Oxenhope

Sunday, 4th Sept
10k (6mls) - 2hr 40m
OL21 - South Pennines

A delightful Sunday with the weather set fair giving us long distance views for miles on the "head of the valley" walk, right at the top of the Worth Valley.
Oxenhope is most famed as being the last station on the Worth Valley Railway and this walk started from the Station Car Park (GR SE032353). The walk quickly gained height as we strode up Dark Lane eventually emerging onto a back lane and dropping down to the main road before rising again to the Dog & Duck pub.
Here, thankfully, we turned off and up Sawood Lane, again gaining height pretty quickly to Cobling Farm and an amazing array of chickens and ducks (lots of variety of fowl - I need to look them up!).
From Coblilng Farm the scenery changes to moorland as Sawood Lane goes from being a metalled road, into track and, finally, moorland track.  This section was the real high point in more than one sense as the views afforded were truly spectacular.  Sadly, the camera doesn't catch these but we could make out Ingleborough in the far distance quite clearly.

After crossing the moor a road is regained (GR SE033331) and, after following it for a short distance, the route crosses fields to Intake Lane and eventually gives out at the Waggon and Horses.  After crossing the Hebden Bridge Road you descend Hard Nese Clough which was bathed in purple heather before climbing the other side of the clough to Lower Fold Farm (GR SE015345).  From here the route gradually descends along a road and then pathway to bring you back to the car park.
After the trial of strength last week this was an absolutely delightful walk with magnificent views.  The fact it took three hours less than last week and the fact that I can still walk shows that it was less than "challenging".
Link will take you to some photographs.