Holmfirth

Steep cobbled streets wind between honey-coloured stone cottages, where Nora Batty once hung her famous wrinkled stockings. The Last of the Summer Wine made Holmfirth a household name, but this Pennine mill town has far more to offer than nostalgia for Compo's antics. Stone-built terraces cling to hillsides like determined climbers, while the River Holme chatters through the valley bottom.

Black Hill looms to the north - a proper moorland summit that'll test your legs on the way up but rewards with sweeping views across the Dark Peak. The surrounding landscape is classic Yorkshire grit country, all heather moors and drystone walls. Boshaw Whams Reservoir and Holme Styes Reservoir offer quieter walking, though they can feel a bit bleak on grey days.

The town centre revolves around a compact grid of streets lined with independent shops and cafes. Three Arches gallery showcases local artists, while Longley Farm draws families for ice cream and farm visits. It's the kind of place where you'll hear proper Yorkshire accents and find decent pies.

Getting here from Sheffield or Manchester takes about 45 minutes by car, following the A628 through some cracking Pennine scenery. The nearest train station is at Brockholes, though that's a bit of a trek without your own wheels.

Staying at one of the camping spots around the valley makes perfect sense. You're right in prime walking territory, with the Trans Pennine Trail passing nearby and endless moorland rambles on your doorstep. Holmfirth works brilliantly as a base for exploring the wilder parts of the Peak District's northern edges.