Britain’s most enchanting landscapes have always inspired great works of art and literature. From Constable’s Dedham Vale landscapes and Wordsworth’s Lakeland daffodils to Brontë’s stark West Yorkshire Moors and Turner’s romantic visions of Eryri’s mountains.

The beautiful Yorkshire Dales were the setting for James Alfred ‘Alf’ Wight’s much-loved series of eight novels about his life working in a veterinary practice. He wrote using the pen name James Herriot, who was also the series’ main protagonist, though it’s thought the tales are only partly autobiographical. Since the first book ‘If Only They Could Talk’ was published in the UK in 1970, the series has gone on to sell over 60 million copies worldwide and has seen multiple film and TV adaptations.

This Collection follows the Herriot Way, a circular, 52-mile (84 km), long-distance trail that visits places associated with the famous vet and is based on a route Alf once hiked with his son Jimmy. It reveals some of the Yorkshire Dales’ most cherished scenery, exploring exquisite valleys, charming villages, cloud-dappled fells and heather-clad moors. The region’s lead mining heritage is also laid bare, with thought-provoking sections that discover landscapes altered by the endeavours of an industrial past. Along the way, you’ll see many creatures great and small – there’ll be plenty of wildlife encounters and you’ll spend lots of time in the company of the Dales’ farm animals, such as dairy cows and the emblematic Swaledale sheep.

Highlights of the Way include Hardraw Force, England’s largest single-drop waterfall; the historic market town of Hawes, the home of Wensleydale Cheese; the sprawling Great Shunner Fell, one of Yorkshire’s greatest uplands; the beguiling lead mining remains above Swaledale; the magnificent Grade I-listed Bolton Castle, an impressive 14th-century fortress; and the spectacular Aysgarth Falls, a series of cascades on Wensleydale’s picturesque River Ure.

Typically, the loop is split into four days and starts in Aysgarth, with stops in Keld, Hawes and Reeth. However, there’s nothing to stop you from picking your own start point and splitting the route up as you please. There are two approaches to the stage between Keld and Reeth: the traditional higher route and the alternative route through Swaledale. The traditional approach is detailed in this Collection. For the alternative, see the Herriot Way website: herriotway.com/route

The Herriot Way is a moderately challenging hike. Three of the stages take to exposed moorland and Great Shunner Fell makes for a strenuous hillwalking day. However, the route sticks to well-trodden paths and tracks, often sharing the way with other long-distance trails. There’s often a pub for lunch on each stage and both Hawes and Reeth offer the opportunity to stock up on supplies.

Nevertheless, it’s worth carrying extra food and plenty of fluids on each stage. Quality hiking footwear should be worn and waterproofs and warm layers should be carried regardless of the forecast. Shelter can be difficult to come by on the moorland sections, so sun protection is vital during the warmer months.

While there’s plenty of accommodation along the route, it’s worth booking in advance. Hawes, Keld, Reeth and Aysgarth are all popular during the summer months. Aysgarth can be reached via the 156 bus, which runs between Catterick Garrison and Gayle, or the 856 bus between Northallerton and Gayle. Northallerton is accessible by mainline train services. There are a few parking options in or within walking distance of Aysgarth.