Private All Creatures Great and Small Tour
Overview
The Private All Creatures Great and Small Tour is a full-day guided tour of the series' Yorkshire Dales filming locations for your group alone, up to seven guests. We can pick you up at your hotel or at one of several points on either side of the Lakes and the Dales, including Windermere, Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedbergh and Hawes.
Fans of the show usually have a favorite character and a favorite episode, and on a private day we can plan around both. Stand at the door of Skeldale House in Grassington, see the green where Darrowby held its fair, Mrs. Pumphrey's mansion at Broughton Hall, the Aldersons' farm at Yockenthwaite and the church at Hubberholme where James and Helen married, and stop wherever the view deserves it. Lunch is at a pub near Grassington where interior scenes for the Drovers were filmed. Your guide sets it all against the real James Herriot, the Yorkshire vet Alf Wight, whose books started it.
About the tour
For fans of the beloved PBS Masterpiece series, standing in the real streets of Darrowby and looking up at Skeldale House is an unforgettable moment. This private tour takes your group to all the key filming locations from All Creatures Great and Small — Grassington, Skeldale House, the Alderson farm, and the sweeping Yorkshire Dales countryside — with your own dedicated guide and exclusive use of the vehicle throughout the day.
Traveling privately means you can spend as long as you like at the locations that matter most to you. If your group wants to linger in Grassington’s market square, explore a particular corner of the Dales, or simply take in the landscape at a pace that feels right, your guide can accommodate that. There is no shared schedule to keep and no strangers to consider — just your group, your guide, and the world of James Herriot spread out around you.
This tour is particularly popular with American visitors who know the series through PBS, as well as with long-standing fans of the original James Herriot books. Your guide’s knowledge of both the filming locations and the real history behind the stories makes this a genuinely immersive day out. Up to seven guests can travel together.
Step into the 1930s world of the hit Channel 5 / Masterpiece PBS show "All Creatures Great & Small". On this private tour you will spend a remarkable day visiting film locations you will instantly recognize from the show as you pass through the astonishingly beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside.
Follow in the footsteps of James, Siegfried, Tristan, Helen and Mrs. Hall as you stroll through Darrowby village, past the Vet's Surgery and the Greengrocers to the Drovers Arms. Wave to Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki Woo as you pass by their mansion. You pass over the narrow bridge where James always encounters another vehicle, on your way to Helen's family farm set in the stunning Yorkshire Dales scenery, dotted with sheep and friendly cattle.
You will visit these and other locations in a comfy, air-conditioned minivan accompanied by an expert local guide who is usually also your driver. Only your group of up to 7 people will be in the vehicle, so there is plenty of laughter, conversations and photo stops.
Tour highlights
- The famous church where Helen nearly married wealthy landowner Hugh Hulton.
- Skeldale House, the home of Siegfried, Tristan, James and Mrs. Hall.
- The lonely spot where James gets off the bus in the very first episode.
- The village green where Darrowby Fair was held.
- The Drovers Arms, Tristan's favorite watering hole.
- Mrs. Pumphrey's mansion, home to Tricki Woo.
- Alderson's Farm, home to Helen, her spirited young sister Jenny and Scruff the dog.
- The perilously narrow bridge where James always seems to encounter another vehicle.
- Stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales and its wonderful array of animals.
What's included
- Private Full Day Tour
- Experienced driver, usually your guide as well, for your safety on the narrow and twisty Dales roads
- Experienced guide to provide expert commentary
- Private group of up to 7 people for a more flexible and personalized experience
- Use of personal radio communication technology to keep you in touch with your guide when you are off the minivan (where applicable)
- Lunch stop at a pub near Grassington (food not included)
You might also like
This tour is also available as a shared small-group experience on our All Creatures Great & Small Full-Day Tour. If you enjoy exploring literary England, our Private Brontës Tour also ventures into Yorkshire to follow in the footsteps of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë. For a private day in the Lake District itself, our Private Ultimate Lake District Tour takes in 10 lakes and a cruise on Ullswater. Visiting from the US? Our American Visitors Guide has everything you need to plan your trip.
Common questions about this tour
Is this a private tour?
Yes, only your group shares the vehicle with up to 7 people. You will not be joined by other guests.
How is the private tour priced?
The private tour is priced per group, not per person. Up to 7 people can share the same price.
Can you pick us up from our hotel?
Yes, hotel pickup is included for hotels in the Windermere or Ambleside areas. Other pickup points include Hawes, Ingleton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Oxenholme, Sedbergh and Windermere.
Where are the All Creatures Great and Small filming locations?
The main filming location is Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales, which doubles as Darrowby. Other locations include Arncliffe, Yockenthwaite, Burnsall and Broughton Hall near Skipton.
Is this tour based in the Lake District?
No, this is a full day tour traveling to the Yorkshire Dales where the TV series is filmed, visiting the real-world locations used in the show.
Is lunch included on the private All Creatures tour?
Yes, a lunch stop at a pub used for the interior of the Drover's Arms is included. The cost of food and drink is not included in the tour price.
Where is Mrs Pumphrey's mansion in real life?
Mrs Pumphrey's mansion is Broughton Hall, a magnificent Italianate country estate near Skipton owned by the Tempest family since 1597.
Where is Alderson's Farm in real life?
Alderson's Farm is Yockenthwaite Farm, a remote farmstead in Langstrothdale in the upper Wharfe valley.
Where is the church where Helen nearly married Hugh Hulton?
The church is St Wilfrid's Church in the village of Burnsall, a beautiful 16th-century church beside the River Wharfe.
What should I bring on the tour?
Bring a waterproof coat with a hood as the weather in the Yorkshire Dales can change quickly. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven terrain.
How long does the private All Creatures tour last?
This is a full day tour departing at approximately 09:00 and returning around 18:00.
