Holme Moss Framing the Landscape Walk
A short and easy moorland walk from Holme Moss car park to one of the Peak District’s striking “Framing the Landscape” art installations, with sweeping Dark Peak views from the very start
Start: Holme Moss Car Park, A6024 (above Holme village)
Distance: 8 miles
Duration: 3-4 hours
Elevation: 1,125 feet
Difficulty: Moderate - moorland paths, some uneven ground, a few steady climbs
Navigation: Follow step-by-step on komoot, or download GPX file
About the route
This is a full-day moorland walk that starts high on the A6024 at Holme Moss Car Park, immediately giving you huge views across the Dark Peak.
You’ll visit the Holme Moss “Framing the Landscape” frame, one of six open-air art installations by Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson, before heading deeper onto the moors towards Snailsden Reservoir. The loop around Snailsden is wonderfully peaceful, with big sky views, heather-clad slopes, and glimpses of Yateholme Reservoir below.
The route has a mix of well-trodden paths and more rugged moorland tracks, making it a satisfying walk without being overly strenuous..
Route difficulty
Moderate. While there are no huge climbs, the distance, exposure, and occasional boggy patches mean it’s best suited to walkers with a reasonable level of fitness and decent footwear.
Route highlights
Holme Moss frame: Perfectly positioned for panoramic Dark Peak views.
Snailsden Reservoir: A quiet, secluded spot surrounded by wild moorland.
Yateholme views: A lovely vantage point over the reservoir and surrounding hills.
High moorland atmosphere: Ever-changing skies and a real sense of space.
Why you’ll love this walk
A unique blend of art and landscape – the Holme Moss frame makes for a standout photo stop.
Varied scenery – open moors, wild reservoirs, and far-reaching valley views.
Peaceful paths – Snailsden is quieter than the better-known Peak District reservoirs.
A satisfying circular route with big skies from start to finish.
Things to do nearby
Holmfirth: Enjoy lunch, coffee, or a browse in the town’s independent shops.
Digley Reservoir: A gentler, low-level reservoir walk just down the road.
The Fleece Inn, Holme: Cosy pub meals in a classic moorland village setting.
Getting to the starting point
By car: Park at Holme Moss Car Park (A6024, above Holme village). Free parking but limited spaces – get there early on sunny weekends.
By public transport: Buses run to Holme village; from there it’s a steep walk up the A6024 (no pavement in places – take care).
Following the route
I use komoot and OS Maps for offline navigation. Follow the full route step-by-step komoot, or download GPX file and upload it to your preferred app.
Good to knows
Footwear: Waterproof walking boots are essential – moorland sections can be boggy.
Navigation: Carry a map or GPX – some moorland paths are less defined.
Exposure: This is a high, open route – expect wind, even on calm days.
Dogs: Allowed, but keep them on a lead during bird-nesting season.
How to extend your adventure
You could link this route with other moorland tracks towards Black Hill or Wessenden Head, ticking off another of the “Framing the Landscape” frames in the process.
