Holme Sweet Holme
A weekend in Holme, West Yorkshire
After a busy end to the year (I was definitely close to burnout!) and a family fun-filled Christmas, we decided to escape for a few days.
And what better place to relax and rejuvenate, than the picture-perfect Peak District National Park. We booked a cosy cottage in the rural village of Holme and spent a long weekend hiking, playing board games, reading and sleeping. It was absolute perfection.
Holme, West Yorkshire
Holme is a small rural village in the Holme Valley, West Yorkshire. It lies just within the boundary of the Peak District National Park. If you love the great outdoors and wild walks in the countryside - then Holme is the ideal spot to base yourself.
The village has a country pub, small shop (which sells incredible breakfast baps!) and plenty of walks and reservoirs to explore. What else do you need for a few peaceful days away in the countryside?
The Cow Shed, Holme
We stayed at The Cow Shed - an incredible barn conversion in the heart of the village. The interior was absolutely gorgeous, with plenty of space and stylish, rustic decor.
The wood-burning stove was a fantastic addition - and we spent many evenings playing board games and watching films, snuggled up in front of the fire. It was such a treat and we’d love to come back one day!
Check out my video of The Cow Shed here.
The Cow Shed - Our cosy cottage in the Peak District.
Our Weekend in Holme
Day 1
We checked into our cottage at 3pm, unpacked and headed straight to our local.
The Fleece Inn was conveniently located across the road from our gorgeous cottage (to Jonnys delight!). We spent a couple of hours playing cards, enjoying a pint (or two) and talking about how lovely our Christmas had been. The pub was cosy and welcoming - ideal for a post-walk pint!
Arriving back at The Cow Shed, we enjoyed a tasty Spag Bol, played a few board games and had an early night. And gosh did we sleep well!
Day 2
We woke up, feeling rejuvenated, enjoyed some breakfast bagels and headed to Holmfirth. Of course, we didn’t just follow the road but took the scenic route from Holme to Holmfirth. It was a great introduction to the area, we passed waterfalls, walked along idyllic canals and had some fantastic views of the local villages.
Check out our route from Holme to Holmfirth on Strava;
Circular route from Holme to Holmfirth - 11.6km
Holmfirth itself sits in the heart of the Holme Valley; a picture-postcard town with an energetic atmosphere. The town is popular with hikers, holidaymakers and Last of the Summer Wine fans. Holmfirth is the renowned filming location of the popular series - so, of course, we had to get a photo of Nora Batty’s Steps!
We enjoyed a post-walk pint at The Elephant and Castle, a classic country pub, before heading to Harvey’s for lunch. We’d been recommended Harvey’s by a local who helped us find Nora Batty’s steps - as we clearly looked like lost tourists. Which is exactly what we were.
Harvey’s Bar and Kitchen was such a great spot! A vibrant, quirky restaurant serving a range of pizzas, tapas and burgers. We shared a Spiced Sausage and Chicken Pizza, some Beef Chilli Con Carne Loaded Fries and some Crispy Katsu Chicken Filets. I’m still thinking about those crispy katsu chicken fillets… De-lish!
With full bellies (and happy hearts), we decided to follow the pathed road back to Holme, as it decided to rain. As soon as we got back to the cottage it was time for our comfies, board games and a Harry Potter marathon!
Our route from Holme to Holmfirth and the famous Nora Batty Steps.
Day 3
As today was forecast to be the best weather during our Peak District adventure, we decided to hike from Crowden to Black Hill.
This is one of my favourite hikes in The Peak District.
The route followed the Pennine Way up to Laddow Rocks, with panoramic views of the Peak District on route. The summit of Black Hill can be extremely muddy and boggy in places - so it’s worth avoiding after heavy rainfall.
From Black Hill summit (Holme Moss trig point) we circled back past the old quarry to Crowden. We got caught in some very boggy sections - so it took us a little longer than expected but it was still a fantastic walk and a great start to 2022! I’ll definitely have to return in the summer months.
Check out our route from Crowden to Black Hill on Strava;
Crowden to Black Hill Circular Walk - 14km
Back at the cottage, we enjoyed a home-cooked roast dinner in the evening and an early night - the walk had tired us both out!
Our ascent of Black Hill, with stunning views of The Peak District
Day 4
Can we stay here forever please?
We started our last day with a walk from the cottage to Digley Reservoir. The short walk took us 1.5 hours and boasted amazing views of the reservoir and surrounding mountains.
You can check out the route on Strava here;
Digley Reservoir Circular Route from Holme - 6.3km
After building up an appetite, we headed to The Pickled Pheasant for brunch. The food was AH-MAY-ZING. We had a sneak peek at the evening menu and wished we’d come here one night for dinner - I guess it’s just another excuse to come back! The staff were warm and welcoming, the food beautifully presented and just as tasty and the restaurant itself was homely and well decorated.
I had the mini-breakfast - and it was more than enough food to fill me up before heading back home to Chester.
Digley Reservoir, Holme
Have you been to Holme? I’d love to hear all about your adventure! Drop me a comment below or send me a message on Instagram.