Skipton

Known as the southern gateway to the Dales and situated on the Settle-Carlisle line, the vibrant town of Skipton has great links with the cities of West Yorkshire and is easily accessible by motorway to Manchester.  As a result, many people who work in the cities choose to live here for the quality of life it affords. The town grew wealthy as a trading centre for wool and sheep and now has a thriving creative community with galleries and art venues.  Skipton Town Hall on the High Street is very much the hub for culture and heritage in the Craven area with an Exhibition Gallery, Museum, Visitor Centre and Gift shop.

The town has two distinguishable features; the Norman Castle which is over 900 years old and is one of the most complete medieval castles in England and the traditional Skipton market that lines the high street four days a week.  Skipton Castle is a great place to start when exploring the town as it gives a sense of the history and heritage of Yorkshire and is a great vantage point to view the high street and canal below. The strategic location of the castle helped the town grow in stature and helped the town gain a Market Charter in 1204 and the popular High Street market continues to this day.

Afterwards, there are plenty of cafes and bars where you can enjoy a meal. One of our personal favourites is the award-winning fish and chip restaurant, Bizzie Lizzie’s who have two restaurants in town.

Don’t Miss

• Skipton Town Hall
• Skipton Canal Cruises
• Skipton Castle
• Skipton Woods
• Skipton Market

Did you Know?

Skipton original name ‘Sceap Tun’ means sheep town.

Unsurprisingly, Skipton’s major local employer is Skipton Building Society.

Skipton has had a biennial puppet festival since 1997 showcasing puppetry from all over the UK. Skipton Town Hall now organise the festival, so I guess that means they are pulling the strings!

You can view William Shakespeare’s First Folio, dated 1623, in the Craven Museum.

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal arrived in Skipton in 1770, bringing industrial development in corn milling and clothmaking.

MALHAMDALE

Malham is a very popular village on the Pennine Way that is popular with walkers.  With beautiful limestone scenery, the area is famous for the soaring limestone ‘amphitheatre’ of Malham Cove with its almost’ lunar like’ landscape which can be reached by climbing the 400 stone steps up the left-hand side of the Cove.  This pavement has an expanse of clints (slabs) and grykes (clefts) created by water seeping through weaker lines in the limestone rock and truly is a sight to behold.  In a magical wood along the footpath from Malham village towards Gordale Scar, you will find Jenet’s Foss waterfall which takes its name after a legendary fairy queen who supposedly inhabited a cave behind the waterfall.

DON’T MISS

National Park Visitor Centre

Malham Cove

Malham Tarn

Janet’s Foss waterfall

Gordale Scar

DID YOU KNOW?

The Lister Arms in Malham was winner of the 2023 Yorkshire’s Post Dog Friendly Accommodation/Attraction of the Year.

Peregrine Falcons nest in the crevices of Malham Cove.

Before 20th century boundary changes, the village of Malham was part of the Settle District in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Going further back, Malham was mentioned as ‘Malgun’ in the Domesday book and traces of the Iron age can still be found in the area today.

WHARFEDALE & BOLTON ABBEY

Wharfedale is a stunning valley with miles of drystone walls and picturesque villages like Grassington, Burnsall and Kettlewell.  Some of our favourite parts are in southern Wharfedale which offer breathtaking scenery and riverside walks for those who love the outdoors. Another must visit location is the Bolton Abbey Estate which has a stunning Priory Church and Ruins of an Augustinian Priory and of course, the famous 60 stepping stones.  These were originally used by Priory Workers to cross the River Wharfe but are now used by big and small kids to cross as a bit of a challenge. If you fancy a trip into Wharfedale an enjoyable and scenic way is to take the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, a preserved Heritage railway with steam locomotives that runs from Embsay village to Bolton Abbey Station.  From here you can walk the half mile to Bolton Abbey Estate

DID YOU KNOW

Bolton Abbey has three fallen trees that are all laden with coins that have put in the bark by visitors. Follow the path from Stepping Stones Bridge up stream through the woodland to find them.

The pretty riverside village of Kettlewell hosts an annual Scarecrow Festival where residents display homemade scarecrows.

The Wharfedale valley was cut into the shape we see today during the last ice age.