All Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales - The Real James Herriot experience !
- jillcrowson66
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Behind the much-loved stories of All Creatures Great and Small was a real man: James Herriot, whose real name was Alf Wight.
Born in Sunderland in 1916, Alf moved to Yorkshire in the 1940s to work as a vet in the small market town of Thirsk. What he found there would shape the rest of his life – a landscape of rolling hills, stone barns, farming communities and unforgettable characters.
His books captured everyday rural life in the Yorkshire Dales with warmth, humour and honesty. They became international bestsellers and remain some of the most loved countryside stories ever written.
All Creatures Great and Small Filming locations in the Yorkshire Dales
The books were adapted into the iconic BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, bringing a whole new generation of fans to the Dales.
While the original stories were set around Thirsk, much of the modern filming takes place in:
Grassington – used as the main village of “Darrowby”
Kettlewell – featured in countryside scenes
Malham – dramatic limestone landscapes
The wider Yorkshire Dales
These locations are now major visitor hotspots for fans of All Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Yorkshire Dales Landscape Behind All Creatures Great and Small
One of the reasons the series feels so authentic is that the landscape itself hasn’t really changed.
Dry stone walls, sheep-filled pastures, winding lanes and historic farmsteads still define the region. Places like Ribblehead Viaduct and Ingleborough would have been familiar sights to Herriot himself.
It’s easy to imagine him travelling these same roads on cold winter nights, heading out to help a farmer in need.
Stay Where All Creatures Great and Small Feels Real – Ashes Farm
At Ashes Farm, you’re perfectly placed to experience All Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales in real life.
Located just 1 mile from Ribblehead Viaduct and close to Settle, Ingleton and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ashes Farm offers:
Dark skies for stargazing
Peaceful countryside walks from the door
Traditional stone farm surroundings with modern comfort
Many guests say staying here feels like stepping into an episode of All Creatures Great and Small – without the 1940s hardships.
Why All Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales Still Inspires Today
What makesAll Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales so powerful isn’t just nostalgia – it’s the timeless appeal of rural life, strong communities, and connection to the land.
Visitors still come for the same reasons:
Beautiful scenery
Friendly villages
Wildlife, walking and dark skies
A slower pace of life
Exactly the world James Herriot fell in love with.
Plan Your All Creatures Great and Small in the Yorkshire Dales Break
If you enjoyed our filming locations blog, this article adds the deeper story behind the places.
Staying at Ashes Farm lets you experience the real Yorkshire Dales that inspired James Herriot – not just the TV version, but the living landscape behind the books.
Some stories never fade. They simply live on in the hills.
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