Public Transport and Holiday Hotspots

As the holiday season is approaching I got to thinking about those people who decide to leave their cars at home and use public transport. We have all been exhorted to do this and cut down on the CO2 emissions. The only problem is that public transport, even in some of the most popular tourist spots a can be a little hit and miss. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

I do voluntary work in a local TIC (Tourist Information Centre) and I regularly get asked about public transport to a place called Malham. It is at this point that my heart sinks, because I know that there are only two buses to Malham during the week. One departs at 07.05 and arrives in Malham at 07.50. It then departs at 08.10. The second bus of the day departs at 15.56 and gets into Malham at 16.35. This second bus immediately returns to its starting place. So you have a choice of getting up early and spending either 20 minutes in Malham, eight and a half hours, or else staying overnight.

During my time with TIC I have seen marked trends in holiday tourism. Film and Television have done much to popularise certain areas. Whilst you may not instantly recognise the church below, I am pretty sure that the pub called "The Woolpack" on the second photograph will tell you that I am talking "Emmerdale."

The "Woolpack", or to give it its real life name, The Commercial, has become the centre of Emmerdale village life. Yet those who come into TIC seeking Emmerdale are often surprised to learn that there is no such place. What they are talking about in reality is a small village, not far from Shipley called Esholt.

Even then, they are more surprised to learn that the Esholt they see on TV is actually a set built in the grounds of Harewood House, not far from Leeds. The reason for this is that when the real village was used, and its location became widely known, coach tours would regularly turn up to visit Esholt. The result was that this played havoc with the filming schedules so YTV paid for an imitation Esholt to be built in the grounds of Harewood House.This is closed to the public, so they have to make do with visiting the real Esholt!

Herriott Country became another tourist hot spot due to the popularity of the books written by James Herriott, the vet who used to work from a surgery in Thirsk. This was followed by an equally popular BBC TV series as well as two films. James' real name was Alf Wight, and in the books he gave fictitious names to all the villages in and around Thirsk where he worked. His Surgery in Thirsk has now become a museum.

The opening shot of a vintage car going through a watersplash seemed to epitomise those happy go lucky far off days.

Heartbeat Country is another tourist hot spot, due to the TV Series. Below is the garage featured in the series.

I suppose part of the popularity of this series was the nostalgia which it evoked. One only has to see the old Ford Anglia which was the police car in the series, and suddenly memories come flooding back.

Going back even further in time was the wonderful BBC TV Series "Last of Summer Wine." This was filmed in and around Holmfirth (not far from Huddersfield.) Once again, crowds of visitors head for Summer Wine Country even after all the time since the series first began.

A cast of wonderfully eccentric characters, with Compo, Foggy and Clegg, as the three aging reprobates, and Nora Batty (she of the wrinkled stockings) always defending her honour against Conmpo! Below is her cottage, and the photo above is what was Sid's Cafe in the series. Both can be found in Holmfirth.

The tourist trade has much to thank the makers of these series for. Thousands of tourists from all over the world still come looking for their favourite locations from their favourite series.