to Colden

From the road the Pennine Way heads towards Walshaw Dean Lower Reservoir but be careful and follow the welcoming signs. Don't walk on the road but use the path provided. I presume that excessive use of the boot on tarmac is going to wear it down considerably. You have been warned!

At the top of Dick Delf Hill the Yorkstone Pavers appear again leading you down to the ruins at Top Withins

The plaque on the ruin at Top Withens was placed there by the Brontë Society in 1964 "in reponse to many inquiries" and reads "The Farmhouse has been associated with "Wuthering Heights", the Earnshaw home in Emily Brontë's novel. The buildings, even when complete, bore no resemblance to the house she described, but the situation may have been in her mind when she wrote of the moorland setting of the heights."

From Top Withens the way takes a gradual descent over Stanbury Moor before turning north and joining the Brontë Way past a series of houses down to the dam on Ponden Reservoir. Take the wide tarmac road along the southern edge of the reservoir. The road turns into a track. Follow this around past Pondon Hall. Note the plaque! Still continuing along the track you reach a signpost indicating a right hand turn whilst the Brontë Way continues straight on. The path descends again this time to the top end of Ponden Reservoir.

Briefly join the minor road in a left / right zig zag to join a track climbing fairly steeply out of the valley and on to the top road.