Yorkshire Dales, TV Soap Country with Isobel & Oli

 Yorkshire Dales, TV Soap Country 

We were excited to be in soap country and our first stop on our tour was in the fictional village of  Aidensfield best known for being the filming location for Heartbeat. We posed for group photos with the police car and visited Scripps Garage, now a souvenir shop filled with memorabilia.

 A must was a visit to Esholt, once the filming location of Emmerdale. After lunch at a peaceful garden centre surrounded by colourful blooms, we made our way to The Woolpack, the iconic village pub from the show. Inside, we admired photographs of the cast over the years and enjoyed a relaxing drink. 

A walk around the village took us past familiar buildings and the lovely old church, where many of Emmerdale’s famous weddings and dramatic funerals were filmed. 

We boarded the minibus bound for Holmfirth, the picturesque town made famous by the long-running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. As we approached the cobbled streets and stone cottages, it felt like stepping back in time. Our first stop was the iconic Sid’s Café, a pilgrimage site for fans of the show. Inside, the walls were adorned with cast photos, props, and memorabilia. We took photos with a cardboard cut out of Nora Batty, complete with wrinkled stockings and hair rollers.

It was off to the picturesque town of Pickering to catch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train to Goathland. With the rhythmic chuff of the engine and a gentle whistle blowing through the morning air, we climbed aboard our beautifully restored carriage. We found our seats, sipped hot drinks, and watched the wild beauty of the North York Moors unfold through the windows with purple heather, green valleys, and dense pine forests. 

Today’s destination was Wensleydale Creamery, set deep in the spectacular Yorkshire Dales. The drive alone was worth the trip for the postcard-worthy views. At the Creamery, we arrived just in time to watch a live demonstration of traditional cheese-making techniques. We learned about the craftsmanship involved in producing Wensleydale’s famous crumbly texture. The tasting session was a hit ranging from creamy blue Wensleydale to fruity cranberry blends, and even smoked varieties. Everyone had a favourite, and several blocks made their way into our bags. Lunch was served in the Creamery’s on-site café, where the cheese on toast earned high praise all around.

We headed to one of our favourite places for an ice cream treat at Billy Bobs American Diner. With so many flavours and toppings to choose from it certainly made it a difficult decision. 

               

   

It was time to get creative at the chocolate factory. We rolled up our sleeves and created our own chocolate pizzas! After donning aprons, we chose our chocolate base of milk, white or dark and decorated with colourful toppings: marshmallows, Smarties, honeycomb and sprinkles. We even got to design our own pizza boxes. It was clear to see we were proud of our creations. 

We visited the breathtaking Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of England’s most spectacular monastic ruins. Stepping into the grounds was like stepping back in time. Founded in 1132, the abbey was once home to a thriving community of Cistercian monks until its dissolution in 1539. We wandered beneath soaring stone arches, through cloisters and vaulted corridors, imagining the lives once lived within those walls. The grounds surrounding the ruins were equally impressive. Manicured lawns gave way to tranquil woodlands, where we strolled across stone bridges and beside reflecting pools designed in the 18th-century landscape garden style. 

Ahoy me Hearty's! We made our way to the historic market town of Skipton known as the “Gateway to the Dales.” Upon arrival, we crossed a little stone footbridge and made our way to the canal basin, where we boarded a brightly painted narrowboat for a peaceful cruise along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The boat glided gently through the water, offering serene views of tree-lined towpaths, old textile mills, and duck-filled basins. A few of us took turns donning the captain’s hat and “steering” the boat, much to everyone’s amusement. We waved to passers-by, exchanged smiles with other boaters, and relished the slower pace of canal life. 

We were just in time to witness the ancient Hornblowing Ceremony, a nightly tradition since the Middle Ages. We were delighted to meet the hornblower herself, who proudly explained the meaning behind “Setting the Watch” and posed for a group photo.