York: All Creatures Great & Small Tour & Bolton Castle
The Yorkshire Dales Through James Herriot's Eyes
You spend the day driving through the Yorkshire Dales from York, stopping at Grassington (the Darrowby filming location), Aysgarth Falls, Wensleydale Creamery for cheese tasting, and Bolton Castle gardens. The multilingual audio guide is included, as are castle gardens (seasonal). Bring headphones and download the app before departure, as there's no wifi on the coach.
8h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Yorkshire Dales and filming locations
- Drive through Yorkshire Dales National Park
- Stop at various viewpoints for photos
- Explore Grassington village and shops
- Visit Wensleydale Creamery and taste cheese
- Discover Aysgarth waterfalls and take pictures
- Tour Bolton Castle and gardens
The Experience
You're standing in Grassington on a morning when the cobbled square is still quiet, and you realize you're looking at the exact village that became Darrowby on screen. The tour leaves York and heads straight into the landscape that inspired James Herriot: rolling hills, stone walls, villages that feel like they've been here for centuries. Your driver navigates the passes and valleys, and you stop when the view demands it, which happens often enough that you lose track of time.
The day moves through three main stops, each one a reason people come to the Yorkshire Dales. At Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, you taste the award-winning cheese that Wallace and Gromit made famous: the kind of detail that sticks with you. Then Aysgarth Falls, where the water cuts through the landscape in a way that photographs never quite capture. The light changes the whole thing depending on when you arrive, so the timing matters.
Bolton Castle is where Herriot proposed to his wife, and the gardens are included in your tour price (March through October). The castle sits high enough that you see across Wensleydale, and you understand why he chose it. The multilingual audio guide runs through the day, though you'll need to bring your own headphones and download the app before you leave York. There's no wifi on the coach. The tour is built for all fitness levels, and children from five upwards travel fine, though the coach itself isn't wheelchair accessible.
One thing to know: on certain dates Bolton Castle closes to the public, so the tour adjusts the route but keeps the other stops and the same length. If you're traveling in early September around the bike race, expect a different route through the Dales: the attractions stay the same. The tour sometimes shares a vehicle with guests on the Yorkshire Dales tour, which means you're traveling with people who may or may not know the TV series, but the day is designed to work either way.
What’s included
Your day includes multilingual audio guide access (bring your own headphones), on-board commentary in English, entry to Bolton Castle gardens (March through October), stops at Grassington village, Wensleydale Creamery with cheese tasting, and Aysgarth Falls, plus scenic driving through the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You'll need to download the Mountain Goat App before departure as wifi is not available on the coach.
Operated by Mountain Goat Ltd - York
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Yorkshire Dales landscape and the All Creatures Great and Small filming locations without arranging your own transport: the fixed route and audio guide handle both the navigation and the storytelling, and the stops are timed to let you linger where the views matter most.
Traveler reviews
Compare the 5 similar options
York: All Creatures Great & Small Tour & Bolton Castle★ 4.81 (121)8h 30mEN£ 56
Yorkshire Dales Tour from York: Castle Bolton & Aysgarth FallsFeel the wild beauty of Yorkshire Dales on a day trip from York: walk castle ruins, hear Aysgarth Falls, taste Wensleydale cheese. Includes transport & guide.★ 4.87 (327)8h 15mEN£ 56View ›
Yorkshire Dales tour: James Herriot Country small groupSmall-group tour of Yorkshire Dales from York with World of James Herriot Museum entry, Ripon Cathedral and Wensleydale Creamery tasting included.★ 4.97 (138)8h 30mEN£ 120View ›
Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from York: Bolton Castle & WensleydaleDay trip from York through the Yorkshire Dales National Park with stops at Bolton Castle, Hawes.★ 4.92 (224)8h 15mEN£ 78View ›
Yorkshire Dales Private Tour: Mercedes Ride with Expert GuidePrivate tour of Yorkshire Dales National Park in a Mercedes V Class with an expert driver-guide, hotel pickup.★ 5.00 (18)8h–9hEN£ 950per groupView › 
Top questions
Can I visit Bolton Castle on every date?
No. Bolton Castle is closed to the public on specific dates in 2026 (6th, 12th, 27th June; 17th, 26th July; 1st, 22nd August; 11th, 12th, 13th, 26th September). The tour will not stop there on those dates, though other attractions remain.
What's included in the tour price?
Multilingual audio guide, on-board commentary in English, and Bolton Castle gardens (March–October). You must bring your own headphones and download the Mountain Goat App before the tour starts.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, minimum age is 5 years. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the coach is not wheelchair accessible.
Do I need to bring anything?
Yes, headphones for the audio guide and the Mountain Goat App downloaded to your device. There is no wifi on the coach.
What happens if I arrive late?
The tour cannot wait for late arrivals. If you miss the start, the full cancellation policy applies and no refund is offered.
Will the tour be affected by the September bike race?
Yes. On September 5th, the tour follows a different route through the Dales, but all attractions and tour length remain the same.
York: All Creatures Great & Small Tour & Bolton Castle
8h 30m · EN
from £ 56 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.81121 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider