40when these legendary sisters were writing their own novels.