Few regions of England are as rich in stories as this part of Yorkshire. Writers, television producers and film makers have found inspiration in its valleys, moors and harbours, and fans travel from around the world to see the places behind the stories. This guide introduces the main connections and how to visit them.
All Creatures Great and Small
The books by James Herriot, the pen name of the vet Alf Wight, describe country practice in the Dales and have been adapted for television more than once. The most recent series has brought a new audience to the area, and villages such as Grassington have been used for filming. A guided All Creatures tour visits the countryside that inspired the stories, with commentary on Herriot's life and on the series. A private version is available from Harrogate for groups who prefer a personal day. Thirsk, where Herriot worked, has a museum devoted to his life.
Heartbeat
The long-running series Heartbeat was set in 1960s Yorkshire and filmed largely around Goathland and the North York Moors. The village of Goathland stood in for the fictional Aidensfield, and its station, green and shops appeared in many episodes. The same station featured in a Harry Potter film. A full-day Heartbeat tour takes you to these locations, and the steam railway day trip passes through the same village.
Dracula and Whitby
Bram Stoker stayed in Whitby in the 1890s and used the ruined abbey, the churchyard and the harbour as settings in Dracula, in which the vampire arrives on a wrecked ship. The abbey is the focus for fans, and the climb up the steps from the old town has become a pilgrimage. The town's goth festivals draw large crowds in cooler months, and shops sell dark and decorative treasures. An audio tour of the old town tells the legends at your own pace.
The Brontes at Haworth
Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte grew up in the parsonage at Haworth, and the moors above the village shaped Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Visitors walk the cobbled Main Street, see the church and the parsonage museum, and head onto the moors towards Top Withens, a ruined farm often linked to Wuthering Heights. The heritage railway on the Worth Valley line adds another film and television connection. A day trip links Haworth with the Dales.
Other connections
The Dales and Moors have appeared in many other productions, from period dramas to wildlife documentaries, and in the writing of many poets and novelists. Rievaulx Abbey and Fountains Abbey are frequent backdrops. Castle Howard, near York, has its own entry in the York guide. Wherever you go, ask your guide or the local visitor centre about recent filming.
Visiting respectfully
Filming locations are real villages where people live and work. Keep noise down, avoid blocking roads, ask before photographing people and do not trespass on private property. Be patient in busy places, and spend money in local shops and cafes.
Planning a screen-themed trip
If you have three days, spend one on the Heartbeat country and the steam railway, one on the Herriot Dales, and one in Whitby and Haworth for literature. Read or watch a little before you go, so that the places feel familiar. Weekdays are calmer in popular villages.
Ghost stories as well
The region's old towns have ghost walking tours in Skipton and Hebden Bridge, adding a layer of folklore to the literary and television themes. These tours work best on dark evenings and give a lighter, more theatrical view of local history.
Seeing it by train
Heritage railways add to the screen and literary theme. The steam line across the North York Moors passes through Goathland, and the Worth Valley line runs below Haworth. Both give a taste of the past, and the carriages, stations and whistles will feel familiar to anyone who has seen the programmes. Check operating days before you plan a date around a train.
Books before you go
Herriot's collected stories, Stoker's Dracula and the Bronte novels all make good travel companions, and each one changes the way you see the places. Audiobooks suit long drives, and short extracts can be read on the spot at a viewpoint or churchyard. Even a few pages help you see why the region has inspired so many storytellers.
