The Oxenhope Straw Race is an annual event taking place in July.
It started in the mid 1970's as a bet between two men to see who
could finish first. Since it started it has raised a considerable
amount of money for charity, today in excess of £250,000.
Two people, or a team carry a bale of straw and drink a pint of
beer in each of the 5 pubs "en route". Information
and pictures of the event here...
A summary of the course: Start at Wagon and Horses pub, elevation
is: 1171ft, downhill most of the way. Stop at Bay Horse, drink a
pint and pick up straw bale, elevation is: 783ft. Distance traveled
1.12 mile. On to Lamb Inn flat to start with then a climb to the
pub, drink a pint: Elevation is: 882ft. Distance traveled 1.64 mile.
On to Shoulder of Mutton pub, downhill for a bit flat and then climbs,
drink a pint. Elevation is: 944ft. Distance traveled 1.88mile. On
to Finish at the Dog and Gun. Elevation is: 1014ft. Distance traveled
2.47mile.
If you have taken part in the race and have any comments amusing
or otherwise about the race, if you could email us the details of
team and the location, if suitable we will add them to this page.
More information about the
Straw Race visit www.strawrace.co.uk
The Route in detail:
 Starting
from the Wagon and Horses pub: Elevation is: 1171ft. Grid
ref: N53°48.085 W001°58.202
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 Down
Hebden Bridge Road.
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 Past
the cemetery.
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 Road
curves round to the right, ahead you can see left turn. |
|
 Take
the turn left into a lane.
Elevation is: 940ft. Grid ref: N53°48.416 W001°57.499
Distance traveled 0.60 mile.
|
 Continue
down the lane.
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 Take
a right and continue on.
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 Take
the right turn which is by the telegraph post.
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 At
the telegraph post there is a style, over it and continue on.
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 At
the end of the path there is another style.
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 Down
the style and turn left.
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 Continue
down the lane, you can see the the Church of St Mary the Virgin
Oxenhope on your left.
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 At
the end of the lane take the left on to the main rd.
Elevation is: 850ft. Grid ref: N53°48.502 W001°57.310
Distance traveled 0.95 mile.
|
 Road
bends round to the right for some distance. |
|
 Follow
road round left, just round the corner is the Bay Horse pub.
|
|
 Stop
at the Bay Horse. This is where you pick up a bale of straw.
Elevation is: 783ft. Grid ref: N53°48.581 W001°57.180
Distance traveled 1.12 mile.
|
 Pick
up bale of straw and cross over rd opposite the Bay Horse, and
continue down the road. |
 Bus
terminus is on your left, at the end of the road take a right
turn, and continue straight on.
This is the lowest section of the route; elevation is 770ft
|
 Continue
along, take the right turn into Jew lane, elevation is 790;
Distance traveled 1.36 mile. |
|
 Continue
along
|
 Follow
road round to the left |
 Continue
along the road, ahead is the Lamb Inn. |
 The
Lamb Inn. Take a 360 view
here...
Elevation is: 882ft. Grid ref: N53°48.413 W001°56.737
Distance traveled 1.64 mile.
|
 Leaving
the Lamb Inn, take the road right, Denholme Rd. |
|
 Continue
along, Leeming reservoir is on your right.
|
 Just
on your left is what used to be The Shoulder of Mutton pub.
Elevation is: 944ft. Grid ref: N53°48.332 W001°56.384
Distance traveled 1.88 mile.
|
 Leave
the Shoulder of Mutton and continue up Denholme Rd. |
 Road
starts to get steeper, climb all the way to the finish. |
 Junction
of Black moor rd, keep to main rd.
Elevation is: 982ft. Grid ref: N53°48.287 W001°55.989
Distance traveled 2.08 mile.
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|
 Ahead
you can see the finish at the Dog and Gun.
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 Finish
at the Dog and Gun. Elevation is: 1014ft. Grid ref: N53°48.267
W001°55.654 Distance traveled 2.47 mile.
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Information and pictures of the straw
race event here...
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