The rugged beauty of North Yorkshire took a firmly starring role in the latest adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, released Feb 13th this year, and the parts of the county are expecting to see a related tourism uptick, as visitors come to see the filming locations and to get a bit of that Cathy/Heathcliff vibe so wonderfully provided by the moody moors and dales highlighted in the film. The film was directed by Emerald Fennell (previously Saltburn, Promising Young Woman), and stars Jacob Elordie (Saltburn, Priscilla, Frankenstein, Euphoria), Margot Robbie (Wolf of Wall Street, Barbie), Martin Clunes, Hong Chau, and many others.
The film crew relocated to the county in the early months of 2025 to do the location shooting, utilising several picturesque backdrops for various scenes, and also taking over Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes as a base for the cast and crew. The owner of the hotel, Jake Dinsdale, has noted that they have already seen an uptick in international visitors wanting to come and get a little taste of Wuthering Heights world.
from their “Press Images” album
“Yesterday afternoon set in misty and cold. I had half a mind to spend it by my study fire, instead of wading through heath and mud to Wuthering Heights.” – Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Whilst the original Brontë novel, and the subsequent Brontë country is centered on West Yorkshire; specifically an area near Bradford, and the village of Haworth where the Brontë sisters lived, it was North Yorkshire that predominantly shone in the latest film adaptation. The Yorkshire Dales National Park was utilised a lot for outside locations, when stars Robbie (Cathy) and Elordie (Heathcliff) ventured into the wilds for the more atmospheric shots, complete with moody mist and fine drizzle.
Picturesque Swaledale was used for key scenes in the movie, especially utilising the area around Langthwaite and the Old Gang Smelt Mill (now a ruin). The rugged industrial buildings, falling into desolation against the rugged and remote background, provided the ultimate mood setting for the action to take place against. Other locations used were the village of Low Row, Booze Moor, and Langthwaite.
The Yorkshire Dales NP Senior Historic Advisor, Sarah Whiteley, consulted on the film and was on location for the days of shooting within the park. One thing she clarifies, however, is that whilst these locations are accessible, they are remote, on private land (with footpaths across) and in some of the higher moorland areas of the park. Therefore visitors should ensure that they are properly prepared for adverse weather conditions and properly equipped with walking gear before attempting to visit the locations. The landscapes and ruins are also of historical significance and should be treated with the respect deserved. As the saying goes “take only pictures, leave only footprints,” and ensure that these locations can be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.
Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash
Now, the director of this adaptation (Emerald Fennell) has been quick to point out that this film is not meant to be a faithful retelling of the Emily Brontë classic, and many book aficionados have been making lists of things that don’t match up between the one and the other. Fennell has said that the film is more about conveying the feeling and memory she got when she read Wuthering Heights for the first time as a teenager, hence the reason she chose to put the title “Wuthering Heights” in inverted commas. It’s meant to be a version, a different take, a slant. It was never meant to be a remake of what has come before. What we can all agree on, however, is her excellent choice in having Yorkshire take centre stage for some of the film’s pivotal moments, with the dramatic backdrops of the Dales adding beauty and emotion into the fabric of the film.
Even if it isn’t the newest “Wuthering Heights” film that convinces you to head back to North Yorkshire (and to be honest, do we really need convincing?), the rugged beauty of the North Yorkshire Dales National Park is always waiting, whichever season you choose, with magnificent scenery and places to visit throughout the year.