Peak District

Map view

The vast 555 square miles (1,438 square kilometres) of the Peak District National Park start just over five miles from Huddersfield town centre.

The Peak District National Park was designated on April 17, 1951, and was the first of Britain's national parks.

Huddersfield is near the northern Dark Peak area of the Peak District, characterised by gritstone and peat moorlands, although these are increasingly being revegetated with heather.

The area has vast plateaus with some rocky outcrops and deep stream-filled valleys, known as cloughs.

Some of the larger valleys are occupied by reservoirs adding to the beauty of the local landscape.

The land rises in places to rounded peaks which on a day clear of low cloud can offer breathtaking panoramas for many miles across Yorkshire. One such point is West Nab at 501 metres, above Meltham and the Wessenden Valley which leads to Marsden.

A higher point, though, is on the more remote moorland of Black Hill. At 582m, this hilltop on the boundary of the Kirklees district of West Yorkshire was once the highest point of the historic county of Cheshire, although that side of the boundary is now Derbyshire.

The area offers excellent opportunities for walking, from well signposted paths and tracks in the lower reaches of the park to more challenging hiking conditions on the open moorland, which is crossed by the Pennine Way long distance hiking route.

There are also cycling opportunities in the area. The ultimate challenge might to be to cycle over Holme Moss, where the road summit is 524m (1719ft) above sea level. The route formed a King of the Mountain stage when the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014.

For a flatter traffic-free route, however, the Trans Pennine Trail can be taken along the former Woodhead railway line in Longdendale. This can be accessed from the Torside car park off the road to Glossop at the other side of Holme Moss, about 15 miles drive from Huddersfield, or from Dunford Bridge, about 11 miles south of Huddersfield by road, where you can head east along the former railway trackbed.

The splendid scenery of the area can also be enjoyed from several moorland pubs and restaurants at the edges of the park.

Travel

Bus services

Regular bus services into the National Park are the 314 bus service from Huddersfield bus station via Holmfirth to Holme village, while service 184 operates from Huddersfield bus station to the boundary of the park near Redbrook Reservoir above Marsden, where there are opportunities for walks starting on the moorland.

314

Huddersfield Bus station - Lockwood - Berry Brow Parkgate - Honley Bridge - Brockholes - New Mill - Wooldale New Mill Road - Holmfirth Bus station - Hinchliffe Mill Woodhead Road - Holmbridge - Holme

Timetable at

Metro Service information at

First

184 Every day until early evening

Huddersfield Bus station - Longroyd Bridge - Thornton Lodge Manchester Road - Milnsbridge Manchester Road - Cowlersley Manchester Road - Linthwaite Manchester Road - Slaithwaite Manchester Road - Marsden Manchester Road - Uppermill - Oldham - Manchester

Timetable at

Metro Service information at

First

There are also bus services to the large villages of Meltham and Marsden where the park starts around half a mile from the village centres. Also check the Friday 351 service from Holmfirth via Holme Moss to Glossop and Saturday 352 and Tuesday 357 running over the moors from Holmfirth towards Greenfield.

351 Friday only, infrequent service

Holmfirth Bus station - Hinchliffe Mill - Holmbridge - Holme - Holme Moss - Torside Visitor centre - Glossop

Timetable at

Metro Timetables (.pdf format) at

South Pennine Community Transport

352 Saturday only, infrequent service

Holmfirth Bus station - Parkhead - Greenfield Road, The Huntsman - Greenfield - Uppermill

Timetable at

Metro Timetables (.pdf format) at

South Pennine Community Transport

357 Tuesday only, infrequent service

Holmfirth Bus station - Parkhead - Greenfield Road, The Huntsman - Greenfield - Mossley - Ashton-under-Lyne

Timetable at

Metro Timetables (.pdf format) at

South Pennine Community Transport

Nearest station

The nearest railway station to the National Park in the Huddersfield area is at Marsden on the Huddersfield Line to Manchester from where there is a one mile walk to the edge of the park near Butterley Reservoir and the Wessenden Valley.

Useful web links

Peak District National Park website

Also in Huddersfield.guide

Holme Meltham Marsden