A steep rise out of the Calder Valley, then pastures, easy moor land, and reservoirs roads. A slight climb up to Top Withens the only other real uphill gradient. A final steady decent into Pondon, and Pondon reservoir.

Today (29th July 1995), was a very easy day's walking due to the flat terrain of the walk, but yet again it was very hot, with 28 degrees. I found that the hardest part of the day begins as soon as you leave Mankingholes as there was a steep but steady climb out of the Calder valley on a footpath which takes you over 4 minor roads and a river, crossed by a wooden bridge and also a train track - not exactly in that order.

Soon after the Pennine way took us on a section of moorland which was very easy to cross due to the short grass and heather and the constant flatness, with only a slight down hill gradient towards the end of the moor when you approach the Pack Horse Inn.

For lunch we stopped at the Pack Horse Inn which marks the edge of the moor. This was a very welcome site as it was the first inhabited building we passed today and at the midway point of the days walk, perfectly placed also.

From there it was an easy afternoon as the Pennine Way continued on a hard track along 3 large reservoirs, leading us ultimately to the famous point of Top Withens where the equally famous Bronte sisters lived in their house called Withering Heights. To reach Top Withens however, a small climb was required but nothing to hard.

At the end of the day while in Ponden we took a bus to Haworth Y.H.A. as it was 4 miles off route. The bus runs in regular time intervals of something like every 45 minutes thus meaning we only had to wait around 20 minutes for it.

From the Calder Valley the Pennine way continues along a cool and well shaded track, which takes you over 4 farm roads, a river and a train track. The surrounds to this track is one of real beauty as it is surrounded by a dense undergrowth of trees, flowers and thus wildlife. The river called Graining Water is crossed by a sturdy wooden bridge, which marks the edge of the moor land which you will be waking along for the next few miles to the ideal lunch stop which is just about half way along the days stroll, The Pack Horse Inn.

The moor is just about the easiest moor in the Pennine way as it is fairly flat other than a very slight rise towards the middle which is quickly repaid with a slight decent. Once this decent kicks in you are safe in the knowledge that lunch time is just over a mile away.

When the minor road at Widdop is reached, look 100 meters to your right and you should see is the Pack Horse Inn. This large white building built in 1610 has a lot of history to it, most of which is maintained even after modernization as it retains a lot of it's old character, with it's low wooden roof rafters and other traditional aspects. Maybe more importantly it offers a good range of lunch for walkers.

After lunch you arrive on one of the easiest bits of the Pennine way, but one of the more boring parts to it. One advantage however is that if it is a dry day a good hint is to take off your walking boots and put on your trainers, as from here walking boots terrain will not be found for the rest of the day. The only problem is that this will add a bit of extra weight in your bag.

A long winding path which seems to go any where other than straight forwards takes you along 3 large reservoirs. The path is wide and white with a hard chalky surface, which means if the weather is hot or has been hot the path reflects a lot of heat back up to you. If you are not careful this can make you feel worse than staying out in the sun all day, and can cause fatigue quickly. This effect can be dramatically reduced by putting on your trainers as suggested above as by doing this it should allow your feet to stay cool, which when you are walking is a major advantage.

Two of the three reservoirs you are going to walk along are grouped together, and are known as the Walshaw Dean set. In this set there are three reservoirs, the lower, the middle and the upper reservoir. Out of these three you walk the length of the lower and the middle reservoir, before you head North East, away from the Upper reservoir as that goes heads directly up to the North.

After this the path changes again in to a grassy path, thus making it more comfortable on the feet again, but still easily within the remit of wearing good trainers, in good conditions. A gentle climb up to Top Withens begins after the change of the paths terrain, where the famous Bronte sisters once lived (see below for more information). Following this an equally gentle descent down to towards Pondon reservoir greets the Pennine Way Walker. 

A mile later you join up with the Pondon reservoir, the third and final one of the day. When this is reached the finishing post is in sight for today. The day finishes as it started with a quick stroll along a very scenic footpath, which finishes right next to the bus stop. As the nearest suitable accommodation is found in Haworth, 4 miles away catching a bus at this point is a good idea.

Haworth and the Bronte sisters, Charotte, Emily and Anne - are so closely matched that with out them Haworth would be practically unknown. The three sisters all had good writing skills with lots of famous novels being written by the sisters. Charotte's first of two novels started badly, with The Professor being rejected nine times by publishers before being published posthumously. Her second Jane Eyre was accepted without any problems and was first published in October 1847, with immediate success and widely acclaimed.

Emily's Wuthering Heights appeared two months after Jane Eyre but was met with considerable criticism and it wasn't until after her death that the novel was recognized in the way that it is now, as a great piece of writing. Finally Anne's Agnes Grey was also published later in the year and also was received well.

Today the Brontes family home can still be found in Haworth, as well as the ruins of Emily's Wuthering heights can be seen on Top Withens.

A Hotel and Public Houses at Widdop (Near the half way point) and Pondon.

A Hotel and Public Houses at Widdop and Pondon. Also Haworth Youth Hostel 3.5 miles (5.5. km) away.