Holmfirth, an old traditional Pennine town on the edge of the West Yorkshire Pennines, is located in the heart of the lovely Holme Valley. Holmfirth is more than Compo and Nora Battye’s stockings, as made famous by the TV series The Last of the Summer Wine. The ‘Picturedrome,’ the best live music venue in the North of England, attracts many well-known bands and is conveniently located in the town centre. The Tour de France 2014 and the Tour de Yorkshire 2014 pelotons both passed through this small Holme Valley village on their way to the famed 524-meter Holme Moss climb two miles distant. Ed Clancy, a three-time Olympic medalist in cycling, grew up amid these hills. Holmfirth also includes an excellent public pool and fitness centre, as well as parks and a few supermarkets and restaurants. The people are pleasant, the streets are charming, and the scenery is stunning. The Peak District National Park is also conveniently accessible, with its moors, dales, woodlands, lakes, and reservoirs. The Upper Derwent Region, home to the magnificent Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs, is only a short scenic drive away, as is the famed 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron, which trained the daring bombing operation on the Ruhr valley in 1943. Chatsworth, the majestic house of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is a short distance away, and is near to Bakewell, the home of Bakewell Puddings. Short drives away are the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the National Coal Mining Museum, Wentworth Castle, and the Hepworth Gallery, all of which are well worth seeing. Holmfirth hosts annual festivals with a variety of attractions that keep visitors coming back, such as the Folk, Arts, and Food & Drink Festivals. Holmfirth Vineyard and Restaurant, where you can arrange wine tasting trips and have a delicious dinner, is also not to be missed.
