Leeming Reservoir Oxenhope -Oxenhope, Keighley BD22 9NP, OS Grid Reference SE 0404 3420

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Oxenhope, means Oxen Valley Head in old English. Leeming reservoir was built between 1872 and 1873, the reservoir was built to supply the mills in the area. By 1850 there were over 20 mills in the Oxenhope area working with wool and cloth.

A Lovely place to start the Leeming reservoir walk is at The Lamb pub, alternatively it is possible to park next to the reservoir. To start the walk follow the footpath around the reservoir, when you get to the far side go through a gate and head up hill towards the wind turbines. On the way up the hill you will pass some amazing examples of Victorian engineering connected to the reservoir. Once you reach the top of the hill you will walk through an old quarry. Continue heading towards the wind turbines you will pass two amazing cairns, at the bottom of one of the cairns you will find a Stanza stone.  After the second cairn you will find a pathway which will take you back to where you started.

The Stanza stone, shown in the picture (bottom right) is one of 6 Stanza stones created for the Ilkley Culture Festival in 2010. Each stone has the words of poet Simon Armitage carved into them. All six stones can be found on a 50 mile walking route from Marsden to Ilkley, along The Pennine watershed.