Holme Valley By Bus
The Holme Valley extends to the southern-most point of Huddersfield Branch area and includes remote villages, most of which have pubs selling real ale and are accessible by bus. It’s a great area for walking and Bus services 310, 314 and 316 from Huddersfield are operated by First and are the core bus routes serving the area. The 310 operates every 30 minutes during the daytime and hourly evenings and Sundays. 314 & 316 together operate a combined 30 minute frequency daytimes whilst evenings and Sundays are hourly on the 314 only.
All three buses operate from Huddersfield to Holmfirth via Berry Brow and Honley Bridge. The 314 & 316 also serve Brockholes and New Mill. At Berry Brow, the Railway is a short walk from the bus stop at the bottom of Station Lane. Six cask ales are available at the Railway with beers from Abbeydale, Castle Rock, Moorhouses and Ossett featuring regularly.
Two stops further on from Station Lane is the Golden Fleece, the bus stop is Woodhead Road at Robin Hood Hill. The Golden Fleece serves three cask beers which are constantly changing and sourced locally.
At Brockholes, the Rock Inn is a former Thwaites pub selling cask beers from the Marston’s range alongside traditional pub food and a variety of entertainments.
The 310 operates to Holmfirth and then on to Scholes, Jackson Bridge and then Hepworth. There are four good real ale pubs on this section of the route. Taking Hepworth as the starting point, the first pub is the Butcher’s Arms. A friendly, cosy pub, which although food-orientated is welcoming to drinkers. Real ales available are usually Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best and Landlord and Bradfield Farmers Blonde.
It’s about a 10 minute walk downhill, or a few minutes on the 310, to Jackson Bridge to the next two pubs. The Red Lion is on Sheffield Road, reached by a footpath up through the beer garden from East Street in the centre of the village. The Red Lion is a former coaching inn on the A616 Sheffield Road and is often busy with both drinkers and diners Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker and Bradfield Farmers Blonde are the regular beers with guest beers available too.
Retrace your steps down the footpath to East Street and turn right, the next pub, the White Horse, is visible a short distance ahead. Another cosy pub, the White Horse is in a hollow next to a mill beck. The beer choice may provide a bit of variety compared to the previous pubs with Theakston Summit, Abbeydale Moonshine, Bradfield Farmers Ale, and Marston 61 Deep amongst others being regularly available.
It’s about 10-15 minute walk uphill to the Boot and Shoe at Scholes, or another short ride on the 310. The Boot and Shoe is a thriving village local offering a warm and friendly welcome to all. Real ales available are usually Timothy Taylor Boltmaker and Landlord; Bradfield Farmers Blonde and Tetley Bitter.
The 314 operates to Holmfirth and then on to Holmbridge and Holme. At Holme, the most southerly point in Huddersfield Branch, the Fleece Inn is mainly food-focussed but two cask beers from the Marston’s range are available.
At Holmbridge, a short walk from Holme or a couple of minutes on the 314, the Pickled Pheasant is a country pub and hotel serving four cask beers. Abbeydale and Donkeystone beers are regularly available.
The Stumble Inn is two bus stops away from the Pickled Pheasant and the bus stop is right outside. Four cask beers are available, Wainwright’s is the regular cask beer with up to three guest beers. A real community local that is home to several sports teams, home cooked bar meals are also served.
A further two bus stops away is Burnlee Road and the Farmer’s Arms is a short walk up from the bus stop. A pub with a somewhat chequered history, the Farmer’s Arms has recently (Spring 2023) re-opened and is selling two cask beers, Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.
In Holmfirth itself cask ales are available at almost all pubs, some highlights include: the Tap House, a modern café bar and restaurant serving beers from the Nook brewery next door. The Nook (Rose and Crown) is a Holmfirth institution dating from 1754 and dispensing beers from its own adjacent brewery since 2009. The Magic Rock Tap sells up to three cask beers of their own and collaborations with other breweries. The Old Bridge Hotel and Restaurant has a public bar with six handpumps. Beers from Moorhouses, Timothy Taylor, Bradfield & Black Sheep feature regularly.