Herriot Country
accommodation
The Saddle Room
James Herriot liked a good meal out and would have been at home at The Saddle Room for its menus that include locally-sourced ingredients, many of which come from within 10 miles and many of the farms and small holdings that he visited on his rounds.
Winner of the Flavours of Herriot Award for Local Restaurant of the Year, and Best Family Dining Restaurant, the Saddle Room has also been awarded 5 stars by the AA and features a fabulous wine cellar and bar area. It has all been created from former race horse stables and includes a main restaurant and several fabulous dining areas suitable for all kinds of occasions. Situated next to The Forbidden Corner which is a very large tourist attraction in the Yorkshire Dales, the Saddle Room is perfectly placed for dining and entertaining before or after a visit to the attraction.
Wines at the Saddle Room are great value for money and have been personally selected by owner Leo Morris who spent many years in the wine trade. Leo has constructed an interesting and quirky range of wine styles to cover all tastes. An innovative wine preservation system called Verre Du Vin allows the fabulous premium wines to be offered by the glass rather than just by the bottle giving guests opportunities to try more options with different dishes.
AA five star rated bed and breakfast accommodation is situated within the grounds of Tupgill Park next to the Forbidden Corner with one twin and eight double ensuite units. There are also six cottages on the Tupgill Estate which is in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales with 513 acres of glorious Yorkshire countryside.
The Saddle Room is also ideal for conferences, team building events and social occasions with facilities available for up to 200 in a marquee on the estate, 96 in the Saddle Room, 60 people in the Bell Barn, 50 in the Hayloft and 20 in the wine cellar.
The Saddle Room Restaurant
Tupgill Park, Coverdale, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4TJ
Tel: 01969 640 596
Email: leo@thesaddleroom.co.uk
BW Crown Hotel Boroughbridge
BW Crown Hotel Boroughbridge is one of Herriot Country’s gateway hotels. Located in the centre of the ancient and historic town of Boroughbridge, you’ll find the BW Crown Hotel on what was the Great North Road. A former 15th C coaching inn, the Crown Hotel is a surprisingly large hotel with many amenities and comforts that Alf Wight (James Herriot) probably appreciated at one time or another.
Arriving into Herriot Country at Boroughbridge (J48/A1(M) you have the choice of heading into Herriot Country East or West and using the hotel as your base. Head first for The World of James Herriot (of course!), which is just 15 minutes drive via the A168 to Thirsk.
The hotel offers 37 high-quality ensuite bedrooms, Stables Bar and the Crown Grill restaurant with menus to suit all occasions whether a light bite or a fulsome lunch or dinner. With lots of comfy lounges to relax in, have tea and coffee with cakes or full afternoon tea and you’ll soon feel at home.
If relaxation for you is a healthy workout or a swim, then the Crown Leisure Club is the place to head where you can take advantage of a fully equipped fitness suite where team members can advise about your exercise routine. If perhaps you are seeking a less rigorous relaxation regime, then simply strip off, put on your swimming costume and relax in the sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi before a refreshing swim in the main heated indoor pool.
Address
Horesfair, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire YO51 9LB
Telephone
01423 322328
sales@crownboroughbridge.co.uk
Easily reached from the A1(M) Junction 48 the BW Crown Hotel is directly opposite the town’s Post Office on Horsefair on what was the old Great North Road.
Low Osgoodby Grange
Established in 2018, Low Osgoodby Grange is one of Herriot Country’s newer offerings set in a Georgian farmhouse situated 5 miles out of Thirsk, set in the sensational rural heart of North Yorkshire at the foot of the Hambleton Hills. It might once have been one of James Herriot’s farm customers.
The Four Star Rated Silver Award family run Bed and Breakfast accommodation includes three farmhouse rooms, each of which are en-suite with showers, tea and coffee making facilities, tv, hairdryer and complimentary mineral water. Plus, there are various sleeping options such as Yurts, Tipis, Glamping Pods, and even Japanese Styled sleeping pods!
Low Osgoodby Grange has over 200 acres of private grounds so it caters for a wide variety of activities, is very flexible and means that everyone’s needs can be met.
As a venue for events there are facilities for wedding receptions, corporate events, or parties it is very flexible and there are tailored packages to suit every event. With panoramic views of the stunning Herriot Country landscape, it is a very attractive venue for all occasions.
Situated between the rural villages of Bagby and Kilburn, about 5 miles from Thirsk (home to James Herriot), in North Yorkshire, with easy access to the A19 and A1 and A1(M), Low Osgoodby Grange is ideal as a base for the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire Coast. Many cycling and walking routes are nearby including the Cleveland Way, Wainwrights’ Coast-to-Coast Walk and the Wiggle Aye Up! Yorkshire Cycle route.
Osgoodby, Thirsk, NorthYorkshire, YO7 2AL
Tel: 07703299233
Fern Cottage Thirsk
Alf Wight OBE (James Herriot) lived two doors down from Fern Cottage at Skeldale Veterinary Surgery. Little did he know then, when he joined the practice, that years later his prowess as an author with his stories of life as a vet would bring him worldwide acclaim.
Fern Cottage is still two doors down to what is now the World of James Herriot based in that original home and veterinary surgery. A member of the Herriot Country Tourism Group, Fern Cottage offers a very comfortable Four Star Gold Award self-catering holiday cottage for two people. Set in the garden of a late Victorian townhouse it has been updated and furnished to a high standard and is a cosy haven close to the centre of Thirsk that includes many personal touches that help to make your holiday special.
Perfect for your visit to see the home of James Herriot and to experience the locations and attractions that are featured in the original BBC and new Channel 5 All Creatures Great and Small TV series which are all within easy reach in and around Thirsk in Hambleton, Richmondshire and the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Thirsk has a regular market and a great choice of restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops to explore.
After your travels discovering Herriot Country you’ll return to your peaceful haven at Fern Cottage to relax and enjoy the peaceful garden in spring and summer or in winter snuggle up in front of the real warming fire.
Your Herriot neighbours on Kirkgate continue to welcome people from around the world and you’ll be right in the heart of the All Creatures Great and Small action.
27 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1PL
Tel: 01845 527056
Mobile: 07915607911
Email: bookings@ferncottagethirsk.co.uk
Kirkgate House Hotel Thirsk
Only a few yards from the World of James Herriot, Kirkgate House Hotel is one of Skeldale Surgery’s nearest neighbours and continues to welcome James Herriot fans from around the world.
A three-storey Georgian townhouse, Kirkgate House Hotel offers a range of en suite accommodation all with high ceilings, wooden furnishings, tea and coffee making facilities, flatscreen TV and free Wi-Fi. Local ingredients are part of the menu options for the hearty English Breakfast served each day which also includes continental and vegetarian options. As guests travelling by car discover, Kirkgate House Hotel has its own car park, there is an attractive patioed garden area and the hotel bedrooms are accessible by stairs, which may not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility.
Thirsk is the real town (Darrowby in the stories) where Alf Wight and Siegfried Farnon ran their veterinary practice on the same street as Kirkgate House. It’s a perfect base for visitors to the World of James Herriot, close to the North York Moors National Park, the White Horse of Kilburn and the stunning views from Sutton Bank, James Herriot’s favourite view. There’s a weekly market in Thirsk and regular meetings at Thirsk Racecourse which is only a ten-minute walk from Kirkgate House Hotel.
There’s a wealth of attractions in Herriot Country and by taking an All Creatures Great and Small circular tour from Kirkgate House Hotel you can visit the locations in the books, films and TV series. Start at the World of James Herriot of course…
If Alf Wight OBE (James Herriot) hadn’t lived so close, he would surely have stayed at Kirkgate House Hotel!
Kirkgate House, 35 Kirkgate, Thirsk, YO7 1PL,
T: 01845 525015 Email: info@kirkgatehousehotel.co.uk
Cedar Retreats West Tanfield
Herriot Country is blessed with gorgeous countryside and is perfect for an escape and that’s where Cedar Retreats comes in. Set in six acres of beautiful countryside 10 minutes from the A1(M) and six miles from the cathedral city of Ripon and only 11 miles to the World of James Herriot in Thirsk.
Cedar Retreats offers contemporary, beautifully furnished, fully equipped, high quality accommodation with a lake at its centre. Each Retreat has either two or three bedrooms, a master bedroom with en-suite shower room and a further double bedrooms with shared family bathroom, open plan living area with French doors onto decking and private hot tub. It is ideal for a romantic break, family get-together or a getaway with your best friends.
Five minutes to the lovely village of West Tanfield, there are riverside walks, it has an abundance of amenities nearby including local shops and pubs. Within half an hour are larger supermarkets and small towns to explore. It is perfect for a tranquil break in outdoor living and close to local attractions and heritage sites including the World of James Herriot, Thirsk, Newby Hall near Ripon, Fountains Abbey, Lightwater Valley, Forbidden Corner, Aerial Extreme, plus fishing, horse riding, golf or one of the many walks that Herriot Country’s Yorkshire Dales has to offer.
James Herriot had many farming customers in the area and Cedar Retreats makes a perfect starting point for an All Creatures Great and Small tour of Herriot Country .
Cedar Retreats, West Tanfield, North Yorkshire HG4 5LH
T: 01677 470284
E: sales@cedarretreats.co.uk
E: enquiries@cedarretreats.co.uk
Directions from the A1 North
From the A1 southbound take the A61 towards Ripon. Take the A6108 towards Masham / Thirsk and onto West Tanfield.
Directions from the A1 South
From the A1 northbound take the A61 towards Ripon. Take the A6108 towards Masham / Thirsk and onto West Tanfield.
Directions from the M6
From the M6 leave at junction 4A and join the M42 motorway. At junction 11 continue forward onto the A42. Then join the M1 motorway. Leave the M1 at junction 32 to join the M18. Leave the M18 at junction 2, then join the A1(M) motorway. Continue forward onto the A1. Take the A61 towards Ripon and then the A6108 onto West Tanfield
Sandburn Hall Hotel York
Sandburn Hall Hotel is due to open in Spring 2021. The hotel will boast 40 beautifully designed, light and spacious rooms and suites with magnificent views across the lakes and woodland, or access out to the courtyard garden. On arrival, guests will be greeted by the stunning open plan reception and café -bar, boasting a traditional oak beam ceiling. The hotel concept continues the principle of quality workmanship and styling that Sandburn Hall is built on, creating an elegant country feel whilst staying true to our Yorkshire roots and heritage. Sandburn Hall is ideally situated in the beautiful countryside, just outside of York.
The perfect base from which to explore ‘God’s own Country’ - Herriot Country.
Sandburn Hall, Flaxton, York, YO60 7RB
Telephone: 01904 469922
Email: info@sandburnhall.co.uk
The Wensleydale Hotel Middleham
Developing a new continental-style hotel in the heart of Herriot Country is a journey of passion for the Merchie family. Fiona, Charles, Monty and Hugo are working on that journey applying their wealth of international knowledge and experience to this rural hotel.
Rebranding has been the start of the journey and in the first year all of the bedrooms have been upgraded, with further improvements ongoing. The public areas have also become more comfortable with redecoration schemes inside and out.
The restaurant rebrand to ‘The Tack Room’ with a racing theme design in keeping with Middleham’s racehorse training pedigree. It’s a local meeting place for a casual coffee to a gastro-extravaganza where you can sit and watch the racehorses trot by on their daily exercise. Growing up in France, Chef-Patron Charles is passionate about food and hospitality. He worked in some impressive hotels in France, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as the UK. A Private Dining Room in addition to the restaurant caters for up to 18 on one table. Dogs are welcome in the Bar, on the terrace or in the Private Dining Room. Accommodation at the Wensleydale Hotel is comfortable with some new beds and mattresses, 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen, luxury fluffy towels, new pillows, duvets and valances. All rooms have Temple Spa toiletries, tea tray with a selection of teas, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits and 32-inch flat-screen TV.
The Wensleydale Hotel and Tack Room Terrace Middleham is a 'cert' for rooms and dining in Herriot Country and Seigfried Farnon, James Herriot's senior partner would love it...
Howgill Lodge
Back to nature is easy in Herriot Country and Howgill Lodge offers the perfect getaway. Located between Bolton Abbey and Burnsall in the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales, Howgill Lodge offers an idyllic setting in the heart of Wharfedale on the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Estate. It’s a hidden gem close to the River Wharfe.
There’s a great choice of stays including owner tents, caravans and motorhomes with electric and non-electric pitches and luxurious holiday caravans that are equipped to the highest standards and perfect for a stress-free break.
Hot showers, a covered washing area, coin-operated washing machine and tumble dryer are all provided in the central amenity block and other showers and toilets in smaller units around the site cater for everyone on site.
There’s plenty of space for children’s play and exploration for hours, a large woodland area and separate field for dog walking. There are amazing views all around the site and the completely rural setting has many attractions nearby.
With beautiful walking and cycle routes, you are surrounded by beautiful scenery, a short walk will take you to the Craven Arms and a brief drive takes you to the famous Devonshire Arms.
Nearby, the market towns of Burnsall, Grassington (where Channel 5’s new All Creatures Great and Small series was filmed) and Skipton offer good opportunities for shopping, eating and drinking and if you want to make your trip extra special, the Brownie Barn, Barden is a delightful café and shop right next door to our campsite.
There’s no doubt that the stunning scenery and warm Yorkshire welcome will make your visit to Herriot Country richer when you stay at Howgill Lodge.
Howgill Lodge, Barden, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6DJ
Telephone: 01756 720655
Email: info@howgill-lodge.co.uk
Directions
Satnav users beware! Your satnav may direct you along a very narrow road, please do not turn off the A59 until the roundabout at Bolton Abbey - see directions below.
From the A59 at Bolton Abbey Roundabout, take the B6160, signposted Burnsall. Continue through Bolton Abbey under the arch and about three miles on, you will reach Barden. Barden Tower, an old ruin is on your right. Turn right now signposted Appletreewick, down over the bridge and one mile on, just on the bend by the phone box, turn right onto Howgill Lane then carry on past the farm and we are next.