Planning your Herriot Country holidays starts with finding the right place to stay. There is nowhere quite like this corner of North Yorkshire in spring and summer. The dales turn green almost overnight. Lambs appear in the fields. The long evenings stretch out over the Hambleton Hills. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you can hear that theme tune playing.
If you have ever watched All Creatures Great and Small and thought, “I want to go there,” this is your sign. The world that James Herriot wrote about, the rolling hills, the working farms, the warmth of North Yorkshire’s people, is not just on television. It is real, and it is waiting for you.
At Lovesome Hill Farm, our working farmhouse B&B sits in the heart of Herriot Country, just four miles north of Northallerton and a short drive from the World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk. Whether you are planning a romantic escape, a family adventure or a walking holiday, this is one of the finest corners of North Yorkshire, and we would love to share it with you.
What is Herriot Country and Why Visit in Spring and Summer?
Herriot Country holidays take you to the area of North Yorkshire that inspired Alf Wight, the real-life vet who wrote under the pen name James Herriot. It takes in Thirsk, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the broad, beautiful vale in between, a landscape that has barely changed since Herriot walked it in his wellington boots.
Spring and summer bring this landscape to life in a way no other season manages. From April onwards, the fields fill with young lambs. By May, the meadows along the Dales are thick with wildflowers. By June and July the light is extraordinary, lasting well into the evening and casting everything in a golden warmth that makes you understand immediately why Herriot never wanted to leave.
For fans of the Channel 5 series starring Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot, or of the beloved original BBC series, visiting in spring and summer means seeing this landscape at its most joyful and most alive. It is the Yorkshire that Herriot described in his books: full, green, working and deeply, quietly beautiful.
Herriot Country Filming Locations: An All Creatures Great and Small Road Trip
The Channel 5 series has introduced a whole new generation to the magic of Herriot Country, and the good news is that many of the filming locations are within easy reach of Lovesome Hill Farm. Here is a suggested road trip itinerary to make the most of your Herriot Country holidays over a long weekend.
Grassington and the Yorkshire Dales
Grassington in the southern Yorkshire Dales is the heart of the Channel 5 series, doubling as the fictional market town of Darrowby. The cobbled market square, the Devonshire Arms (which appears as The Drovers Arms in the show) and The Stripey Badger bookshop are all instantly recognisable to fans.
In spring, Grassington is extraordinary. The surrounding dales are green and full of wildlife, and the village is busy with visitors without ever feeling overcrowded. Allow at least a few hours to wander, have lunch and take in the scenery. From Lovesome Hill Farm, Grassington is around 50 minutes by car, making it a very comfortable day trip.
Askrigg and Wensleydale
Fans of the original BBC series will want to visit Askrigg in Wensleydale, where the village stood in for Darrowby throughout the show’s 12-year run. The house used as the exterior of Skeldale House still stands on Main Street and is today a bed and breakfast, making it perhaps the most atmospheric spot in all of Herriot Country for serious fans of the original series. Askrigg is around 50 minutes from Lovesome Hill Farm, and the drive through Wensleydale is itself one of the most beautiful in the whole of North Yorkshire.
Thirsk and the World of James Herriot Museum
No Herriot Country holiday is complete without a visit to the World of James Herriot museum at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk. This is Skeldale House, the actual home and surgery where Alf Wight lived and worked, now preserved and brought fully to life. The dispensary, the consulting room, the family kitchen, the sitting room, all are here, alongside a beautifully recreated set from the original BBC television series and an exhibition exploring the life and work of Alf Wight.
Thirsk itself is a proper North Yorkshire market town with independent shops, excellent places to eat and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that Herriot described so fondly. Lovesome Hill Farm is less than 20 minutes away, making it the ideal base for a day in Thirsk.
Staying at Lovesome Hill Farm: What to Expect
We are a proper working farm, 165 acres of livestock and arable land overlooking the Hambleton Hills, with the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors on either side. Staying here means experiencing farm life at its most active and most rewarding, whatever the season.
Mary’s Award-Winning Farmhouse Breakfast
Every stay at Lovesome Hill includes Mary’s legendary farmhouse breakfast, cooked on the Aga. Fresh fruit, home-pressed apple juice and the best local produce from trusted suppliers including Acorn Dairy and Beavers Butchers in Northallerton, along with our own free-range eggs. This is the kind of breakfast that sets you up for a full day exploring Herriot Country, and guests regularly tell us it is the best they have had anywhere in Yorkshire.
Hot Tub Cottage and Couples Pod
If you are planning a break for two, our Lovesome Cottage and Lovesome Pod are the perfect choice. Both come with their own private hot tub, and there is something particularly special about soaking in warm water while looking out over the Yorkshire countryside as the sun goes down on a long summer evening. One of the finest views in Herriot Country.
Things to Do on Your Herriot Country Holidays Near Lovesome Hill Farm
While Herriot Country is the star of the show, there is plenty more to explore from Lovesome Hill Farm during the spring and summer months.
- The Yorkshire Dales National Park: wildflower meadows, limestone pavements at Malham Cove, and the gentle green valleys of Wensleydale and Swaledale at their most beautiful in spring and early summer.
- The North York Moors National Park: heather moorland, hidden villages and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, all within easy reach. In early summer the moorland is a lush green before the heather turns purple in August.
- The Coast to Coast Walking Route: Lovesome Hill Farm is a well-loved stop on the famous Coast to Coast walk, with walkers and cyclists particularly welcome. Spring and early summer are favourite seasons for long-distance walkers.
- Thirsk Racecourse: the flat racing season runs through spring and summer, and a day at the races in Thirsk is a classic North Yorkshire afternoon out.
- Northallerton: just four miles away, Northallerton’s market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), independent high street and Bettys tearoom are well worth a visit.
- The Wensleydale Railway: a beautiful heritage steam railway running through the Yorkshire Dales, offering a very different perspective on the landscape that inspired James Herriot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Herriot Country Holidays
Where exactly is Herriot Country?
Herriot Country covers the area of North Yorkshire that inspired James Herriot’s writing, taking in Thirsk, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the broad Vale of Mowbray between them. Northallerton sits right in the heart of this landscape, making Lovesome Hill Farm, just four miles north of the town, a perfect base for exploring everything Herriot Country has to offer.
Is Lovesome Hill Farm close to the World of James Herriot museum?
Yes. Lovesome Hill Farm is less than 20 minutes by car from the World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk. It makes an excellent base for a visit to the museum and a day out in the town.
Where are the All Creatures Great and Small filming locations?
The Channel 5 series is primarily filmed in and around Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales, which doubles as the fictional Darrowby. The original BBC series was filmed largely in Askrigg in Wensleydale. Both locations are within comfortable day-trip distance of Lovesome Hill Farm.
What accommodation is available at Lovesome Hill Farm?
We offer three types of accommodation: four en-suite B&B rooms in our converted granary (with Mary’s award-winning breakfast included), Lovesome Cottage (a self-catering cottage for two with a private hot tub), and Lovesome Pod (a cosy couples pod with its own hot tub). All options are available to book directly through our website.
Are walkers and cyclists welcome at Lovesome Hill Farm?
Absolutely. We are ideally situated on the Coast to Coast route and walkers and cyclists are especially welcome. Budget-friendly bunkhouse accommodation is also available alongside the B&B and self-catering options.
Book Your Herriot Country Holiday at Lovesome Hill Farm
There are very few better bases for Herriot Country holidays in Yorkshire than Lovesome Hill Farm. We are within easy reach of the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, the All Creatures Great and Small filming locations in Grassington and Askrigg, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and Northallerton market.
Choose from our award-winning farmhouse B&B rooms, the romantic Lovesome Cottage with hot tub, or the cosy Lovesome Pod for your Herriot Country holidays. John and Mary look forward to welcoming you.
Call us: 01609 772311 / 07745 780126
Email: lovesomehillfarm@btinternet.com
Book online: lovesomehillfarm.co.uk
