Kandace_York

Help (and thank you, in advance).

Husband and I are big fans of James Herriot and have been for 30+ years, and we finally have a chance to go back to England one more time, his last.

He wants to see "the water splash" that's featured in the BBC version. The spot in opening scenes, driving over a flooded road, is described as "Fore Gill Gate, Surrender Bridge on unclassified road between Feetham, Swaledale and Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale, North Yorkshire."

How do we get there? He won't drive and, as far as I can tell, there's no public transit. He's also tight with a dollar, but I'd like to make this happen for him if I can. We'll be staying in York. Would it be best to take the train up to Richmond and hire an Uber or taxi from there? Not sure.

I have a similar question about "The Hundred-acre Wood" of A.A. Milne fame in or near Ashdown Forest, I believe, close to where we'll be several days later. If you don't drive and you don't want to take a full-blown tour for one 60-minute stop, what would you do? We'll probably fly out of Gatwick soon after, so would you take the train to East Grinstead and then hire an Uber or taxi from there?

Worth noting - if I had to choose between the two, I want him to see his water splash more than I want to indulge myself with a trip to the Hundred-acre Wood.

Thanks for your counsel.

Kandace

janisj

Just quick -- For any James Herriot fans IMO/IME a visit to Thirsk and the actual veterinary surgery that is now the terrific Herriot museum including sets from the original series (even though the website features images of the current cast) is a must. So what I would seriously consider would be to hire a driver/guide fo an entire day from York -- quick drive up to Thirsk, visit the museum, then out into the Dales to the film site and back to York. This would be an all day booking -- probably 3:30 drive time, a couple of hours in Thirsk, lunch in a Dales village, etc so plan on 8+ hours all in.

https://worldofjamesherriot.com

Maybe the York Visitors Centre can recommend a local driver guide.

janisj

Or . . . Thirsk is only a 15 minute train ride from York so you could do as your first thought of taking the train to Richmond and hiring a local taxi, and visit Thirsk/the Museum on a different day.

ps: I never ever use uber in the UK . . .

Morgana

Janis has some great suggestions. Thirsk does have a railway station albeit a bit of a way out of town.
I live in the Dales and can confirm that there's no way you could do this all by public transport. It just doesn't exist out here in the more rural areas. Our village has one bus a day and we think ourselves lucky.
If you are watching the current series of All Creatures (which is truly lovely) then make sure you include Grassington on your tour.

janisj

Ditto re Grassington if you can fit it in. York > Thirsk > Feetham > Grassington > York would be about 4.5 hour drive so still doable as a day trip with a local driver (visitors unfamiliar with the area would likely take 45 mins or an hour longer). This route would have the benefit of seeing some additional lovely Dales scenery plus go right through Harrogate which is a lovely 'spa town'.

bilboburgler

Think Taxi or Car service not branded car. A bit like avoid the tax dodging coffee houses and stuff.

Kandace_York

Thank you for your counsel. Yes, we've been to Thirsk and to the museum - even to market day, and quite a bit of time on foot within the town. Our B&B was just a couple doors from the museum; we had afternoon tea at the Golden Fleece, etc. But we didn't get to the water splash, and that remains on his list.

Kandace

janisj

OK -- that simplifies things. I'd hire a driver guide for a full day trip out to the 'water splash' near Feetham and then a general meander though the Dales including places like Aysgarth (beautiful waterfalls) Middleham Castle, Jervaulx Abbey, and Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal.

Kandace_York

Thank you.

How does one "hire a driver guide," though? How would I go about that?

janisj

Up thread I suggested you might be able to get a referral from the local Tourist office -- I don't think they publish a phone number any more but they do have an e-mail for enquiries. https://www.visityork.org/contact

Also, your hotel might be able to hook you up with someone.

But really, many local cabbies will hire out for a driving tour. Here is just one taxi company that lists tours as one of their services (haven't used them but this is typical in most Englisg towns/cities). https://www.fleetways.co.uk - the specific page https://www.fleetways.co.uk/weddings/

Kandace_York

Thanks so much. I had no idea!

sofarsogood

The nearest large station is Darlington. Richmond closed in the 1960s. So you could look for taxis from Darlington.

Kandace_York

Ah, thank you. This is good to know!

hetismij2

I haven't used them but a quick search offered: Tours & Accommodation - Herriot Country Tours
They will do a one day tour you decide where. They undoubtedly know how to get to the watersplash.

There a plenty of others offering similar things Private tour Yorkshire Dales Herriot is the search I put in.

Kandace_York

Thanks, hetismij2. Yes, I found Herriot Country Tours right away, but husband is very tight with a dollar. He doesn't want to spend the money that a custom tour would cost. We're more public transit/explore on foot/stay at hostels type travelers.

janisj

That's all well and good -- but when what he wants in a perfect world, isn't practical/feasible - one needs to maybe bite the bullet and open the wallet.

sofarsogood

Well if you're into hostels then Grinton Lodge isn't too far away https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-gr...l-location-map

As for public transport, dalesbus shows buses into Swaledale https://www.dalesbus.org/

janisj

There won't be any buses along the single track road the OP is wanting to travel . . .

Kandace_York: - you say in the OP that your DH 'won't drive" - not that he can't drive. If driving is even a remote possibility, things would be much simpler and a lot cheaper. Hire a car for one day - jaunt out into the Dales, back to York, turn car in, resume visiting York. But honestly -- you've got more than a few roadblocks in the way. No driving, don't want to spend ££, trying to visit a very remote place. (Have you looked at the road on Google Map Street View? Not even any farm houses. I followed it for about 3 miles and saw six sheep -- that's it. There is a very small car park at the actual cattle grid gate/Surrender Bridge location.)

sofarsogood

The Punch Bowl https://www.pbinn.co.uk/ in Feetham is a good pub. The bridge is about a mile away which is a 20-minute walk.

Or stay in Reeth
https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/pl...l_park_centre/

I'd rather spend a couple of days in Swaledale walking the moors than York.

hetismij2

An organised tour is probably not that more expensive than getting to somewhere and hiring a taxi and hoping the taxi driver knows where it is you want to go.
Also less stressful, and more enjoyable for you both.
You want to do this for him, maybe he should be prepared to compromise so you both get to enjoy it.

You could always do a walk like this one: https://www.nydwalks.co.uk/post/lang...ill-gate-reeth
or part of it anyway if you are fit enough and properly equipped.