Dan Walker and Helen Skelton are back with a brand-new series, exploring the awe-inspiring natural beauty and seeking out the hidden gems of Yorkshire.
As the pair journey uphill and down dale, they team up with the fascinating folk at the heart of the celebrated county and embark on a range of walks and trails with unexpected pit stops, that combine to create a unique ‘great and small’ guide for both seasoned Yorkshire explorers and first-time visitors alike.
In the first episode, Walker and Skelton set out on an awe-inspiring journey through the majestic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales. The adventure sees them explore breathtaking beauty spots and uncover hidden treasures in some of James Herriot Country’s most charming villages.
Their adventure begins in Malham where, after a long and testing banter-fuelled ramble they marvel at the natural wonder of Malham Cove, a stunning limestone formation carved out during the last Ice Age.
As they delve deeper into the landscape that inspired Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, Dan and Helen are blown away by the Ribblehead Viaduct, a remarkable feat of Victorian engineering that stands proudly in this picturesque setting.
Their journey continues to Ingleborough, one of Yorkshire’s famous Three Peaks, as they discover the hidden gem of the Ingleborough Nature Trail and hear how a legendary horticulturalist used unorthodox methods to transform the landscape. The pair then come across the charming market square of Grassington, which each year is transformed into Darrowby, the fictional town from All Creatures Great the Small.
Off the beaten track, Dan uncovers rare wild orchids on the banks of the River Wharfe, then explores a secret garden created by the godson of Queen Mary. Meanwhile, Helen investigates spooky local myths and the natural wonders of Janet’s Foss and an amazing hidden cave near Troller’s Gill.
They round things off with a visit to a classic Yorkshire village pub in Appletreewick where the landlord sets Dan against Helen in a brutally competitive game of bullring – a classic pub game of years gone by, and they hear about William Craven who turned from local pauper to the super-rich Lord Mayor of London.
Yorkshire Great and Small with Dan and Helen begins Thursday 12th September on Channel 5, and will be approximately the 1,479,312th show with “Yorkshire” in the title to screen on the channel.
