Camping in Oxenhope

The moors above Oxenhope, part of the wider South Pennines, are classic gritstone and heather country, with Oxenhope Moor and Warley Moor rising directly from the village to open, exposed tops. As in the rest of England, wild camping here is not a legal right and requires the landowner's permission; the moorland around Oxenhope is largely managed grouse moor and farmland, so pitching a tent without asking is best avoided. Instead, look to the area's campsites and glamping sites, which range from simple farm fields to well-equipped touring and camping parks in the Worth Valley and surrounding Bronte Country, several with views straight up onto the moor.

Because Oxenhope sits at real Pennine altitude, the weather can turn quickly even in summer, so a good four-season tent, warm layers and proper waterproofs are worth having whatever the forecast says at the campsite gate. Late spring through early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping, with long evenings to enjoy the heather in bloom from late July, though the changeable weather common to the South Pennines means rain gear is never a bad idea. Winter camping is possible for the more experienced, with the moors at their starkest and quietest, but conditions underfoot and overhead can be genuinely harsh.

For those who want the setting without the full exposure, glamping sites in the surrounding valleys offer pods, shepherd's huts and yurts with the same views of moor and mill village but a proper bed and heating to retreat to. A short walk or drive brings you to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, and miles of open-access moorland, making Oxenhope and its surrounding campsites a good, less crowded base for exploring Bronte Country on foot.