Pretty English town that attracts thousands of tourists a year with iconic shops and cosy barn stays
Stop by at traditional pub-restaurant The Fleece, with an adjoining shop called The Pantry selling local produce
THE lush hills of the Holme Valley feel so familiar – and this is my first visit to this corner of West Yorkshire.
But having grown up watching Last Of The Summer Wine, which was filmed in and around the pretty local town of Holmfirth, it all felt a little like home.
While the long-running BBC sitcom ended 14 years ago, Holmfirth still attracts thousands of visitors each year as they follow in the footsteps of show favourites Compo, Clegg and Foggy.
And Last Of The Summer Wine is still very much alive here.
Fans can visit Compo’s cottage, eat in Sid’s Cafe and get a selfie on the steps of Nora Batty’s cottage.
For those too young to know the show, which still holds the record as the BBC’s longest-running comedy, the stunning locations where it was shot is enough reason to visit.
As Laura Booth, owner of Sid’s Cafe, told The Sun last year: “People always said Holmfirth and the countryside was the fourth character in the show.”
Famous for its sandstone buildings, weavers’ cottages and cobbled streets, Holmfirth, on the edge of the Peak District National Park, is a joy to behold.
But while it might be associated with a quaint way of life, it’s also now home to lots of modern bars, restaurants and coffee shops.
You can even holiday inside the riverside home of Last Of The Summer Wine veteran Nora — she of the wrinkled stockings, pinny and hair curlers — which is now a self-catering holiday home complete with museum underneath.
But we opted for something more modern.
The Barn is brilliant barn conversion nestled in the village of Holme, near Holmfirth, and booking was made nice and easy through Sykes Cottages.
It dates to the 19th century and is believed to have started out as a hay store as well as being used to house cattle, sheep and horses.
It stood derelict for many years before the owners — who live in the nearby farmhouse — opened it as a holiday rental in November 2021.
It has now been beautifully reno-vated with underfloor heating down-stairs.
It features two bedrooms, each with en-suite showers, contemporary open-plan design and a child-friendly enclosed patio area with panoramic views of the moorland and peaks.
Our welcome hamper included Yorkshire tea and crisps as well as a bottle of wine.
Homemade pies
Digley Reservoir is a short stroll away.
It took us about an hour to walk the circular loop and we were rewarded with spectacular views before heading to the Pickled Pheasant pub for ice creams.
A two-minute walk from the cottage is traditional pub-restaurant The Fleece, with an adjoining shop called The Pantry selling local produce and hot and cold takeaway food.
The scotch eggs are a delight — as are the homemade pies, which serve six to eight people.
For something a little fancier, Devour is one of Holmfirth’s best restaurants.
We dined outside in glorious sun-shine, gorging on fine Italian food and listening to the river running alongside the wild meadow.
Award-winning Holmfirth Vine-yard is also a must visit, offering daily tours and tastings.
Or for families, in nearby Halifax, there is Eureka! The National Children’s Museum.
We arrived to the sight of a statue of the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes being lowered into a tank of water — which happens every half hour — then watched the water overflow to illustrate his famous Eureka moment.
The museum, suitable for kids up to age 11 — is split into six zones.
One of my daughter’s favourites was the medical area, where she could take on the roles of nurse and dentist.
She loved wrapping us up in bandages and brushing giant teeth.
We said farewell to Holmfirth with a pint at Magic Rock Brewing’s tap-room, in a grand Victorian building that formerly housed the London, City and Midland Bank.
Another example of how the area is a magical blend of old and new.
GO: Holmfirth
STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering is from £503 in total.
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