A new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights is helping drive renewed interest in walking holidays through England’s Yorkshire Dales, with tour operator On Foot Holidays reporting stronger inquiry levels following the movie’s release.
The uptick appears to be particularly noticeable in Australia, where interest has been lifted by the film’s lead cast and the visibility of the Yorkshire landscapes on screen.
For the trade, the timing gives agents a clear sales hook for Britain in 2026, combining screen-inspired travel with the continued appeal of self-guided walking holidays. It also taps into the broader “set-jetting” trend, where travellers seek out destinations featured in film and television. This is an inference based on the film’s recent release and On Foot Holidays’ reported increase in inquiries.
Yorkshire landscapes move back into focus
The latest Wuthering Heights adaptation, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, was filmed across parts of Yorkshire, including locations within the Yorkshire Dales area. That has helped put the region back in front of audiences, with its moorland, villages and rugged scenery once again becoming part of the travel conversation.
On Foot Holidays is using that momentum to highlight its seven-night self-guided Yorkshire Dales itinerary, which runs from May to October and takes walkers through the national park with accommodation and daily luggage transfers included. The route starts in Ripon and passes through sites including Fountains Abbey, Brimham Rocks, Settle and Austwick before reaching the Ingleborough area.
Slow travel angle adds trade appeal
The itinerary is positioned squarely at the slow travel market, appealing to clients who want an immersive regional experience rather than a classic city-based UK trip. Along the way, walkers stay in country pubs and bed and breakfasts, while only carrying a day pack. The walk is graded medium-hard, with daily walking times of around three-and-a-half to six-and-a-half hours, according to the operator.
That gives agents a product with a clear niche: repeat UK travellers, active couples and clients looking for film-linked travel with a strong experiential angle. The Yorkshire Dales National Park also has an established reputation for walking, which supports the commercial case for packaging the region as more than a one-off screen tourism story. This is an inference based on the route profile and the national park’s walking offer.
Booking incentive adds urgency
On Foot Holidays is also using a limited-time offer to encourage early bookings, with a five per cent saving available on the Yorkshire Dales route for reservations made by 30 April 2026 using the code YOD5. The operator’s current seven-night Yorkshire Dales walk is listed from £1,110 per person twin share on its website, which suggests pricing may have shifted slightly from the release version provided.
For the Australian trade, the combination of a timely film connection, a clear booking incentive and a distinctive regional itinerary gives Yorkshire a stronger 2026 story than standard Britain touring alone. With set-jetting continuing to influence trip planning, the Yorkshire Dales may be one of the more saleable examples of how film can turn scenery into bookings. This final point is an inference based on the film coverage and operator response.
