Land of soap and glory

In Golden Jubilee year, it's an

Had Her Majesty been aware of it, she could have opted for an Emmerdale weekend, offered by Highlife. She could have been checking into her room at the Bradford Hilton and opening her goodie-bag containing a ticket to visit the set in the Leeds studios, a guide to exploring Emmerdale, and vouchers for a drink at the original Woolpack, fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's in Guiseley and wine-tasting at Yorkshire Country Wines.

The set tour is conducted by Beverly and Margaret, who banter as a double act, discussing the characters as if they were real and displaying pride in the fact that the programme has won a Best Soap Bafta. Every attention to detail is evident, from the village shop's copies of The Hotten Courier to Viv and Bob's kitchen with matching Mr and Mrs Hope mugs, and congealed ketchup in the dingy Dingle dwelling.

Farther up in the Dales is Esholt, where the programme was filmed before visiting coachloads and hectic schedules became too much for the residents.

It remains something of a show village: over a game of pool at the original Woolpack, affable landlord Brian Rickard recalls the evening when the Finnish branch of the Emmerdale fan club arrived with their translator, wanting to know when the village shop would open. "They were excited to be here, but disappointed not to see the likes of Seth or Zak. They really thought they'd be drinking in here." It's not just Europeans - Canadians, New Zealanders and Aussies have all trekked to the shrine.

Not bad for something that was only going to be a 13-week lunchtime drama serial - the wild countryside, coupled with spicy rural farming community story lines, ensured that it would run and run - and now the Dales compete with London E20 in the TV diet of dysfunctional families and corrupt businessmen.

Our Yorkshire Country Wines tasting took place at Glasshouses, a converted flax mill in the Nidd Valley. Husband-and-wife team Gillian and Richard Brown produce six fruit wines, from gooseberry to elderflower, run a tearoom and sell antiques.

The link to the TV soap was Richard, who - on the evidence of our visit - has been storing up story lines for years. The Queen probably won't have time, but if ever short on inspiration, the scriptwriters really should visit.

? Highlife Breaks (0845 60 60 611 or www.highlifebreaks.co.uk) offers Friday-to-Sunday Emmerdale Breaks from £108pp, including two nights half-board at the Bradford Hilton, a visit to YTV studios, a guidebook and vouchers for drinks at the Woolpack, fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's and tasting at Yorkshire Country Wines.