Meet the Team

Paul Peacock – Director

Born and raised in Bedale, right in the heart of Herriot Country, Paul has lived and worked across the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors all his life. He and his wife, Julie, were married at Boltby Church in 1994. After spending 10 years living in Ampleforth just outside Helmsley, they moved back to Bedale, which they continue to call home. Paul and Julie have two daughters and a new granddaughter.

After leaving school, Paul attended Askham Bryan Agricultural College near York before gaining hands-on experience working on several farms around Thirsk. He then joined an agricultural merchant, eventually becoming a sales manager. Based in Thirsk and Leyburn, Paul spent 10 years visiting farms throughout the region, from Thirsk to Hawes, a landscape famously featured in the stories of James Herriot. There isn’t a road or track in the Dales that Paul hasn’t travelled countless times, and his intimate knowledge of the area means that guests on Herriot Country Tours experience the true Yorkshire Dales, far beyond the typical tourist routes.

Following the devastating foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2000, which severely impacted UK livestock farming, Paul shifted careers and joined North Yorkshire Police in Ripon. Over the years, he was promoted to sergeant and served on the Armed Response Unit in Thirsk. This role took Paul across the lesser-known roads of North Yorkshire, tackling rural crime and continuing his exploration of the hidden corners of the region.

Major spinal surgery in 2014 ended Paul’s police career, but the skills he had acquired, including advanced driving qualifications, led him to start his own chauffeur company. This venture included taking clients on private tours of Yorkshire, a role that allowed Paul to combine his passion for the area with his career. It was during this time that Paul realised his true calling lay in guiding tours, sharing his love for Yorkshire with others.

In 2022, Paul and his business partner, Lee, took the exciting step of purchasing the existing Herriot Country Tours business from the parents of an associate. With a successful history already in place, Paul and Lee were eager to expand and elevate the business. Paul sold his chauffeur company and now dedicates his time to leading tours alongside Lee. Occasionally, if the guests request his company, Paul’s dog Otis joins the tours if the day involves a scenic walk, making it a perfect experience for dog lovers.

Outside of his tour guiding, Paul continues his passion for agriculture. He operates a low-disturbance seed drill, which he uses to contract with farms in the area, contributing to regenerative agricultural practices and helping offset the carbon footprint of their tours, as mentioned in the sustainable tourism section.

However, there’s nothing Paul enjoys more than sharing the beauty and stories of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors with guests, blending his knowledge from both his farming and police careers while getting to know the visitors and their backgrounds.

Colin Boal – Team Member

Colin has lived in North Yorkshire all his life, and the landscape continues to inspire him every day. With its breathtaking dales, rugged moorland, dramatic coastline, and excellent transport links, he believes it’s one of the finest places in the world to call home.

After leaving college, Colin began his career in the family business before moving on to establish his own online company, designed for the modern digital age. He successfully sold the business in 2020. Alongside his entrepreneurial work, he has also enjoyed a distinctive role as a test-drive specialist for various car manufacturers — from high-performance luxury brands to cutting-edge electric vehicles — giving him unique insight into the evolving world of motoring.

Working with Herriot Country Tours is one of Colin’s greatest pleasures. He thrives on meeting interesting people from across the globe, sharing the stories, history and character of his home county, while learning about the cultures and experiences his guests bring with them.

Colin and his wife have one son, who is currently studying Photography at York St John University. When he isn’t leading tours, Colin makes the most of the outdoors he loves so much — cycling the quiet country lanes, skiing, or exploring the hills on foot. Motorsport is another lifelong passion, and he even competed in his younger years.

For Colin, the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Yorkshire coastline are a truly captivating corner of the world. Guiding guests through this remarkable landscape and helping them experience its beauty is not just his profession, but something he feels privileged to do every day.