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Holmfirth Walks - Near and Around

3.7 miles (6 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk explores the immediate area surrounding the town of Holmfirth in Yorkshire. The town is famous as the main location in the long running sitcom 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Viewers of the show will recognise the pretty streets and the beautiful surrounding countryside from the adventures of the main characters. It's quite a challenging walk as there are some steep climbs but you are rewarded with splendid views over the Holme Valley and Pennine Hills.
You can start the walk from the town centre next to Victoria Park where there are car parks nearby. Then follow Cooper Lane and Hill Lane to the village of Upperthong. It's quite a steep climb but there's great views over the Holme Valley to enjoy on the way. Bill Owen, who played Compo in Last of the Summer Wine, is buried at the Upperthong parish church of St. John's.
From Upperthong, the route heads through Hogley Green and Upper Stubbin before coming to Hinchcliffe Mill where you cross the River Holme. A nice waterside stroll follows before heading along the woodland trails in Malkinhouse Wood. You then follow country lanes along the Hills and Hamlets trail back into the town.
There are many other walks around the Holmfirth area to try with the surrounding countryside criss crossed with various waymarked trails. You could further explore the area on the Holme Valley Circular Walk or the Holme Valley Hills and Hamlets Walk. These long distance trails take you on a tour of the hills, reserrvoirs and villages of the Kirklees and Huddersfield area. If you'd like to go even further afield then the Kirklees Way takes you through the Spen Valley and Colne Valley.
Another good option is to head to the nearby Digley Reservoir and follow the waterside path around the lake.
The reservoir is located just a few miles to the south west of the town, near Holmbridge.

Holmfirth OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Holmfirth Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Holmfirth

  • Digley Reservoir - Enjoy an easy circular walk around this delightful reservoir near Holmfirth in the Yorkshire Dales
  • Holme Valley Hills and Hamlets Walk - This circular walk takes you on a tour of the Holme Valley around Holmfirth in Yorkshire.
    The path starts and ends in Holmfirth - location for the famous Last of the Summer Wine TV series
  • Holme Valley Circular Walk - A circular walk through the beautiful Holme Valley, visiting a series of picturesque villages.
    The walk starts at Berry Brow Railway station near Huddersfield and first heads south to Holmfirth with a lovely stretch along the River Holme at the start
  • Winscar Reservoir - Enjoy a cycle or walk along the beautiful Winscar Reservoir in the Peak District
  • Meltham - This West Yorkshire based town sits in a nice position on the edge of the Peak District
  • Folly Dolly Falls - This walk visits the pretty Folly Dolly Falls in Meltham in Yorkshire
  • Deer Hill Reservoir - This small reservoir is located near Meltham and Huddersfield in Kirklees.
  • Holme Styes Reservoir - This walk visits the pretty Holme Styes Reservoir near Holmfirth in Yorkshire
  • Meltham Mills Reservoir - This walk visits the Meltham Mills Reservoir in Meltham in West Yorkshire.
  • Ramsden Reservoir - This walk visits Ramsden Reservoir near the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth
  • Brownhill Reservoir - This walk visits Brownhill Reservoir near Holmfirth.
  • Holme Moss - This walk visits a fine viewpoint near Holmfirth in Kirklees, West Yorkshire.
  • Hepworth - Hepworth is located just east of Holmfirth in the Holme Valley area of West Yorkshire

Pubs/Cafes

The White Horse was used as a filming location in the Last of the Summer Wine Series. As such it's a popular place to visit for fans of the show. Inside you can relax with a drink and look through the album of Last Of The Summer Wine photos. Just up the road from the pub is where Cleggy and Howard houses were filmed. The classic stone pub has a good menu, log fireplaces and a beer garden to enjoy on warmer days. It is also dog friendly. You can find the White Horse in Jackson Bridge just to the east of the town. Address is Scholes Rd, Jackson Bridge with a postcode of HD9 1LY for your sat navs.
Sid's Cafe is another location from the show. It is a real cafe and serves from a variety of hot and cold drinks and freshly prepared food. You can choose from a selection of sandwiches and toasties, hot roast beef sandwiches, delicious home-made soup, jacket potatoes, toasted currant tea-cakes, scones and home-made cakes.
The Pickled Pheasant is located just south west of the town at Holmbridge near Digley Reservoir. This fine gastro pub includes a large car park, a beer garden and a restaurant. The recently modified interior is very appealing with many original features including beautiful oak beams, stone flagged floors and two open fireplaces. They are dog friendly and also provide good quality accommodation if you need to stay over. You can find the inn at Woodhead Rd, Holmbridge with a postcode of HD9 2NQ for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head to the Last of The Summer Wine Exhibition to find out more about the show. The exhibition is located inside Compo's house, and includes props from the show and videos of many of the famous clips. Other treasured memoribilia includes the famous matchbox and the original coat and hat that Foggy wore. You can find the exhibition at 30a Huddersfield Rd at a postcode of HD9 2JS.
There's also the option to take a tour of the countryside on a splendid old bus if you want to save your legs. Starting from outside the famous "Sids Cafe" in the centre of Holmfirth, the tour departs hourly and lasts for 45 minutes. It visits several of the locations from the series incorporating some of the most beautiful scenery found in the foothills of the Yorkshire Pennines.
Just to the north west there's the town of Meltham where you can pick up the circular Meltham Walk and explores the moorland and hills surrounding the settlement. It visits a series of photogenic reservoirs including Wessenden Reservoir and Butterley Reservoir. In the town you can also visit Meltham Mills Reservoir, Honley Woods and the lovely Folly Dolly Falls which are something of a local hidden gem. Just to the north there's Blackmoorfoot Reservoir which is a good place for spotting wildfowl.
Just to the east there's the worthy village of Hepworth where you'll find the Butcher's Arms. The pub dates back to the early 1800s and is notable for featuring in the long running tv show Last of the Summer Wine. Many scenes from the show were shot around the village with the characters often meeting up in the pub.
You can find them at postcode HD9 1TE for your sat navs.

Photos

Sid's Cafe, Holmfirth - geograph.org.uk - 83734

Sid's Cafe, Holmfirth

The River Holm into Hinchcliffe Mill - geograph.org.uk - 836317

The River Holm into the village of Hinchcliffe Mill. Part of the village was extensively used during the filming of "Last Of The Summer Wine" when for many years it was the location of the home of characters Wesley and Edie Pegden.

One of Holmfirth's locations for "Last of the Summer Wine" - geograph.org.uk - 346717

One of Holmfirth's locations for "Last of the Summer Wine". The town's origins trace back to the 13th century, when it began to develop around a corn mill and a bridge. Over the course of three hundred years, Holmfirth experienced significant growth, particularly during the expansion of the cloth trade and the increased production of stone and slate from nearby quarries.

River Holme at Holmfirth - geograph.org.uk - 101295

River Holme at Holmfirth. The film location of Last of the Summer Wine. Holmfirth was also famously the residence of Bamforth & Co Ltd, renowned for their humorous seaside postcards, although during the First World War era, they shifted to producing more serious postcards. The printing works located on Station Road has since been repurposed into residential flats.

Norah Batty's Steps - geograph.org.uk - 360607

Norah Batty's steps as seen on TV's 'Last of the Summer Wine'.

All aboard for Compo's grave - geograph.org.uk - 1096453

All aboard for Compo's grave. This old bus waits on Town Gate to take sightseers on a 45-minute tour of the famous spots seen in BBC's Last of the Summer Wine TV series. Amongst other attractions it visits Wesley Pegden's garage and Compo's last resting place. All for six quid.

The Monkey (formerly The Eastfield PH) - geograph.org.uk - 888985

The Monkey (formerly The Eastfield PH) Made famous through appearances on `Last of the Summer Wine'though this pub is thirteen miles away from Holmfirth. When I came to live in the area the pub was still called The Eastfield, though its nick-name was `The Monkey'. The new owners changed the name (some years ago now).

River Holme at Holmfirth - geograph.org.uk - 101295

River Holme at Holmfirth

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Holmfirth.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Holmfirth.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)