Herriot country and in search for the ford.

 I had reservations! The roads in the Yorkshire Dales looked awfully narrow and the one in particular we wanted to go along looked to be just a track. It was the road in the opening scene of all Creatures Great and Small where the Austin comes down a hill and through the ford. Trying to find the road was in itself challenging. All we knew was, it was between Low Row and Arkengarthdale. First we had to reach the Dales, and driving along the A6018 toward Leyburn, we came across Jervaulx Abbey. Such a lovely tranquil place...until, that is, about 10 kids with their parents turned up with a football and proceeded to take over the grounds! Thankfully our walk was almost over, and I managed to get the photos without interference from the kids.

 

Having roughly worked out which road to take for that ford by stopping at Low Row to look at the map, we found what we assumed was the correct road. The only trouble, it was a particularly narrow right turn of the main road with a very sharp bend and made us wonder whether it would be too challenging for MB. After a quick ponder thought it best to carry on and so drove past., but then Ian had a different idea. "Lets turn around and give it a go" said he. Oh, eck I thought....this could be interesting! 

I needn't have worried because apart from the first bit of road, the Dales opened up before us and passing places were to be had. We found what looked to be the place except.....hmm, there was a bridge across the Hard Level Gill, a tributary of the River Swale, but no ford. Nop, this couldn't be it but wow what a place to stop and explore, and after a long walk decided this was to be the camp4night stop. I do so hope no other motorhomes or vans join us. There is something special about the solitude, listening to the wind and hearing the call of the Grouse, Meadow Pipits and Curlews that is quite magical.

 

And wildlife today,

Meadow Pipit

Small Copper

Tiger Beetle

And before we left the racecourse, this Crow pinching the neighbours dog biscuits.

Amongst the gliders

We missed it! The filming of the All Creatures Great and Small episode. On our way to the James Herriot museum there was a hive of activity at the cinema with props being taken in. I managed to get a photo of the 1930's dress shop window with an open door showing the 2021 domestic appliances repair shop. Quite bizarre from the old to the new! 

Bottom right shows the door open to the white goods.

We even managed to have a sneak peek inside the cinema and I had hoped the filming would happen when we returned from our visit to the museum.

So the museum time slot was for 10 am, we arrived early and expected to wait, but one of the staff ushered us in, a real bonus 'cos we had the place to ourselves.

I expect you all know that James Herriot was really James Alfred Wight (known as Alf) and that Siegfried was really Donald Sinclair. The house, 23 Kirkgate, now a museum, was set up almost identical to when they actually worked there as the first few photos show.

 

James Alfred Wight

Top and bottom left, Dining Room and office and Mrs Pumphrey, Top and bottom right  Sitting room

Dispensary and Scullery.

Go through another door and the set-up is quite different. This time as a film studio and the shooting of the series.

What a fabulous place to visit, especially if like me, you are James Herriot fan. If you haven't done it already, have a look at the link. It's fascinating reading.

I mentioned in my opening paragraph how we missed the filming of one of the episodes. On our way back to MB the cinema was being stripped of everything 1930s and put back to present day.

Top photo for the filming, middle photo being stripped and bottom photo of present day.

After lunch, we went in search of the White Horse. A tip off by a local mentioned a walk from Sutton Bank Visitor center, which also passed the gliding club, that took one to the top of the horse. 120 steps down would then take one to the bottom to view the whole horse.

Once more we had to do the notorious A170 hill, up this time, with its hairpins and MB took it all in its stride. Whether the Beast would have made it up is another question. Longer and heavier it may well have struggled. Anyway we got parked and started the 'so called' mile long walk. I say so called because we got to the mile marker set into the ground and the horse was nowhere to be seen. I reckon it was nearer to two miles before we reached it.

The views were to die for, oh how I wished it hadn't been misty. That Gliding club had gliders up in the air and because we walked around the perimeter of the airfield, had amazing views of them taking off and landing.

 

So the top of the horse....well what did I expect, it just looked like a mound of white granite. And those steps...last year they would have been no problem, but these days I'm suffering with my knees. Climbing up steps is okay but knowing I would have the pain on the descent, decided against it. Instead, looking down to see a car park at the bottom, decided driving would be the better option.

Shame the trees are obscuring its head.

This is our last night on this racecourse site, so tomorrow will be wild camping. We rather fancy one of the many lay-bys on the Yorkshire Dales. And who knows...with clear skies and no light pollution maybe the Milky Way will be visible.

And wildlife today.

Small Heath

The filming of All Creatures Great and Small

 Such a lazy day. Sun was out and the temperature rising nicely, but a 'lazy day' had not been on the cards for today.  'Best laid plans' and all that went completely out of the window when we found out no visitors were allowed on this site!

You see we had arranged for friends to meet us at Thirsk but hadn't factored in the Covid rule on this camp site. Unfortunately, reading through their rules, one sentence stood out. No visitors allowed on site.  Okay, we thought, all was not lost. Fountains abbey was nearby so how about meeting with them there. A sound idea except that Covid situation arose again in the form of booking a time slot instead of just turning up. Try as we might nothing was available, blooming half-term scuppered that plan! What a disappointment. So we cancelled the meeting and was now wondering what to do with ourselves. 

First thing first, wash MB. All that rain during the first part of the trip and road dirt made the bodywork look grey and as for those dead bugs splattered over the bonnet and roof overhang, most unsightly. Whilst Ian got down to that task, I lifted the carpet to give the floor a good clean. Good grief, it looked as if the rubber backing had started to deteriorate because the dust and debris lying on the floor was shocking.

By lunchtime, we had finished so a walk into Thirsk to find a wetherspoons, I thought we would struggle to find a table but judging by the amount of caravans and motorhomes leaving this morning, I expect a lot of people have left to try and beat the traffic. The market was on and for once Ian treated himself to a pair of shorts. It was very necessary because of the two pair in the motorhome, one had the beginnings of a hole, I won't say where but if it got any bigger he may well have been up for indecent exposure! Of course there are loads of shops with the reference to James Heriot. This is his part of the world after all. Passing an Information Centre, we called in to see what else was around these parts and overheard a couple asking why the Ritz cinema had been dressed up to look like the 1930s. Apparently the new series of All Creatures Great and Small will be out on channel 5 later this year and part of the filming is due to start tomorrow by the cinema.

Check out this advert. A car for £141 pound, if only!

Back at MB and with the sun streaming down, we chilled out with a beer and a chat with our fellow campers. Ian managed to get tickets for the Herriot Museum tomorrow, so at least we now have something to go and see. We may also go back to Sutton Bank summit. The views from there are spectacular, we have been told. Just have to hope MB makes it up that 1 in 3 hill!

And wildlife from yesterday.