All Creatures Great and Small filming locations
Exploring the North Yorkshire locations behind TV’s most beloved vet
- Stories & Inspiration
- All Creatures Great And Small A Visitors Guide To Filming Locations In North Yorkshire
Beloved by viewers for generations, All Creatures Great and Small continues to captivate audiences with its gentle storytelling, sweeping Dales scenery and unforgettable characters.
First brought to television in 1978, the original series ran until 1990 and was inspired by the much‑loved books of Yorkshire vet Alf Wight. At the centre of his stories is young vet James Herriot, newly arrived in the Yorkshire Dales, who joins the eccentric Siegfried, mischievous brother Tristan and ever‑resourceful Mrs Hall at Skeldale House - while finding himself falling in love with farmer’s daughter Helen. The Channel 5 reboot, launched in 2020, introduced Herriot’s world to a brand‑new global audience.
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking in James Herriot’s footsteps, here’s your guide to the North Yorkshire locations that bring his Yorkshire Dales world to life.
Where was All Creatures Great and Small filmed?
Grassington
Grassington in Wharfedale forms the main setting for the fictional market town of Darrowby in the recent adaptation. Its cobbled square and traditional stone buildings make it the perfect backdrop for a 1930s rural community.
Many of the village’s independent shops were transformed for filming including The Devonshire, which doubles as The Drovers Arms pub exterior. Spot other familiar sites like The Stripey Badger Bookshop & Café (G F Endleby), and the market square, often dressed in 1930s style for filming.
It’s one of the most recognisable and atmospheric filming sites - and a must‑visit for fans. Wander the marketplace and you’ll find reminders round every corner .
Malhamdale
Malhamdale’s dramatic limestone scenery features throughout the series, providing sweeping rural backdrops as James travels between farms to tend to his patients. Its rugged cliffs, rolling hills and peaceful country lanes perfectly capture the wild beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Key filming areas include the striking landscapes around Malham Cove and the open countryside of Malham Lings, where James first arrives in Yorkshire by bus before walking towards Darrowby. Malham Tarn Crossroads feature in the first episode when James careens downhill, trying to control his car. Many of the driving scenes through farmland were also filmed on the quiet roads above Malham.
Just outside the village lies Janet’s Foss, a wooded gorge and picturesque waterfall. Its serene pool appears memorably in the series when James is unexpectedly spotted taking an early‑morning dip by Helen, much to his embarrassment!
Askrigg
The pretty Wensleydale village of Askrigg was the filming location for Darrowby in the BBC series. With its cobbled streets, handsome 18th‑century houses and striking St Oswald’s Church, the village is brimming with character. Key spots include the original Skeldale House on the main street and the village pub used as the Drovers Arms.
Burnsall
The charming St Wilfrid’s Church in Burnsall, overlooking the River Wharfe, was used for the ill‑fated wedding in the first Christmas Special of the rebooted series, when Helen leaves Hugh Hulton at the altar after discovering her true feelings for James. Tuck into a picnic by the river in this peaceful village, or dip your toes in if you visit on a warm day. You can also enjoy a scenic walk to Grassington along the Dales Way on a peaceful 3.5 miles route past Linton Falls and limestone scenery.
Arncliffe
Arncliffe in Littondale appears throughout the Channel 5 series, with the rear yard of Skeldale House filmed in the village. Its village green also features in familiar moments, including scenes from the Darrowby Show as well as the spot where characters gather to catch the bus. With a small community of residents, the village offers stone‑built cottages, peaceful farmland and the River Skirfare flowing through its heart.
TV buffs may also recognise the village pub which served as the very first Woolpack Inn in the early days of Emmerdale Farm from 1972 to 1976.
Hardraw
In earlier seasons of the reboot, the interior pub scenes were filmed at the atmospheric Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw, parts of which date to the 13th century with low ceiling, beams and open fireplaces. Later seasons shifted to filming pub interiors in Appletreewick, inside a characterful 16th‑century inn. The nearby Church of St Mary and St John featured in several episodes of the BBC series, serving as Darrowby’s church.
Thirsk – The real home of James Herriot
Step through the red door at 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk and enter the real life of James Herriot at his original home and surgery, now the award‑winning World of James Herriot attraction. Inside, you can explore fully restored rooms, discover interactive veterinary displays, see props and memorabilia from the TV series, and learn about Herriot’s daily work as a rural vet.
Just along the street you’ll find St Mary’s Church, where Alf Wight married Joan Danbury in 1941, while on Westgate lies Thirsk’s charming cinema, which also features briefly in the series and was often frequented by Alf Wight during his time in the town.
Sutton Bank - "The Finest View in England"
Though not a filming location, no Herriot journey is complete without visiting Sutton Bank. Alf Wight famously described it as "the finest view in England”, and the panoramic sweep across the Vale of York and Mowbray quickly shows you why. Follow the trail to the White Horse of Kilburn, the most northerly turf‑cut figure in Britain and one of North Yorkshire’s most famous landmarks.
Walking routes from the Sutton Bank National Park Centre give access to viewpoints, steps alongside the horse, wildflower‑lined paths in summer, and sightings of gliders taking off from the nearby gliding club.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering James Herriot for the first time, the best way to feel the magic of Herriot Country is to experience it for yourself.
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