“That quotation about not having time to stand and stare has never applied to me. I seem to have spent a good part of my life—probably too much—in just standing and staring.”
– James Herriot
It makes sense that a couple of Americans would want to walk in the Yorkshire Dales. Why on earth would they want to film it? The short answer is that the Dales are full of wonderful stories to tell, and The Herriot Way walks right through them. The long answer is…well, longer.
In 2018, Chris and Lorena Linke decided to take on Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk. They had never done a long-distance walk before, but the idea of walking through the incredible landscapes of the north of England was irresistible. The walk was the experience of a lifetime, and Swaledale in particular was most memorable. After completing the walk, they decided to do another walk the following summer. Many British walks were considered—coastal walks, fellwalking in the Lake District, among others. But the call of the Dales was loud and strong, and when they learned of The Herriot Way, it was a no-brainer. They were already long-time fans of James Herriot and All Creatures Great and Small, so a walk in Herriot Country was the perfect choice.
The decision to document the walk was an easy one. First of all, Chris is an experienced documentary editor, and Lorena is an actress with a degree in theater, so they already know how to tell a story. Secondly, walks such as the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine Way were already quite well documented, in books and TV shows. The Herriot Way was not. In researching the walk, they discovered so many great stories about people, places, history, and prehistory. Armed with a couple of cameras, some sound gear, and months of meticulous planning, they flew to England in June of 2019 ready to produce a documentary. With all their knowledge, preparation and passion for the subject, what could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, as it turned out.
A 12-mile walk in the Dales could take a walker anywhere from five to seven hours to complete. Walking 12 miles while continually stopping to shoot video takes all day. With a proper film crew, things would’ve gone more quickly, but Chris and Lorena shot the entire film themselves. Even with the long hours of summer daylight in the north of England, getting all of the shots they needed was an incredible challenge. On the Day Three walk from Keld to Reeth, getting all the shots they needed was impossible. They finished the walk with wonderful footage and interviews, but they felt they could do better. It became very clear that another visit to the Dales would be required. So they made plans to return in June of 2020.
Perhaps you remember something happening in early 2020 and have already detected the problem. Indeed, the pandemic put their plans—and the documentary—on indefinite hold. Flights were scheduled and rescheduled, accommodations booked and rebooked. Having an almost-completed documentary just sitting there for two years was incredibly frustrating. But they were not going to release anything that wasn’t 100 percent to their satisfaction. So they waited.
Finally, in October 2021, travel restrictions were lifted enough for Chris & Lorena to return to the Dales and film the last few bits they needed. An airline mistake left them without their luggage for four days, but they wisely carried in their backpacks everything they needed to film. Clothes are easily replaced. Cameras are not.
With fantastic new footage, Chris and Lorena were finally able to finish “The Herriot Way.” In June of 2022, during a break from walking their second Coast to Coast Walk, they hosted the world premiere for the documentary at The Black Bull in Reeth, the pub that had a starring role in the film. The premiere was a rousing success and was attended by many of the people who appeared in the film, including James Herriot’s son, Jim.
There are a million stories in the Yorkshire Dales. Chris and Lorena hope “The Herriot Way” is only the first of many they can share with you.