On Sunday we decided to have a jaunt to Grassington. Friends had mentioned that the bookshop - the Stripey Badger - is really good, and we spotted that they also have a rather nice café.
I was keen to visit Grassington, I haven't been for many years. It now features as Darrowby, the setting for the current TV adaptation of James Herriot's novels All Creatures Great and Small. I have to admit that I wasn't disposed to like the change of filming location for the novels - Askrigg, the setting for the 1980s TV adaptations just seemed the perfect place to me. But Grassington is also perfect and maybe even better than Thirsk in many ways.
It was lovely to be able to spot all the buildings and locations used in the TV programme. The Stripey Badger Bookshop features as the grocers G F Endleby, and the café and kitchen next door are turned into a private house, where the actors and crew assembled between takes.
The Devonshire Hotel becomes the Drovers Arms, the sign is still above the door, and Helen Midgeley's becomes C A Handley Bookseller. There are lots of other familar shops and signs. All in all, extremely fascinating.
We thoroughly enjoyed a very tasty lunch in the Stripey Badger, as well as making a small number of book purchases, of course!
On our way home we made a quick detour to the recently reopened Keelham's Farm Shop. We have really missed this fabulous farm shop. It's always so convenient to be able to pop in for some tasty treats when we've had a day out in North Yorkshire. So we're delighted that it's back, and thankfully, better than ever.