Friday/Saturday 13/14 March 2026 - Shepley and Holmfirth

We used to stay with old university friends of mine, Jill and James, in Wokingham on our way to the Channel Tunnel. But a little over a year ago they moved north to Shepley and it has taken us until now, 13 March 2026, to visit them.

Shepley turns out to be a nice village surrounded by a wonderful network of footpaths. The Trans Pennine Trail and many other named routes are nearby.

Arriving mid morning, we enjoyed a short 3km circuit before lunch, crossing and re-crossing the railway near Shepley station.
 

After lunch, James stayed at home whilst Jill took us around one of her favourite circuits from home. A 9km loop starting past St Paul's church.

We soon entered a field via a kissing gate next to a fancy wrought iron gate.

Jill was recovering from an injury caused by slipping on a rock. Her wrist is bandaged and the incidence of slippery stepping stones almost forced her into splashing across the river and getting wet feet near the start of the walk. Luckily, Sue was on hand to cajole and assist....

... and to go back to pose.

The area seems to be home to several neat and well organised farms. A grassy field was followed by one containing winter greens of some sort. The farmers here (unlike some in Cheshire) seem to be aware of the need to keep footpaths in place through fields of crops.

Some of the stone stiles have ancient ornate stone posts with directions to nearby villages. 

The Kirkburton Parish Walk is one of numerous signposted routes. The footpaths are regularly checked for obstacles, etc, by volunteers from the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society. Jill is one of the volunteers, and we were on her 'patch'. So photos of obstacles (a couple of trees fallen across the paths) were taken for submission to the action unit.

The undulating route passed through a couple of valleys.

Shelf fungi - Hairy Curtain Crust - adorned a gatepost.

There was also lots of Mica Cap fungi (and many more).

At one point the weather threatened, but nothing much came of it as we dawdled along a path next to a field of very green crops.

After more pleasant woodland, we crossed the railway line near Shepley station after choosing not to impede the 4:30 train to Barnsley.

Then a short stomp up the hill to Jill and James's house, for refreshments and a lovely meal.

Here's the route - 12km including the morning's 3km, with 300 metres or so ascent, taking about 3 hours in total.

Saturday 14 March saw Sue, Jill and me heading off to Penistone parkrun, on which I have reported at the end of this posting. In the usual parkrun spirit, it was an enjoyable event, taking place on part of the Trans Pennine Trail.

After returning to Shepley for showers, etc, all four of us headed to Holmfirth, which was very busy. We avoided a traffic jam by parking at a sports ground and walking 1km into the town.

A suitable table at a coffee shop was found, and we had eaten the last of their chocolate croissants before I could find my camera...

A lady at Ashley Jackson's gallery tried very hard to sell us something. It was nice stuff, but probably of more interest and relevance to local inhabitants rather than us from Manchester. It wouldn't surprise me if Jill and James were to acquire something from here, if only to replace an ancient framed photo in their hallway of the Rochdale Canal in Calderdale that Jill thinks I gave her on her 30th birthday., nearly 30 years ago. Doesn't time fly! I must try to find the negative and provide a replacement, as the photo has faded over the years.

After a leisurely lunch back in Shepley - the sausage rolls sourced yesterday at the butcher's in Penistone were delicious - we packed up for the easy hour and a half drive back to Timperley, with a promise to meet soon in Hathersage, which is a little closer to them than it is to us.

Thanks for the hospitality, J and J, and we will see you again soon.