Van Miles

We spent two nights at Holme Valley Camping near Holmfirth at the end of September, using it as our base for a weekend exploring the Holme Valley and going to see One Night in Nashville at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth.

I’d actually tried to book Holme Valley Camping before, but it always seemed to be full, so this is definitely one I’d recommend booking in advance. By the time we booked, all the hardstanding pitches had gone, so we chose a grass pitch with electric hook-up instead.

We were really lucky with the weather and had a lovely dry September weekend. One of the things I liked most about this campsite was that it didn’t feel regimented. There are different camping areas, a duck pond, woodland, cabins and little paths leading around the site, which gave it quite a quirky and relaxed feel.

It’s also possible to walk from the campsite into Holmfirth, either by road or along a more scenic off-road route. There are plenty of other walks around the Holme Valley too, making this a great base if, like us, you enjoy getting out walking and leaving the campervan on its pitch.

Arriving at Holme Valley Camping

Reception is immediately on the right as you drive in, with a barrier controlling access to the campsite.

We had booked a grass pitch with electric hook-up and were allocated a pitch in the bottom field. I’d done a little research beforehand and was actually quite pleased with this.

The camping areas around the duck pond are very scenic, but with lots of mature trees they can also be quite shaded. At the end of September, when the sun is already much lower, we wanted to make the most of any sunshine we could get.

The bottom field is much more open.

The pitches are marked out to help maintain a good distance between you and your neighbours. From what we noticed during our stay, pitches 1–4 caught the morning sunshine, while the pitches opposite seemed to get more sun later in the day.

There is also a children’s play area in this field, along with water taps, bins and a pot-washing area.

Toilets and Showers

There was a toilet block in the bottom field which was accessed using a key code.

It had four toilets, and although this was absolutely fine during our September stay, I did wonder whether it could get busy during the height of summer as it appeared to serve both the bottom field and the newer field.

There were also three showers and toilets in another facilities area. These were spotless when we visited and, importantly for a cooler September weekend, lovely and warm.

There are also proper family bathrooms available to hire for around £14, which could be useful for families wanting a little more privacy.

As we explored further around the site, we also came across additional toilets and showers, a launderette and another pot-washing area.

Food and Reception

There is a little food cabin in the bottom field which opens during the summer months. Unfortunately, it had closed for the season when we visited at the end of September.

It would have been lovely to wander over for breakfast or something to eat in the evening, so that’s definitely something I’d like to try if we return during the summer.

Reception was still selling coffees at the weekend.

There is also a small shop in reception stocking essentials, including alcoholic drinks, so you don’t necessarily need to leave the campsite if you’ve forgotten something.

The Duck Pond

The duck pond was probably my favourite part of the campsite.

It has a lovely tranquil feel, with plenty of hardstanding pitches around this area and lots of mature trees. There are water and bin points nearby too.

There are also one or two cabins overlooking the pond, and we saw people fishing during our stay.

The tall trees make this part of the campsite feel really sheltered and peaceful, although they also mean it gets considerably more shade than the open fields, particularly at this time of year.

The ducks wander freely from the pond into the camping fields, which was lovely to see. You can even buy duck food from reception.

Although be warned – the ducks don’t necessarily believe in lie-ins! I could hear them quite early beside our van one morning.

Cabins and BBQ Hut

Walking through the campsite, we followed some steps which brought us onto a public footpath.

Across the field we spotted another small collection of around four or five lovely-looking cabins.

There is also a wooden BBQ hut which can be hired. When we visited it was around £80 for the evening, with wood and utensils provided.

I thought this would be a great idea if several families or friends were staying together and wanted somewhere to gather in the evening.

These different areas are one of the things that gave Holme Valley Camping its quirky feel. Rather than rows and rows of identical pitches, there always seemed to be another little area to discover.

Walking from Holme Valley Camping to Holmfirth – Off-Road Route

One of the reasons we chose the campsite was its location.

You can walk into Holmfirth without having to move the campervan, and we found a lovely off-road route from the back of the campsite.

From the bottom camping field, turn right towards the public footpath between the bottom and new fields.

Turn left and cross the iron bridge.

When you reach the road, turn right and walk past the Italian restaurant. Take the right-hand route towards the steps further up and this brings you onto the start of a woodland walk.

Continue through the woods until you eventually emerge near Thongsbridge Cricket Club.

Follow the road towards the top, cross over and, just before the church on your left, look for the public footpath.

A little further along, the path forks.

The right-hand path is lower and flatter, while the left-hand route climbs higher and gives better views but includes a steeper section. As we were walking with our older dog, we chose the lower right-hand route.

Continue following the path until you reach another road. Go straight across and continue on the public footpath to the top.

Turn right and walk downhill along the road, which eventually brings you into Holmfirth.

It took us approximately 30–35 minutes.

This isn’t a route I’d recommend for prams or wheelchairs. Some sections are uneven underfoot and I imagine it could get quite muddy after heavy rain.

I’d also stick to daylight hours. There are wooded and off-road sections which would be extremely dark at night.

Walking into Holmfirth by Road

There is a much easier road route into Holmfirth too.

Leave through the front of the campsite and turn left, following the pavement alongside the road.

This took us approximately 25–30 minutes and was the route we chose when we walked into Holmfirth in the evening for our show.

You pass several useful shops along the way. Aldi is roughly a 10-minute walk from the campsite, followed further along by Lidl and the Co-op.

Even though it’s the less scenic of the two routes, there are still some lovely views across to the Yorkshire houses covering the opposite hillside.

We were particularly lucky on our walk when a rainbow appeared across the hillside – one of those little moments that you don’t plan but end up remembering from a weekend away.

Walks Around Holmfirth and the Holme Valley

If you enjoy walking, this is a lovely area to explore and our two-night weekend only really touched on what there is to do.

Digley Reservoir

We visited Digley Reservoir during our weekend and I’ve written a separate walk guide for this one.

It’s a lovely short reservoir walk which can be extended if you want something longer. We chose the shorter circular route as we had our older dog with us.

The reservoir is surrounded by beautiful Yorkshire countryside and it’s an easy one to combine with a stay at Holme Valley Camping.

I’ll link my full Digley Reservoir walk here. Digley Reservoir Walk – Easy 1.5 Mile Circular Near Holmfirth

Three Reservoirs Walk

Another option in the area is the Three Reservoirs Walk.

This is one I’d consider if you want a longer and more scenic reservoir walk, taking in more of the countryside around the Holme Valley.

Last of the Summer Wine Country

Holmfirth is probably best known as the home of Last of the Summer Wine, so there are several walks where you can explore some of the countryside and locations associated with the programme. I didn’t have time to do one on this visit, but it’s definitely on my list for when we return. I particularly like the idea of combining a walk through the Holme Valley countryside with spotting some of the familiar filming locations along the way. Even if you weren’t a huge fan of the programme, it looks like a lovely way to see more of the area on foot.

This is definitely going on my list for our next visit.

Holme Moss and Ramsden Clough

For something a little more challenging, there is the Holme Moss and Ramsden Clough Holme Valley circular walk.

This would be one for a day when we had more time and wanted a longer walk with some of the bigger landscapes and views around the Holme Valley.

Riverside Walk from the Campsite

You don’t necessarily need to drive anywhere to find another walk.

The campsite provides information and a map for a riverside walk which can be started directly from the site.

Unfortunately, we simply didn’t have enough time to try this one during our two-night stay, but it’s one of the walks I want to do when we return.

Being able to leave the campervan pitched up and head straight out walking is a big plus for us.

The 4 Pub Walk

There is also a 4 Pub Walk from the campsite, with a route map available on site.

Again, we didn’t manage to fit this into our weekend, but it sounds like a good way to spend a day exploring the local area without needing to drive anywhere.

I’ll definitely be picking up the map again next time!

Between the walks from the campsite, Digley Reservoir and all the routes around Holmfirth and the wider Holme Valley, we only scratched the surface during this visit.

I’m already planning to come back to do the riverside walk, the 4 Pub Walk and the Last of the Summer Wine country walk.

Would We Stay at Holme Valley Camping Again?

Yes, I would.

I liked the relaxed, slightly quirky feel of Holme Valley Camping and the fact that the different areas of the campsite all felt a little different.

The duck pond area is particularly pretty, while the bottom field suited us because it was much more open and gave us a better chance of catching the September sunshine.

Being able to leave the campervan on the pitch and walk into Holmfirth was another big advantage. We could take the scenic off-road route during the day and use the easier road route when we were heading into town in the evening.

There is also far more walking in the surrounding area than we could possibly fit into two nights. For us, that’s another reason to return.

My main tip would be to book ahead. I’d tried to get onto this campsite previously without success, and even for our late-September stay the hardstanding pitches had already gone.

For us, it worked perfectly for our two-night Holmfirth weekend, our night at the Picturedrome and a visit to Digley Reservoir.

Next time, I think we’ll need to stay a little longer.

Planning Your Stay at Holme Valley Camping

Holme Valley Camping and Caravan Park
Thongsbridge
Holmfirth
West Yorkshire
HD9 7TD

Telephone: 01484 665819

For current prices, pitch availability and bookings, visit the official Holme Valley Camping website. Holme Valley Camping official website

Please note: the campsite advises that sat-nav can sometimes try to take you to the wrong entrance. Vehicle access is from the A6024, so I’d recommend checking the campsite’s directions before travelling.