The picturesque North York Moors, with its dales, rivers, woods and coastline has towns such as Whitby and many moorland villages like Goathland and Glaisdale and such superb wild scenery. Not surprisingly, this area has become known today as 'Heartbeat Country', after the television series.

Regular viewers of 'Heartbeat' will have become familiar with the opening sequence showing the Aidensfield Stores & Post Office in Goathland, now a permanently adopted name which draws in visitors when 'Heartbeat' was not being filmed in the village. Other regularly used exterior locations include the main street of Goathland, Bernie's garage and the area between it and the Aidensfield Arms. The Mallyan Spout Hotel and railway station are also featured regularly.

Beyond Goathland, regular viewers of 'Heartbeat' will be acquainted with the memorial cross, between Goathland and Egton Bridge, and the road that passes the woodland near Randy Mere Reservoir. They will also be familiar with New Wath Bridge at Glaisdale, the churchyard between Egton and Glaisdale, the River Esk at Egton Bridge, the centre of Grosmont with its railway tunnel and station or the beach at Sandsend. Much of Whitby is instantly recognisable too, particularly Skinner Street, the old Market Place, Church Street, the harbourside, the piers, the 199 steps and its famous ruined abbey. The moors are still dominated by the sight of Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station and when its new but familiar structure comes into sight, Aidensfield (nee Goathland) is not far away.