Ponden Mill Camping

Ponden Mill Campsite offers a unique camping experience in the heart of Brontë country. Built as the first textile mill in Stanbury by the Heaton family, Ponden Mill is significant in the region’s industrial history.

The mill transitioned from worsted to cotton production after 1787, powered by a steam engine.

A notable event occurred on September 2, 1824, when an explosion in the peat bog above Ponden Mill caused a massive flood. Patrick Brontë, father of the Brontë sisters, awaited his children’s return as the explosion sent water, peat, and stones down the valley.

The Brontë children were found safe, taking refuge in a porch, while other workers at the mill sought safety in the upper floors.

The campsite is dog-friendly, next to a river, with access to the Pennine Way. Located two miles from the Haworth Brontë Parsonage Museum, it offers excellent walks to Hebden Bridge and other Brontë-related sites, including the hill that inspired “Wuthering Heights.”

Ponden Mill Campsite features a grass woodland area by the river, with generously sized pitches on flat, well-drained ground. The site has stunning views under the shadow of Scar Top Chapel.

Essential facilities such as toilets, showers, and a washing-up area are within 100 meters of the pitches. A local pub is just a five-minute walk away, and grocery stores are available in nearby Haworth.