It may be colder and windier than less lofty villages but locals in Bolster Moor wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bolster Moor, just above Golcar, Huddersfield, has far-reaching views across the Colne Valley, with landmarks Castle Hill and Emley Moor Mast appearing to sit beside one another in the distance.
John, 65, a retired builder, has been living in the village for coming up to 50 years and couldn’t see himself living anywhere else. “Yes, we are ‘out in the sticks’ but we are also close to town, close to the moors and with some lovely walks.”
He says the beauty of the moorland landscape, which is dotted with sheep, horses and farmhouses, is comparable to the Peak District, but without the busyness associated with tourism hotspots. John, a straight-talking Yorkshireman, says: “I don’t think there’s anywhere better in the world.”
Old and modern homes in Bolster Moor
However, anyone thinking of moving to Bolster Moor might want to ‘think on’ if they have any nesh (soft) tendencies as the weather can be brutal. Several residents found themselves pretty much housebound earlier this month due to heavy snowfall.
“It’s great when it’s dry but when it’s p***ing down it’s not so good. Sometimes it p***** down up hill,” adds John. John suggests that I give Bolster Moor a ‘bad report’ so that visitors might stay away so it remains fairly quiet. “It’s a peaceful place,” he adds.
But he says that it’s not always quiet because the ever-popular and award-winning Bolster Moor farm shop and cafe can get very busy.
Bolster Moor is also popular with dog walkers, ramblers and people who like to visit the Golcar Lily pub and the Scape House pub up the road in Scapegoat Hill.
A woman walking her dog, who asked not to be named, was visiting Bolster Moor from nearby Pole Moor. She thinks Bolster Moor is more of a community than Pole Moor, but that the former might be a bit ‘cliquey’.
Bolster Moor
“If you go into the pub (and are new), everyone turns around,” she added. “Everyone knows everybody and it is only a small community.”
As the howling wind whipped across the moorland, two walkers reached Bolster Moor in time to chat with Yorkshire Live as the temperature gauge dropped to around 6C. It felt much colder in the wind and there was no hiding from it.
Diane and Susan, who had their big coats on, had walked up from Golcar to meet their friend Wendy. They love to call into the farm shop for provisions. Susan and Diane noted that it was ‘bloody freezing’ but they appreciated the views across Huddersfield.
They say houses for sale are often ‘snapped up’ in Golcar and Bolster Moor. Wendy said: “I have lived here for 50-odd years so I must like it. It is quiet, but not so quiet since the farm shop opened.”
Enjoying a blustery day in Bolster Moor are, from left, Wendy, Susan and Diane
(Image: Yorkshire Live)
The ladies say that the farm shop pulls in visitors from ‘far and wide’ but the number of visitors can thin out when the weather is really bad.
Diane says: “We’ve walked from Golcar and it is bloody freezing. In the summer it is lovely.”
Susan adds: “The views are fabulous and the people are nice and friendly.”
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