A Perfect Wintry Dog Walk at Penistone Hill Park, Haworth
If you’ve never visited Penistone Hill Park, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of those places that feels like Yorkshire in a nutshell — beautiful moorland, endless skies, scenic vistas and paths made for walkers and their dogs.
Penistone Hill Park sits just outside Haworth village, in West Yorkshire — the very heart of Brontë country and not too far from my doorstep! It’s roughly:
15–20 minutes by car from Keighley
About 40 minutes from Leeds/Bradford
Easily accessible from A629 if you’re heading from Halifax or Skipton
Parking is available Penistone Hill car park itself - and there are a couple of side-of-the-road car parks too. You can see a map of the options here (Source: Bradford Council)
When we visited yesterday, the weather was perfect; wintry and sunny, with high pressure skies and views for miles - but the roads were really icy - so just be aware and take extra care if you’re visiting at this time of year.
Why it’s ace for dogs:
Open space for zoomies: Great for off-lead runs (as long as they’ve got decent recall).
Views for days: Wide horizons = instant adventures
Trails for every mood: Depending on how much time you’ve got. there are lots of routes so you can do a wander (I walked for about 90 minutes) or a fuller walk if you want a proper leg stretch. All Trails has a number of routes marked if you’re a walker who prefers a plan.
Loads of sniffing opportunities: Rabbits, birds, and moorland mean there’s plenty of stimulatory sniffs to tire out your dog - but please be mindful around livestock (there isn’t too much of it here apart from in the adjacent fields in some areas, but there are contained) and ground-nesting birds. For the most part, my dogs were fine off lead.
Practical stuff:
It’s mostly open moorland, so be ready for wind, mud, and unpredictable weather. Take layers and waterproofs - it can get wild!!
Take water for your dog. There are no places for your dog to drink, so a water bottle will come in handy.
If you want a coffee, something tasty to eat or a pint after your walk, Haworth Village is literally minutes away.
And finally…remember your camera. As with most moorland in Yorkshire, the landscapes and scenery here are bloody brilliant, so there will be plenty of chances to grab your own gorgeous photos.
