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Leeming, Leeming Reservoir, Oxenhope and Leeshaw Reservoir from Oxenhope Moor
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Distance: 6.7 miles
Ascent: 1150 ft
Walking: Andrew
Weather: Overcast with sunny spells. Blustery wind.
OS Map: OL21 - South Pennines
Starting point: Station Road, Oxenhope.
Photography: Andrew using Nikon D750 / Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8
This is a walk we attempted a few years ago but the weather and the hills got the better of us and we cut it short, walking back down the road from the Wagon & Horses. The weather was OK this time but I was battling a strong head wind all the way across Oxenhope Moor which, combined with the mud, made it quite heavy going in places. Worth it for the views, though.
I was keen to spot as many Oxenhope style field gates as I could while I was in the area and managed to clock up quite a few I hadn't seen before. They all follow the same basic structure but each one seems to be subtly different. I'm absolutely fascinated by them.
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| Forsythia blossom |
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| The first set of Oxenhope gates spotted today at the entrance to Millennium Green, Oxenhope |
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| Dark Lane, Oxenhope |
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| Emerging from the dark bit of Dark Lane, the views open up across Oxenhope Moor. |
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| The giraffe usually stands in the middle of the garden but had to be leant against the hedge to prevent it being damaged in the strong wind. |
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| Looking back down Dark Lane |
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| The lane, er, narrows beyond Lower Croft House and climbs steeply again as it rounds Bentley Hey. |
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| The view over Oxenhope from Height Lane |
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| Oxenhope |
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| Lower Heights Farm |
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| Leeming Reservoir from Height Lane |
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| An old walled path down to Leeming from Height Lane |
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| The view over to White Moor and Nab Hill from Black Moor Road |
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| Black Moor Road |
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| Horkinstone Baptist Burial Ground. The chapel, built in 1837, was demolished in 1926 and the stone was used to build a new chapel further down Denholme Road. |
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| A very mangled Oxenhope Gate on Long Causeway |
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| One of many excellent pubs in the area that have now been shut for the best part of a year due to the Covid pandemic |
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| Donkeys at Sawood |
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| White Moor |
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| Wind turbines on Ovenden Moor just visible above Nab Hill |
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| White Moor |
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| Boy band album cover. Spoil heaps from stone quarrying are clearly visible at the top of the hill. |
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| The path was originally a cobbled road that serviced the many stone quarries on the moor |
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| Stony Hill Clough |
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| The large stone cairn on Nab Hill I visited with Tim & Mark last summer can be seen straight ahead, although you don't get much idea of its size from here. |
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| Fly tipping is a regular occurrence here on Nab Water, sadly. |
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| Looking down Nan Scar |
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| The view over Oxenhope, Haworth and Oakworth from Nab Water Lane |
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| Paul Clough |
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| Intake Lane |
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| View from Hard Nese |
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| Not sure what breed these are, possibly Romneys |
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| The path ahead to Lowerfold and High Fold Farms |
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| Looking back towards Hard Naze Farm |
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| Deep Dyke |
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| Lowerfold Farm |
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| Some beautiful old barns at Lowerfield Farm |
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| Leeshaw Reservoir |
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| A couple of Greylag Geese |
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| Dunkirk Mill, Oxenhope |
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| A row of cottages on Lee Lane |
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| Hawksbridge Lane, Oxenhope |
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| A nice modern take on the Oxenhope gate with heart-shaped ends on the uprights |
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| The restoration of Hawksbridge Baptist Chapel and its conversion to a home featured in the Channel 4 documentary The Restoration Man in 2016. |
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| A beautiful example of the Oxenhope Gate at Mould Greave Farm |
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| Mould Greave |
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| Grade II listed Mould Greave was built in 1742, although its style is from the previous century. |
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| Narrow lane alongside Hoyle Syke, a stream and series of small waterfalls. |
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| Hoyle Syke Farm |
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| Another beautiful old Oxenhope gate at Hoyle Syke farm |
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| Hoyle Syke Farm |
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| Hoyle Syke Farm |
