Heartbeat Country Guidebook and Travel Guide HEARTBEAT COUNTRY
Discovery Guides Heritage Series
CONTENTS
IFC General Map of the Area
01 Foreward, Contents and Credits
02 Heartbeat Country
03 Landscape of Peace and Serenity
04 The Rich History of the Area
06 The Location for Heartbeat
07 The Origins of the Series
08 Nicholas Rhea - Peter Walker
10 Constable Series Place Names
11 Constable Series Titles
12 Early Characters and Actors
14 Development of the Series
16 The More Recent Characters
18 Goathland - Aidensfield
20 Pickering
21 Eskdale
22 Robin Hood's Bay
23 Whitby
24 Staithes and Runswick Bay
25 Towns and Villages of the Area
26 Local Myths and Legends
28 Exploring the Area by Car
30 Attractions of the Area
32 Famous People of the Area
IBC Useful Titles and Information
BC Acknowledgements and Credits
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This region of the North York Moors and Coast, centred upon the rural village of Goathland and the quaint seaside town of Whitby, has become recognised throughout the UK and across the wide world as ‘Heartbeat Country’. So popular has been ITV’s country police series, ‘Heartbeat’, over the last fifteen years, that it is now a household name.
Today this, the most successful TV drama series of all time, has left its mark on the character and heritage of the area in which it is set.
Within these pages we will provide you with a pictorial and editorial flavour of the magnificent scenery and rich history of one of Britain’s most beautiful and unspoilt regions that, in return, has left its own mark on ‘Heartbeat’. In addition, we have also included sections of interesting and extremely useful information on ‘Heartbeat’s’ origins, development, characters, actors and locations.
Finally, we must thank and praise the whole cast and crew who have not only produced such a masterful series, but have also demonstrated immense organisation, teamwork and professionalism. We have now witnessed this first-hand on location and have always been amazed and impressed by their dedication.
Nicholas Rhea, the author of the ‘Constable’ books on which the ‘Heartbeat’ series is based, gives us an insight into the lives of the less-than-famous characters who make up the population of the North York Moors - such as the gooseberry growers of Egton, or the Liberal farmer in a Tory stronghold who awoke one morning to find his pigs had been painted yellow! Through the books and subsequently the world of television, we are given a peep into the lives and livelihoods of the local characters whom we, as transient visitors to the area, often fail to meet or tend to overlook.
The first programme in the first season was transmitted in April 1992. Over a period of 15 years there have now been 16 seasons and a total of 312 programmes. Today, ‘Heartbeat’ is viewed by millions of people in many countries of the world. It is acclaimed as one of the longest-running and most successful drama series in television history.
‘Heartbeat Country’ is situated in the north eastern part of the beautiful North York Moors National Park. It is made up of both coastline and countryside. There are purple moors, green dales, pretty streams and rivers, sandy beaches and towering coastal cliffs. As well as quaint rural villages and towns, there are also old coastal fishing villages and towns, the historic port of Whitby being the most famous.
Within this guidebook, ‘Heartbeat Country’ is that area of some 20 miles radius surrounding the village of Goathland. This village is central to the ‘Heartbeat’ television series, in which it is known as Aidensfield, and even today much of the location filming for the programmes is done in this village and surrounding area.
Goathland, the very heart of ‘Heartbeat Country’, has an enviable location. It is situated just to the north of the huge glacial overflow channel of Newtondale and the enormous strangely-shaped Hole of Horcum, and sited between the West Beck to the west and Eller Beck to the east. These meet on the north western edge of the village to become the Murk Esk, which flows north to meet the River Esk and beautiful Eskdale.
A journey to Goathland can be a wonderful experience in its own right. Not only is it possible to enjoy a nostalgic ride on the steam trains of the famous North York Moors Railway, but visitors can also travel by the country roads with their magnificent views over dales and moorland.
The ‘Heartbeat’ TV series uses sixties music as a backdrop to the action. But going back to music of a different era, William Schwenck Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame wrote, “A policeman’s lot is not a happy one”. ‘Heartbeat’ looks at life through the eyes of a rural policeman. If not always a ‘happy one’, most of a policeman’s life here must have been very happy..... and how pleasing to have the North York Moors as your ‘patch’!
‘Heartbeat’ is about coming to terms with the environment as much as actual police work. In this respect, the great audience it attracts can relate in more than a superficial way and enjoy the added attraction of the great outdoors.
‘Heartbeat Country’ is not only special and interesting - above all it is inspiring. It is an area described by writers as resembling both the Cotswolds in the sandstone countryside of its northern valleys - and like the West Country in the beauty of the fishing villages on its heritage coastline. Two landscapes of natural beauty and national importance rolled into one.... this is ‘Heartbeat Country’.... and it awaits your exploration and discovery!
CREDITS AND TECHNICAL DATA ISBN 0-86309-004-4 ISBN-13 978-0-86309-004-2.
32 PAGES PRINTED ON 130GSM GLOSS ARTPAPER + 4 PAGE COVER PRINTED ON 350GSM GLOSS ARTBOARD.
PRINTED FULL COLOUR THROUGHOUT. GLOSS LAMINATED OUTER COVER.
SOME 45 COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND 1 ILLUSTRATION. 249mm HIGH x 172mm WIDE approx.
PRINTED IN ENGLAND.
RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE: £3-99
SERIES DESIGNER + CURRENT REVISION: ROB GILMORE.
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY PHILIP LOUDON.
PUBLISHED BY DISCOVERY PUBLISHING (UK) LIMITED.
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