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James Herriot/Yorkshire Dales

Posted by on

Hello all, planning a large European trip next summer. About a week or so will be spent in the UK. I have plans to take trains from Edinburgh down to London, stopping at several places along the way. One place I'm very interested in visiting is the Yorkshire Dales (as made famous by the TV series- yes, I know it's a book as well- All Creatures Great and Small).

Anyone know anything about the best way to go about this? From the research I have done, it seems to be a very rural area with limited train stops/accomodations. Is there any sort of James Herriot tour? Can you visit television filming locations?

Even if there is really no organized "James Herriot" activities, I'd still like to get a taste of the Dales for a day.

Any tips would be appreciated, especially in terms of a train station to stop at, a place to stay, etc. that wouldn't be too hard to get to with only public transport.

Thanks.

Posted by
16893 posts

The pleasant town of Thirsk is where the author actually lived. The museum did not yet exist at the time that I was there. Since I had a car, driving the dales was a highlight for me. Like some other sites, I think your own love of the stories is part of what makes it meaningful for you. Rick's England book has a brief chapter on this region that is not in the Great Britain book. There are local buses from York to Thirsk (which bring you closer into town than does the train), Castle Howard (Brideshead Revisited), and a few other recommended sites. The York Tourist Information office is the best way to confirm local transport options. www.edddiebrowntours.com is a local tour company recommended in the book.

Posted by
993 posts

Laura is spot on. Thirsk is where you want to go for things "All Creatures" which, BTW, I still watch on Netflix. I can tell you that I have been to the museum and had a wonderful time. For me, it was like television comfort food. We had a car and were able to get to other sites on our own.

Posted by
2775 posts

I would highly recommend you rent a car in York for the day this is really only way you will be able to see places they used for filming. You can take A19 out of York and it will take you right to Thirsk. Having a car would allow you to drive the loop where you would see the bridge and water splash that you see in the opening scene of All Creatures Great and Small. You would also see the house they used for Skeldale House, the church they used for the wedding of James and Helen and The Wensleydale Heifer Pub that James Wight (aka James Herriot) would go to. That's just a few things.

Posted by
5678 posts

I think too that you need to rent a car. You could rent one in Edinburgh and then drive down to the Dales, stopping off to see Hadrian's Wall on the way. Or you could visit one of the Abbeys in the Borders--Jedburgh is great. Just ditch the care as you leave the Dales. York would be a good place, you can then take the train to London.

I've played with a route on Via Michelin--used the discovery option--and they suggested this. I like:

Pam

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