I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year - I'll catch up with all my reads and rates whe...
I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year - I'll catch up with all my reads and rates when my guests have all gone home!
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OK I admit it - I love Heartbeat, I always have. It's one of those lovely programmes where you can just get absorbed without having to think too much. It even manages to survive as the cast keeps changing although I do mourn the lack of Claude Jeremiah Greengrass - he was on of my all time favourites!
So it was only natural that, when we holidayed in York, I should want to visit Goathland which is the lovely little village that transforms itself into Aidensfield when the film crew arrives.
Goathland is in the Esk Valley in Yorkshire and can be reached by train, car, tour bus or good old walking if you're feeling fit! It is well signposted from the A169 as it is such a tourist attraction now.
We travelled there on the North York Moors Railway which runs from Grosmont in the north to Pickering in the south
and Goathland is the stop next to Grosmont. This was a great thrill for me as I love steam trains and it was travelling the beautiful journey that you see on the opening credits of Heartbeat.
So my first view of Goathland was the little railway station looking like something that time had forgotten in the sense that it was old fashioned not that it was not looked after you understand. Incidentally this is the station that was used to film the Hogwart's Express scenes in the Harry Potter films so you get Harry Potter fans as well as Heartbeat fans so it does get a bit crowded to say the least!
As you leave the railway station you walk uphill towards the centre of the village - bear with me if I get this a tiny bit wrong but the last time I was here was about 15 years ago!
The Goathland Hotel is the real name of the Aidensfield Arms and I was so surprised when we walked in. It was just like it is on the TV. The only things that were different were the modern drinks and till, the rest of the place is just the same. I quite expected to be served by Gina! I was surprised that it is so small inside the camera angles make it look a lot bigger. They serve food there so that's where we had lunch.
The garage also used in the filming of Heartbeat stands opposite the pub as it does in the series. You may think that this is an obvious thing to say but it isn't always the case. For instance don't look for the police house in Goathland - there isn't one! The one used in the filming is actually set in a neighbouring village.
As you leave the pub and walk up towards the village this again is instantly recognisable if you're a Heartbeat fan!
There's a lovely village green with the row of shops, also used in the filming, along the one side. From what I remember these were nice little shops to take a look around and ideal for buying your Goathland souvenirs. There are also plenty of sheep grazing on the village green, but they seem used to visitors and don't cause any problems - just watch what you're stepping in! Of course if you're driving that's another matter, the sheep don't know the Green Cross Code and will wander into the road as and when it suits them with scant disregard for any traffic - so be warned!
There is also a decent sized car park, which obviously gets VERY busy in the high season and public toilets so you won't have to cross your legs!!
At the northern end of Goathland is the Mallyan Spout Hotel, behind which is a steep, rough track leading down to Mallyan Spout, which is a 70 foot waterfall pouring over a mossy cliff. This is a quite a scramble taking about 20 minutes and remember what goes down has got to come back up at some point, but the views at the bottom are well worth the climb back up. The waterfall itself nestles in a little leafy glen and is very pretty, but to get a good view at the bottom you have to climb over some large boulders which are quite slippery due to the fact that they are constantly wet from the waterfall, so where suitable shoes if you don't want to break your neck!
There are also one or two Roman remains around if you're interested in that sort of thing. Come to think of it they are still there even if you're not interested! Seriously there's a mile long Roman Road in Wheeldale which runs north from the Roman camp at Cawthorn. It is owned by English Heritage and is well preserved considering it dates back to around the first century AD.
There isn't any actual accommodation to be found here in Goathland - you can't ask Gina for a room at the pub - so it's definitely a day trip place but its well worth it. Even if you aren't a Heartbeat fan the place is worth a visit for its beautiful scenery.
There are plenty of nice walks even if you don't feel like scrambling down to the waterfall and some lovely spots to picnic!
Ooh I want to go back and visit again now!
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