Holmfirth

Holmfirth's hotels and guesthouses are mostly small and independently run, reflecting the character of the town itself, with options ranging from traditional stone-built pubs offering rooms above the bar to boutique B&Bs in converted Victorian houses. Many sit within a short walk of the town centre, putting Last of the Summer Wine locations, independent shops and riverside pubs on your doorstep. Rooms in converted mill buildings are increasingly common, pairing exposed stone and timber with modern comfort, and several properties make a feature of their Holme Valley views. Because Holmfirth itself is compact, even hotels a little further up the valley in surrounding villages such as Holme or Hepworth are only a short drive or bus ride from the centre. Booking ahead is worthwhile around the town's Food & Drink Festival and Festival of Folk, when demand for rooms rises sharply. Outside of these events, Holmfirth makes a relaxed, good-value base for exploring both the town and the wider South Pennines, with easy onward access to Huddersfield, the Peak District and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Holmfirth rewards slow exploration on foot, with plenty to see in the town itself and easy access to the surrounding hills and villages.

• Last of the Summer Wine locations — Wander past Sid's Café on Towngate, Nora Batty's cottage and other filming spots used throughout the show's 37-year run, still instantly recognisable to fans.
• Holmfirth Vineyard — A working vineyard above the town producing English wine, with tours, tastings and a restaurant looking out over the Holme Valley.
• The Picturedrome — A converted Edwardian cinema turned live music venue and cultural hub, hosting touring bands and comedy in the heart of town.
• Holme Valley walks — Waymarked trails follow the river and climb onto the moors above, including routes to Holme Moss and the reservoirs around Digley and Ramsden.
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park — A short drive away near Wakefield, this outdoor gallery set across 500 acres of historic parkland shows work by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and contemporary artists.
• Holmfirth ginnels and Riverside — The town's tangle of narrow stone alleys and packhorse bridges over the River Holme make for an atmospheric wander, especially around Victoria Street and Hollowgate.
• Holmfirth Festival of Folk and Food & Drink Festival — Seasonal events fill the town's streets and pubs with music, stalls and local produce.
• Peak District edge — Holmfirth sits right on the boundary of the Peak District National Park, with the high moorland of Holme Moss and Black Hill within easy reach for more serious hill walking.

The town has a strong independent food scene, from Finlay's Holmfirth for seafood to So Dough Pizzeria for wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and Nowhere Kitchen and Brewery for local produce paired with house-brewed beer. Sid's Café on Towngate remains a pilgrimage stop for Last of the Summer Wine fans, serving sandwiches and homemade cakes, while The Carding Shed at Washpit Mills occupies a beautifully converted textile mill on the edge of town. For a drink, the Wooldale Arms and Farmers Arms are well-regarded traditional pubs, and Holmfirth Tavern offers an extensive craft beer selection alongside Yorkshire cask ales.

Camping around Holmfirth means Pennine hill country: steep, dry-stone-walled fields, fast-draining moorland and reservoirs cut into the hills above the Holme Valley. As in the rest of England, wild camping is illegal without the landowner's permission, so stick to licensed campsites and certified sites, of which the valley and surrounding villages have a good scattering, from small farm-based sites to larger family-friendly grounds with better facilities. Many sit within walking distance of a village pub, useful given how quickly the weather can turn on open moorland.

The terrain rewards a bit of planning. Sites lower in the valley, closer to Holmfirth itself, tend to be more sheltered and have easier access to the town's shops, cafes and pubs, while those higher up towards Holme Moss or the reservoirs put you closer to genuine Pennine walking but with more exposure to wind and rain. Ground can be steep and rocky in places, so a sturdy tent and good pegs are worth having, and it is always worth checking a site's terrain before booking if you are travelling with a large family tent.

Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable camping season, when the moorland is at its greenest and evenings are long enough to make the most of a valley or hillside pitch. Midsummer weekends can get busy, particularly during Holmfirth's festivals, so booking ahead is sensible. For those who would rather skip the tent-pitching, glamping has taken hold across the Holme Valley and surrounding Pennine villages, with shepherd's huts, safari tents and converted farm buildings offering a more comfortable way to enjoy the same views, often with wood-fired hot tubs or log burners to take the edge off cooler Pennine evenings.