Skipton

Skipton - the perfect southern gateway to the Dales - is at the northernmost point of the 130-mile long Leeds-Liverpool Canal, one of the early achievements of the Industrial Revolution. Originally a trading centre for sheep and wool, this small and friendly town with its nostalgic cobbled streets grew up around the castle, nearby church and market place. It now boasts many pubs, cafés and shops along with a still thriving regular market and a vibrant night life.

The town still keeps its essentially Norman layout dominated by the magnificent Skipton Castle, parish church, and traditional high street market place with radiating passageways between what were originally narrow medieval landholdings known as tofts and crofts. Today these are busy pedestrian passageways packed with fascinating shops and boutiques, inns and courtyards.

Skipton Castle, situated in the Aire Gap between the Craven limestone dales to the north and the gritstone moors to the south, was established here in the late eleventh century. This 900 year old castle is one of the most complete and best preserved in the country, giving excellent views over the town and Skipton woods. A gentle and picturesque short walk takes you from the heart of Skipton, under the castle cliffs and through the surrounding woodland.

The town also boasts the outstanding Craven Museum located in the Town Hall with a variety of exhibits relating to many aspects of Dales life, but most notably the lead mining industry. It is also home to a rare Shakespeare First Folio; dating back to 1623 there are only 230 copies in the world and the Craven Museum copy is one of only four First Folios on permanent display in the world.

There’s a good choice of places to stay in Skipton and an excellent network of bus and trains, including the celebrated Settle-Carlisle line and the equally scenic Leeds-Skipton-Morecambe line which goes through Giggleswick and Clapham.

And just a walk or bus ride away from Skipton is the nostalgic Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, where on most weekends and during holiday periods you can ride in a 1950s coach behind a sturdy, puffing steam locomotive from beautifully preserved or even rebuilt stations. At the end of the line an easy walk awaits you from Bolton Abbey Station to Bolton Priory which was once used by kings and prime ministers.

Bus and train times can be checked on the Dalesbus website.

Local services: accommodation, cafe, pub, shops, toilets, tourist information centre