Best trails in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

This walk has lots of open scenery and views! Show more

Holme Moss is high moorland just inside the boundary of the Peak District National Park. Show more

This route lies on the edge of the Peak District National Park and starts from Holme, 3 miles from Holmefirth. It takes in Digley and Bilberry reservoirs, Marsden Clough, Black Hill, Holme Moss, Ramsden Clough and Brown Hill reservoir. In February 1852 the embankment of Bilberry reservoir collapsed following heavy rain causing the deaths of 81 in the valley below together with four mills, severn bridges and numerous other buildings and cottages. The inquest blamed poor construction and maintenance of the dam. The tacks around Marsden Clough are generally very good and on joining the Pennine Way are paved to prevent erosion of the delicate peat for which the area is well known. The ground around Black Hill was all exposed peat but a successful reseeding program has ensued. Black Hill trig point (1,909ft) is on a small elevated mound called ‘soldiers’ lump’ and was the highest point in the historic county of Cheshire. It now lies on the border of West Yorkshire and High Peak in Derbyshire. The route towards Holme Moss transmitter mast is less well defined as it crosses the very flat and wet ground between very large peat ‘hags’. The TV mast was commissioned in October 1951 and was the BBC’s third transmitter after Crystal Palace and Sutton Coalfield. It served a very wide area on ‘band I’ frequencies which reached as far as the Isle of Man and Ireland. It was superseded by the Emley Moor mast in 1985 and now caters for radio transmissions over a similar wide area. The next part of the route is a delight as it follows the rim of the high plateau with far reaching views to the east eventually reaching Ramsden Clough. Ramsden Clough is one of the scenic gems of the northern Peak District with its steep sides, twisting course and side re-entrants. It was until recently out of bounds to walkers. A clear path contours around the rim of the gorge. Keeping to the high ground to the very last a descent was made to Brown Hill reservoir before a final climb back to Holme after a very enjoyable day ‘on the moors’.Show more

This circular mountain bike route goes through the Meltham moors and around the Blackmoorfoot Reservoir. Show more