23/03/2025
James Herriot fans: have you visited all the locations in the TV series? When asked about the origin of the fictional town of Darrowby, James Herriot (pen name for Alf Wight) described it as a mixture of Thirsk (where you'll find the excellent The World Of James Herriot, Richmond, Leyburn and Middleham and 'a chunk of imagination'.
The current seasons of All Creatures Great & Small are mainly filmed around Grassington which became the fictional market town of Darrowby. Many of the buildings around the square were transformed into different businesses.
The Devonshire Arms was used as the The Drovers Arms (the inside scenes filmed at the Green Dragon at Hardraw. James Herriot's home and surgery at Skeldale House was created from a private house in Grassington. The Stripey Badger Bookshop, Coffee Shop & Kitchen became G F Endleby Grocers and was used by the cast and crew during breaks. Helen Midgleys became Handleys Booksellers. Darrowby Cycles is normally Walkers Bakers and The Rustic Rabbit was transformed into Higgins Bakers.
You'll be able to spot some other notable locations. James gets off the bus at a crossroad which is Malham Lings and is seen in the water at Janet's Foss in Malham. Mrs. Pumphrey's house is the beautiful Broughton Hall and some of the driving shots were filmed on the Broughton Estate. You'll also spot the gorgeous little village of Kettlewell, Ripon race course, and I think some race horses from the Middleham stables. You'll also spot Yockenthwaite Farm, Littondale and Arncliffe. Look out for others scenes filmed at Studley Royal Cricket Club, Keighley station, Kettlewell, The Ritz Cinema in Thirsk, and North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
The first TV series (quite some time ago but still much-loved) was filmed in Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale. Langthwaite was featured in the opening credits of the first Herriot series. The Red Lion pub was used for some scenes. Follow the road to Low Row and you'll come across the iconic water splash too, a shallow ford through which James Herriot drives.
Askrigg is a lovely little village on the edge of the moor. It was used as Darrowby, with one of the Georgian houses across from the market cross acting as Skeldale House. The Kings Arms was the fictional Drovers Arms - you can still see some photos inside the pub from when the series was filmed.
Leyburn was used as Scarsburn, the fictional home of Granville Bennett and where Ewan Ross had his practice. The imposing Thornborough Hall was used to film scenes at the Ministry of Agriculture. You can see a recreation of James Herriot's surgery at the Richmondshire Museum in Richmond.
A new series of the Channel 5 series is currently being filmed.
Do comment if you've spotted any other locations, and add your photos of any of your favourite spots.
