Britain’s moorlands are made for stories. And the North York Moors, with its rolling heather-clad hills, colourful villages and rugged coastlines, have certainly captured the imaginations of many a novelist and filmmaker.
From magical adventures and festive fables to love-laced intrigues and tragic sagas, the North York Moors have set the scene for some of England’s most beloved stories. Whether you’re retracing the steps of characters you love, or seeking inspiration for your next big adventure, here’s your guide to the North York Moors on page and screen.
Classic literature and cosy crime
The Secret Garden is perhaps one of the most beloved children’s stories of all – if Roald Dahl saw fit to make it Matilda’s favourite, it must be something special. The magic takes place at Misselthwaite Manor – grand and mysterious, hidden away in a remote corner of the Moors. Alas, if you were to wander in search of Misselthwaite Manor, you won’t find it, as it’s entirely fictional. However, the 2020 televised adaptation, starring Colin Firth, honoured the Yorkshire setting. Duncombe Park and Helmsley Walled Garden were both used extensively in the series. Both are a few minutes from the Moors Church and are well worth a visit.
Charles Dickens, arguably our fair isle’s greatest storyteller, also took inspiration from these parts. He developed a lifelong friendship with Charles Smithson, a lawyer whose family firm operated on Chancery Lane, Malton.
In July 1843, Dickens stayed for several weeks at Smithson’s home, Easthorpe Hall, which stood near the town until it was sadly destroyed by fire in the 1970s.
It was during this visit that the basis of A Christmas Carol was formed. He later revealed to the Smithson family that Charles’s office on Chancery Lane inspired Scrooge’s Counting House, complete with its notorious door knocker, while the eerie bells of St. Leonard’s Church became the ominous chimes in the story. The town still has that Dickensian feel, and has plenty more going on to make it well worth a visit.
Fans of cosy crime might enjoy the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries Series by Helen Cox. They follow a local librarian with a sideline in amateur sleuthing, as she helps a detective solve murders around North Yorkshire. Titles include Murder in the Moorland, Body in the Bookshop, and Witch Hunt in Whitby.
The Heritage Railway Line
The Golden Age of Travel lives on with the North York Moors Railway, one of Britain’s finest heritage railway lines. It’s no surprise that producers looking to add a touch of magic or historic charm to their movies have regularly climbed aboard, making use of the gorgeous stations and breathtaking scenery.
Goathland Station was deemed sufficiently enchanting to serve as Hogsmeade Station in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Fans may remember Hagrid shepherding the wide-eyed Harry, Ron and Hermione from the platform to their first year at Hogwarts.
Pickering Station, the southern terminus of the heritage line, featured in two beloved TV series brought to the big screen. It can be seen in 2016’s Dad’s Army film, as well as the opening scene of the Downton Abbey movie.
Not even Hollywood can resist the charms of the North York Moors. During the pandemic, Tom Cruise touched down in his helicopter near Levisham Station to film scenes for the seventh Mission Impossible movie, Dead Reckoning. Naturally, it featured an action sequence atop a moving train.
Harrison Ford soon followed suit. This time, Grosmont Station was chosen. It served as the scene for the action-packed opening chase scene in 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).
Castle Howard – no finer backdrop
If there’s one location that can rival the Railway in terms of presence, prestige, and grandeur as a setting: Castle Howard. The grand estate has a long history as a filming location, stretching back to the 60s when Sophia Loren strolled around the gardens in the film Lady L. Despite being heavily made-up to resemble an 80-year-old lady for her scenes at Castle Howard, those present declared she was the epitome of Hollywood glamour.
Perhaps most famously, Castle Howard served as the eponymous estate in Brideshead Revisited, in both the TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel, and the more recent feature film. The 1981 series starring Jeremy Irons is often lauded as the greatest British TV adaptation of all time.
The Castle also served as Clyvedon Estate and village in Bridgerton. Several parts of the interior, including the Great Hall and Archbishop’s Bedroom, were featured, along with the Walled Garden and Temple of Four Winds in the grounds. Retrace the steps your characters took as they plotted and courted and engaged in other pursuits.
Postcard villages hiding plenty of drama
The history and heritage of the Moors lend themselves to period dramas, and 2017’s Phantom Thread took full advantage. Set to be Daniel Day-Lewis’s last film, the sumptuous 1950s tale of an obsessive fashion designer and his muse featured Whitby, as well as the nearby villages of Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes and Lythe. The coastal clifftops of Ravenscar provided a breathtaking backdrop, while Grosmont Station – a setting that could have been plucked straight from the 50s – also features.
The jovial 1960s-set police drama Heartbeat was set around Goathland. During the show’s run in the late 90s-early 2000s, visitors to the area would see vehicles from the show, such as Greengrass’s iconic Morris truck, parked around the village. Goathland hosts an annual Heartbeat rally where vintage fans can see the whole collection.
From Victorian classics to Hollywood blockbusters, the North York Moors continue to inspire storytellers and captivate visitors. Each location in this guide is within easy reach, waiting for you to step into the scenes yourself.
The Moors Church offers the perfect base for exploring these literary and cinematic landmarks. Nestled at the gateway to the North York Moors, our unique 19th-century church conversion offers character and comfort in equal measure. It’s just made for the next adventure in your story – whenever that may be.