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On arriving in any town the sensible tourist seeks out the local tourist information centre in order to find all the information necessary to see the local sights, find their way around, find suitable accommodation and generally make the most of their visit.   Some will do so before traveling and some on arrival.   Typical of such a valuable source of knowledge is the Holmfirth Tourist Information Centre (TIC) which is situated on the Huddersfield Road (A6024) in the heart of the town, adjacent to the library and easily accessible to all visitors.   It also happens to be very near to the Summer Wine Exhibition, Norah Batty’s house and Sid’s Café.

Here can be found a wealth of information regarding the delights of the Holme Valley and the surrounding area together with the benefits of directions as to where the local scenes from the series are located.   It must be clear that some of the familiar locations are in fact private residences and although pedestrian access is definitely possible, a certain amount of tact and diplomacy should be exercised for the sake of the residents!  As some of the locations are in other areas, it is sensible to make use of the excellent location tours on offer (see Sid’s Café) or else talk to the friendly staff in the TIC who will advise you accordingly.

Talking to the two helpful souls who can normally be found running the TIC – Sue and Stephanie (PICTURED ABOVE) – I established that they are the best first contact for visitors to Holmfirth.   They confirmed that a high proportion of the visitors they see are Summer Wine fans including some who have family connections in the area.   Visitors arrive from New Zealand, Canada and in particular the U. S. A.   in addition, of course, to a huge number of UK fans!   

What are their Most Frequently Asked Questions?

 
Asked as to the most frequently asked questions regarding Summer Wine they said that these included the following:

“Where’s Norah Batty’s house & the famous steps?”

“Where’s the café run by Ivy (Sid’s Café)?”

“Where’s the pub”?  (Usually meaning the White Horse at nearby village of Jackson Bridge)

“Where’s Packhorse Bridge?” (Marsden)

“Where’s Bill Owen’s (Compo) grave?”  (just up the hill!)

“Where do Clegg and Howard & Pearl live?” (up above White Horse, Jackson Bridge)

Some of the questions or comments recorded in their visitor’s book include these:

“Will Norah Batty be in today do you think?”

“Cool place!”

“Great staff” (I concur with that view!)

“We’re here to visit Clegg’s house”

“What a beautiful place”

(together with something about a duck with a broken leg!!!)

 

I asked if they felt that more could or should be done for tourists and we discussed the fact that some tourists required a wider choice of hotels which meant that they sometimes decided to stay outside Holmfirth itself.    Good accommodation is available locally depending upon visitor’s requirements and includes small hotels, inns, bed & breakfast guest houses etc – again the ladies at the TIC can advise.

I found Sue and Stephanie to be helpful, bright and cheerful in their work and in possession of a great source of knowledge and am happy to recommend that tourism for Holmfirth and the surrounding Summer Wine Country should certainly start at the TIC where you will receive a warm welcome.   Their address for e-mails is as follows:

Holmfirth.tic@kirkleesmc.gov.uk and the TIC is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm (– this gives them time to get home to watch Last of the Summer Wine of course!)   

Gerald Hayne