James Herriot, our much loved author and subject of the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ TV series mentions several walks in his book ‘James Herriots Yorkshire’ and has inspired other walks connected with his stories and life. I had some lovely comments about my ‘James Herriot’ walk around Thirsk – his home town together with description and a map – THANK YOU for those that did so. I decided to write up another walk that Alf Wight (James Herriot) mentions…
Have you ever been curious about the real places that Alf Wight (James Herriot) wrote about in his books? If so, there is the excellent book ‘James Herriot’s Yorkshire’ in which he talks about Thirsk – the place that Darrowby was mostly based on. Thirsk is where you will find the real Skeldale House (Now the marvellous ‘WORLD OF JAMES HERRIOT’). The real ‘Drovers’ Pub. The Church where he was married. The place where his children were born. The house…
OK, so you’ve already had a zillion people wish you ‘Happy New Year’ already. I simply wanted to thank you for your interest in my ‘Musings of a James Herriot fan‘ website in 2022 and for opting to receive my occasional posts and news during the year – I hope they have been interesting. What happened in 2022? Last year saw a new Herriot Book, ‘The Wonderful World of James Herriot‘, A wood planted in Swaledale called ‘Herriots Wood’, a…
Its a big week this week! – The launch of this new James Herriot book and book signing events with Alf Wights daughter, Rosie, and son, Jim. There is a nice article in the Daily Express about the book here: https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/1689099/the-wonderful-world-of-james-herriot-extract-all-creatures-great-and-small Book signings events with Rosie and Jim are as follows: Wednesday 2nd Nov 2022 – Harrogate LibraryThursday 3rd November 10-12pm – The Grove Bookshop, Ilkley.Friday 4th November 11 – 1pm – The World of James Herriot, Thirsk.Saturday 19th November…
Today I completed a sponsored walk in aid of the Herriot Hospice Homecare charity! They aim to turn the former Lambert Hospital inThirsk into a community hub for those living with terminal illness and bereavement. Dr Rosie Page, the daughter of ‘James Herriot’ (Alf Wight) and her brother Jim joined us all. The weather was perfect and a good day was had albeit some tired legs at the end of it! Here are some pictures from the day and there…
Today I completed a sponsored walk in aid of the Herriot Hospice Homecare charity. They aim to turn the former Lambert Hospital in Thirsk into a community hub for those living with terminal illness and bereavement. Dr Rosie Page, the daughter of ‘James Herriot’ (Alf Wight) and her brother Jim joined us. The weather was perfect and a good day was had with some tired legs at the end of it. Here are some pictures from the day and there…
Todays section of the walk was from Keld to Grinton via Gunnerside and Reeth. It’s shown on the map below and follows part of the coast to coast route. The red section is walking and the green section cycling. It follows the exact footsteps that Alf and Jim did back in the 1950’s and is described in Alfs own words in the book ‘James Herriots Yorkshire’. Yesterday (Day 2) will be a hard act to follow but the joy of…
Today I travelled the second leg of Herriots YHA walk which Alf Wight did in the 1950’s and is described so vividly in the book ’James Herriots Yorkshire’. Alf did this walk with his son Jim and a friend but also did similar walks staying in Youth Hostels with his daughter Rosie too. Alf passed his love for the area on to them both and they are now doing the same for future generations. The second days route is shown…
Today (24th June 2022) I travelled the first leg of the YHA tour that Alf set off on with his son Jim and friend Ian Brown in the 1950’s. I mapped out the route by reading the story that Alf writes in his wonderful book ’James Herriots Yorkshire’. Here is my copy which comes with me on my trips to the dales. The Day 1 route is in light blue on the map below. I started the day leaving from…
If you have read ‘James Herriots Yorkshire’ then you will recall this walk that he describes so avidly in this wonderful book. If you haven’t, t then now is the time to do so! The walk covers 50 or so miles and I will re-trace his EXACT steps from over 60 years ago. Day 1 = Leyburn to Aysgarth. Day 2 = Aysgarth to Keld, Day 3 = Keld to Grinton, Day 4 = Grinton to Leyburn. I will post…