Holme Moss
Encyclopedia
Holme Moss is a moor
in the south Pennines
of England
, on the border between the High Peak District of Derbyshire
and the West Yorkshire
district of Kirklees
. It is just inside the boundary of the Peak District National Park.
Rake Dike rise from Kay edge on the moor and flows through the village of Holme
and into Brownhill reservoir, about a mile below the moor. The upper part of the moor continues into Black Hill
which is crossed by the Pennine Way
north-south footpath.
Harriers Athletics Club organise an annual "Holme Moss Fell Race" on and around Holme Moss in the summer. In the winter Holme Moss frequently gets a covering of snow, while the surrounding valleys do not. The top car park is a popular spot for bringing children to do sledging
, or even more serious snowsports
. With heavier snowfall, the road is always the first in the area to be blocked. This is not helped by two local councils needing to cooperate to keep the road clear of snow, and sometimes one will clear its side of the hill, but the snowploughs turn around at the top, leaving the other side blocked.
To British cycling enthusiasts, Holme Moss has become synonymous with the A6024
(Woodhead Road) which crosses the moor, between the village of Holmbridge to the north and the Woodhead Reservoir
to the south. The northern side in particular is one of England's most well-known bicycle ascents, and has acquired a reputation as among the country's more difficult climbs.
From the north, the road begins to rise from approximately 190 metres above mean sea level
in Holmbridge and gains steadily towards the village of Holme. The road then sweeps round to the left and thereafter the steepness increases through a series of switchbacks. 1.5 kilometres from the summit the gradient climbs above 14%, and remains testing until the car park near the mast is reached and the summit crested. From this side the ascent is 4.8 kilometres long at an average gradient of about 7%. It is often made more challenging by the prevailing south-westerly wind.
From the south, the road begins climbing away from the Woodhead Reservoir
and the A628 road
at an altitude of roughly 250 metres before briefly dropping down again. There in former years was a difficult sloping kink in a sharp valleyside angle (Heyden Bridge), but the road is now higher and easier there; after that, part of the Heyden Brook valley has been afforested with spruce
s. It then rises steeply at an angle up a hillside (Heyden Moor), reaching more than 14% at its steepest. The gradient eases somewhat before one final incline towards the summit (524 meters = 1719 feet), and then over a dark moor on the top. From this side, the climb is 4.3 kilometres long at an average gradient of about 6.4%.
Although not comparable in distance to the famous cols of European bicycle racing, the length and difficulty of Holme Moss relative to other British climbs (as well as its proximity to the large urban areas of Manchester
and Sheffield
) has made it a frequent and popular inclusion in British races, including the Tour of Britain
. For many years the (now defunct) Leeds Classic
race saw internationally-renowned riders (many of them, such as Bjarne Riis
, veterans of the Tour de France
, hence the moniker Le Col de Moss) tackling the climb. It has also been oft-used for domestic competition in British road racing
and mountain biking
.
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Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
in the south Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the border between the High Peak District of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and the West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
district of Kirklees
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
. It is just inside the boundary of the Peak District National Park.
Rake Dike rise from Kay edge on the moor and flows through the village of Holme
Holme, West Yorkshire
Holme is a small rural village southwest of the town of Holmfirth and from Tintwistle on the edge of the Pennines in England. Between Holmbridge and Lane Village in West Yorkshire close to the border with Derbyshire...
and into Brownhill reservoir, about a mile below the moor. The upper part of the moor continues into Black Hill
Black Hill (Peak District)
Black Hill is a hill in the Peak District, England.It used to be the highest point in Cheshire, but now lies on the border between the boroughs of Kirklees in West Yorkshire and High Peak in Derbyshire, reaching above sea level....
which is crossed by the Pennine Way
Pennine Way
The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England. The trail runs from Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, north through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park and ends at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. The path runs along the Pennine hills, sometimes...
north-south footpath.
Sports
The HolmfirthHolmfirth
Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Centred upon the confluence of the Holme and Ribble rivers, Holmfirth is south of Huddersfield and from Glossop. It mostly consists of...
Harriers Athletics Club organise an annual "Holme Moss Fell Race" on and around Holme Moss in the summer. In the winter Holme Moss frequently gets a covering of snow, while the surrounding valleys do not. The top car park is a popular spot for bringing children to do sledging
Sledding
Sledding , sledging , sleding or tobogganing is a common activity in wintry areas, similar to sliding, but in a prone or seated position requiring a device or vehicle generically known in the US as a sled or in other countries as a sledge or toboggan...
, or even more serious snowsports
Winter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
. With heavier snowfall, the road is always the first in the area to be blocked. This is not helped by two local councils needing to cooperate to keep the road clear of snow, and sometimes one will clear its side of the hill, but the snowploughs turn around at the top, leaving the other side blocked.
"Le Col de Moss" bicycle ascent
A roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
List of A roads in zone 6 in Great Britain starting east of the A6 and A7 roads and west of the A1 .-Single- and double-digit roads:-Triple-digit roads:-Four-digit roads :-Four-digit roads :...
(Woodhead Road) which crosses the moor, between the village of Holmbridge to the north and the Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead reservoir is a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
to the south. The northern side in particular is one of England's most well-known bicycle ascents, and has acquired a reputation as among the country's more difficult climbs.
From the north, the road begins to rise from approximately 190 metres above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
in Holmbridge and gains steadily towards the village of Holme. The road then sweeps round to the left and thereafter the steepness increases through a series of switchbacks. 1.5 kilometres from the summit the gradient climbs above 14%, and remains testing until the car park near the mast is reached and the summit crested. From this side the ascent is 4.8 kilometres long at an average gradient of about 7%. It is often made more challenging by the prevailing south-westerly wind.
From the south, the road begins climbing away from the Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead reservoir is a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
and the A628 road
A628 road
The A628 is a major road in the north of England connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire by crossing the Pennine chain of hills by way of the Woodhead Pass through the Peak District National Park. The height and the exposure of the road often creates problems during poor weather in winter...
at an altitude of roughly 250 metres before briefly dropping down again. There in former years was a difficult sloping kink in a sharp valleyside angle (Heyden Bridge), but the road is now higher and easier there; after that, part of the Heyden Brook valley has been afforested with spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
s. It then rises steeply at an angle up a hillside (Heyden Moor), reaching more than 14% at its steepest. The gradient eases somewhat before one final incline towards the summit (524 meters = 1719 feet), and then over a dark moor on the top. From this side, the climb is 4.3 kilometres long at an average gradient of about 6.4%.
Although not comparable in distance to the famous cols of European bicycle racing, the length and difficulty of Holme Moss relative to other British climbs (as well as its proximity to the large urban areas of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
) has made it a frequent and popular inclusion in British races, including the Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain
The Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
. For many years the (now defunct) Leeds Classic
Wincanton Classic
Wincanton Classic was a classic taking place in the United Kingdom as part of the UCI Road World Cup....
race saw internationally-renowned riders (many of them, such as Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
, veterans of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, hence the moniker Le Col de Moss) tackling the climb. It has also been oft-used for domestic competition in British road racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
and mountain biking
Mountain bike racing
The Union Cycliste Internationale recognised the sport of mountain bike racing relatively late in 1990, when it sanctioned the world championships in Purgatory, Colorado. The first mountain biking world cup series took place in 1991. Its nine-race circuit covered two continents—Europe and North...
.