All Creatures Great and Small

Are you are a fan of All Creatures Great and Small ? If so then staying at Frith Lodge is going to be a real treat!

The much loved television series of the 70’s and 80’s and equally loved remake of 2020 is based on the books of the British veterinarian Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot.

The original series of All Creatures Great and Small was set mostly in Swaledale and Wensleydale and the new series mostly in Wharfedale, so from Frith Lodge it is possible to spend a day exploring some of the many film locations used in the TV series and films.

The beautiful village of Askrigg became Darrowby and is the home of the original Skeldale House; the veterinary practice and home to Siegfried, James, Tristan and Mrs Hall, whilst across the road the King’s Arms became the Drover’s Arms and today the pub has much memorabilia in it’s bar. In the first film Langhorne House on the edge of the village green in Reeth became Skeldale House.

The road between Low Row and Langthwaite provides the setting for the wonderful opening scene which sees James drive through the water of a shallow ford and creates a splash, this is a really pretty spot to stop for a picnic. Another familiar opening scene sees James leaving the little hamlet of Langthwaite which is also home of the featured Red Lion pub. In Hardraw you can find ‘Darrowby Church’ and in Hawes the livestock auction mart became ‘Darrowby Cattle Mart’.

The new series sees Darrowby set in Grassington in Wharfedale, with filming locations across the Dales.

However, probably the most memorable features of all the filmed scenes is the miles of spectacular scenery that James, Siegfried and Tristan drove to reach the farms. While a car might be essential to cover the area to see so many of the familiar locations there is also The Herriot Way, a spectacular 4 or 5 day walk in which you can totally immerse yourself in Herriot Country!