A Trip to Thirsk & James Herriot

One of Yorkshire’s top multi-award-winning tourist attractions, it receives visitors from all over the world. The attraction covers the fascinating life and work of James ‘Alf’ Wight – the legendary local vet and one of the most popular writers of the twentieth century. Wight wrote the best-selling books using the name of James Herriot about his experience of being a young, Thirsk-based Yorkshire Vet. These books resulted in two feature films followed by the popular television series, All Creatures Great and Small, which enjoyed global success in the late 1970’s. You can try your hand at acting on a mock-up TV studio at this unforgettable experience.

Whatever the weather, visitors can come and experience what it was like to be a vet in a busy country practice in 1940 and wander through the real “Skeldale House”. Step through the famous red door of 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk. Children can take part in an interactive adventure quiz and learn about the life of a vet, including the calving of a cow!

Here at Holiday at Home, we are particularly fond of this top tourist attraction. We have worked with Channel 5 a number of times to see several of our properties featured on the Yorkshire Vet programme. Notable features include Brompton Lakes lakeside lodges, Austin cottage, and Kingfisher.

Between the spectacular views of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, it is no wonder the much-loved author James Herriot was inspired by the beauty of his home town.

Thirsk holds the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ accreditation, with a number of short walks through the town and along the river. Further afield explore picturesque villages and pretty stone cottages. Longer trails can be found on the Hambleton Hills and moors. The Swale Way path is a lovely long distance track that passes through Thirsk, connecting Boroughbridge to Kirby Stephen.