YorTours

20/03/2025

Darrowby and stunning location again for series six of and where my ambulance station was located top of square ( now the flower shop) in

"Sunset on Set"

The sun sets over the first day of location filming for series 6 in Darrowby (aka Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales National Park). The now familiar Endleby's greengrocers returns this year with a new solicitors appearing next door. Skeldale house at the back of the scene appears to be the same as usual.
No properties have the war-time tape on their windows anymore, but butter and sugar are still rationed at the greengrocers, maybe giving some indication of the year series 6 is set in?

© Tom Holmes / www.TomHolmes.Photography

19/03/2025

“ Let’s cross ❌ that bridge when we get to it “ ; a frequent used saying ( even for Tour Guides too 🤔) ; the meaning and fascinating snippets on bridges in Yorkshire below ⬇️ all thanks to Yorkshire Treasures 🙌

Why do we say, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it"? With over 50 dales, and at least that number of rivers and streams, there are plenty of bridges and river-crossings in the Yorkshire Dales. ​Some are not just useful, they're beautiful and historic. Many settlements grew up close to rivers, with important bridges or other crossings nearby.

The expression 'we'll cross that bridge when we come to it' probably came from the fact that rivers can be dangerous and changeable so crossings were not always in the state you'd hope for when travellers reached them. There was no point in worrying about their state until you got closer and could see how it was.

There are essentially three different kinds of river crossing still in existence (apart from boats...): stepping stones, fords and bridges.

The stepping stones at Bolton Abbey are probably the most famous, but you'll find many others through out the Dales, some half-hidden by the flow of the river. ​They would have been a hazardous and unreliable way to cross, often only passable with a wooden staff to keep one's balance.
Fords could only be built where rivers ran quite slowly and were shallow. ​You'll notice some over streams which were paved for more frequent use, often leading to a house or settlement.

After the Romans, one of the most common reasons for travelling around the Yorkshire Dales was to trade wool or sheep, something at which the landowning monks were adept. They're likely to have built some of the earliest bridges. ​

​You can see clapper bridges in Austwick, Malham and Linton. They were mostly built for the convenience of locals across narrow and shallow rivers or streams.
Over time some packhorse bridges have been altered to make them safer but you can still find some in their original condition, either without any sides or with low ones so packhorses carrying panniers laden with goods could easily pass.

Some bridges were initially built using timber but were replaced with stone when the wood rotted. In the 18th century the Turnpike Trusts were given the power to collect tolls making it worthwhile to improve roads and bridges, making them better and broader.
​
Bridges were essential to travellers but not everyone wanted to pay for their upkeep. If you look at 19th century bridges you may notice small initialled markers at the side of the bridge, such as the one inscribed WR at the end of Grassington Bridge, showing that West Riding County Council had liability for its upkeep.

​You might associate suspension bridges with Hull or other bigger cities but we have at least two in the Dales, one in Reeth, known as the Swing Bridge and the other across the river Wharfe near Linton.

​The suspension bridge across the river Wharfe was created after a local man drowned trying to cross the stepping stones. It was designed and built by the village blacksmith using over 250 metres of old steel rope, bought from a mining company.

Do you have a favourite river crossing? Do share where and any photos!

17/03/2025

Another SCHOOL day of learning; I’d no idea that the world 🌎 famous local brewery at Masham had produced a 0% N’Owt Peculier beer 🍺 and on draft too 👍 thanks for the info The Station Inn Theakston Brewery

17/03/2025

Every day is a SCHOOL Day and today I learnt at last what the Ordance Survey ( OS) benchmark was all about and why this inverted arrow mark features on so many church tower bases and other stone monuments- thanks to Yorkshire Treasures I’m now wiser and happy professional British Guild of Tourist Guides see below ⬇️ 👀

"What's the benchmark?" We use this expression, yet rarely notice these important marks. Look carefully and you'll spot Ordnance Survey (OS) benchmarks, often carved into stone. They're precisely leveled marks, which served as vital reference points for mapping. A surveyor would place a flat board into the horizontal mark, forming a platform (bench) from which they could take measurements.

A network of benchmarks was created across the land, enabling surveyors to accurately determine the elevation of land, crucial for mapmaking, and engineering projects.

Can you spot the benchmark in this photo? Where else have you seen them?

17/03/2025

With All Locations Great and Small – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

15/03/2025

Series 6 🎥 All Creatures Great & Small at Keighley railway station, thanks again to Tom Holmes Photography for sharing see below ⬇️

13/03/2025

Thanks to Tom Holmes Photography for sharing some of his work below ⬇️ from Series 6 🎥 filming .

10/03/2025

This weeks tour takes in areas of Sud Tyrol, with place names in German ( was part of Austria 🇦🇹) and Italian 🇮🇹, on the edge of the Dolomites mountains ⛰️ sound up ⬆️

05/03/2025

Ginnel, snicket, alley ? The short précis on these and similar all described magically below ⬇️ thanks to Yorkshire Treasures so take a peek

Ginnel, snicket, twitten, gennel, snickleway, twitten: what do you call a narrow passageway, cut-through or alley? There are so many different names for them in the North of England. It's odd there are so many words for such narrow passages, which wind their way (in Richmond they're called Wynds) in and out of lanes and market squares. Sometimes they're quite precise - some say 10ft in Hull, or an 8ft in Grimsby. There are arguments about whether it's a ginnel when covered, and a snickleway if not, yet in different villages this is reversed.

I've heard debates about footsteps echoing in ginnels but not in snickets, and suggestions that a ginnel needs to go uphill but a snicket doesn’t. It seems quite a lot of fuss for tiny alleyways!

The word ginnel is said to originate from the french word, 'chenelle' for a canal or pipe, but it could equally come from 'chinelle' meaning caterpillar! Some town and villages have more covered passageways or more of these alleys leading away from market places. In Ripon, there are many side entry points to buildings, as entrances on the main square were once taxed.

Visit Settle, Richmond, Pateley Bridge and Sedbergh and you'll find many ginnels, snickets and back alleys but you're unlikely to find agreement on what they're called!

02/03/2025

Series SIX yes 6 of ACGAS started 24th February, Channel 5 ; watch this space for more news thanks to my great colleague Real Yorkshire Tours

Attention All Creatures Great And Small fans 📣 Exciting news – the cast and crew have officially kicked off filming for Season 6 in beautiful Yorkshire today! We can’t wait to return to Darrowby with all of you soon 🐕 🏡 ❤️

📺 All Creatures Great and Small. Stream the Full 5 Series Now on My5

02/03/2025

Thanks for this most succinct summary of our canals Heritage and their relatively short lifespan as an important logistics highway and their wider effects on our industries , replaced by rail . Specifically why the Yorkshire town of Skipton must be visited too. Thanks again Yorkshire Treasures

Part of Britain's longest canal flows through the Yorkshire Dales to Skipton and Gargrave: it's an incredible feat of engineering. It took over 40 years to build the 127 mile-long Leeds & Liverpool Canal, with thousands of navvies using picks and shovels to create a trading route connecting Yorkshire's industrial towns to the port of Liverpool. For a short time the barges on the canal were loaded with coal, limestone, and textiles.

The section near Skipton was one of the first sections to open, influencing Skipton's growth. The coming of the railways led to the decline of the canals for industrial transportation. Now we're valuing these important waterways for their wildlife.

Walk along the towpath for a different view and you may spot herons or kingfishers. Take a trip along the waterway with Skipton Boat Trips for a diffrent view of the surrounding countryside - they're celebrating 35 years of running this family business. Newton Grange, a rural retreat has cottages close to the canal, and owner Rachael will happily suggest local walks and vantage points nearby to enjoy the canal, see the locks and spot wildlife.
Photo: Guy Carpenter

02/03/2025

A brief intro video clip outlining todays mountain ski tour sound up

02/03/2025

This weeks ski tours included more in the Italian AOSTA valley, namely Monterosa area. Please do use a professionally qualified mountain guide and you will have experiences only others dream of, with local food, customs & culture. Italy has more UNESCO world 🌎 heritage sites than any European country too. Thank you Gressoney- St -Jean

23/02/2025

Oreos - many of my American 🇺🇸 visitors call these rather different animals, however I didn’t realise their unique differences to other farming stock , nor their suitability to Yorkshire and what they “ give back” towards biodiversity- see below ⬇️ thanks to Yorkshire Treasures 👍

Oreos in the Yorkshire Dales? That's the way some people describe Belted Galloways. You might have noticed more of them lately, especially around Malhamdale? 'Belties; are fine looking and instantly recognisable with their thick white belt around their midriff, contrasting with their (usually) black bodies.

Handsome as they are, this isn't really why they're so prized. Their contribution to biodiversity is celebrated. They can thrive on lower quality upland pastures, adapting to whatever is available. As they graze they break up the sward, which in turn creates a habitat for many species. One farmer told me their cowpats alone can support over two hundred different species of insect!

Their rugged constitution means Belties can lead a good natural outdoor life, grazing on the hills all year round. They have a lovely thick curly coat, perfect to protect them from any harsh Dales weather, keeping them warm and deflecting moisture. I love that the long hair around their ears is said to prevent frostbite! They mature slowly, can live longer than many other breeds, make good mothers and have a good immune system.

They are naturally 'polled' so don't have any horns and have a docile nature, making them easier to handle. It's said that when cattle were driven long distances to markets, using the old drovers' routes, the Scottish drovers liked to have at least one Belted Galloway in their herd so they could see where their cattle were in the dark!

20/02/2025

The famous “ Robert Mousey Thompson” iconic symbol in English oak ; a snapshot of the story below ⬇️

North Yorkshire craftsman Robert Thompson's continues to find new admirers with his signature motif.

14/02/2025

The saying “ every day is a school day” is 100% accurate. I NEVER knew anything about this ruined “ hidden treasure” church just outside Pateley Bridge , so it’s high time I visited myself 👀 thanks to Yorkshire Treasures intrigue below ⬇️

13/02/2025

Todays “ extended” tour with an early start from Breuil-Cervinia (2050 m) was beyond all expectations, the weather so kind too 🏔️, onto the Plateau Rosa (3480m) Italy 🇮🇹; and down 1 of the Matterhorn glaciers into Switzerland 🇨🇭. My ski tour map took us to the double observatory shown here. Having not been on the Matterhorn cog railway 🚃, that was a must down the mountain around valleys , over rivers, glaciers & ski ⛷️ trails small stations into Zermatt. From there time was pressing to return prior to the snow clouds looming ( & a wonderful children’s mountain ski park )

12/02/2025

Todays tour takes in the Italian 🇮🇹 side and 🇨🇭 of “ M” for mountain ⛰️ of Matterhorn. Always use a professional mountain guide , observe safety protocols & double check your equipment, experience & enjoy 👍” Z” for Zermatt 😉