Top Withens

Top Withens is a ruined, roofless farmhouse on Haworth Moor in West Yorkshire, England. It stands alone in an exposed position about 420 metres (1,377 feet) above sea level. Walkers and readers come here because tradition links it with Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights.

What is Top Withens?

Top Withens is the ruin of a former farm near the village of Haworth, in the area known as Brontë Country. Only the walls remain: the doors and windows were blocked up long ago and the roof is gone. Open moorland surrounds the site, with no trees and little shelter from the wind, which suits the bleak mood of the novel.

What does the name mean?

The name comes from a dialect word for willows. It is hard to imagine on a windswept, treeless hill, but that is the meaning.

Is this the house from Wuthering Heights?

This is the question visitors ask most. The link to the book is a tradition rather than a documented fact. A Brontë Society plaque at the ruin says the buildings bear no resemblance to the house described in the novel. Still, the remote setting fits the moorland landscape the author described around the Heights, and tradition names Top Withens as the model for the fictional farm.

A short history of the farm

The farm's roots reach back to the late 16th century. In 1591 a farmer named William Bentley divided his Withens estate among his three sons, Martyn, John and Luke. This created three separate farms: Lower, Middle and Top Withens. They stayed occupied until shortly after 1890. Keighley Corporation bought the decaying properties in 1903-4. In 1930 Lower and Middle Withens were demolished, while Top Withens had its doors and windows blocked to deter vandalism. That is how the roofless ruin came about.

Getting there

You reach Top Withens on foot. Many literary visitors start in Haworth and follow the Brontë Way through Penistone Hill Country Park and across open moorland, passing the Brontë Waterfall. The waterfall is roughly a mile from the ruin, and from there it is about another mile to Top Withens. The site also lies on the Pennine Way and the Brontë Connection walk.

A popular circular route from Haworth is around 7.4 miles (about 12 km) and usually takes 3.5 to 5 hours, depending on pace and stops.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside? The building is an empty ruin with blocked openings, so it is best viewed from outside, with care on the uneven ground.

Is it set up for visitors? This is remote moorland, not a developed attraction. Bring warm, windproof clothing and sturdy footwear, because the weather at 420 metres can change quickly.

How long should I allow? The full circuit from Haworth takes several hours, so plan on half a day.

Who is the walk for? Fans of the Brontë sisters, walkers exploring the north of England, and anyone who enjoys bare, open landscapes with a literary backdrop.