JOURNAL #14 - A WEEKENDER IN SKIPTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
For weekenders wanting to spend time in North Yorkshire countryside make sure to visit Skipton. It’s known not only as the gateway to the magnificent Yorkshire Dales, but it’s also a charming town that’s worth a weekend visit. With its famous 900-year-old castle, romantic ruined priory and historic cobbled High Street, Skipton is endlessly rich both in history and outstanding natural beauty. It has been a market town trading in sheep and wool, and even today nine centuries later they still have a market on the high street.
When we mentioned to friends we were visiting in the early Summer, all the comments we got were that it’s such a lovely place to visit from people who’ve been visiting for decades.
What to do . . .
It’s a very easy town to walk around, poke about in the shops and now and then stop for a coffee, bite to eat or a drink in the many pubs. Skipton has lovely walks along the canal or if you fancy, take a canal boat ride instead. I’m pleased I took my waxed cotton baseball cap as our walk on Saturday kept changing between sunshine and showers.
There’s plenty of shops, many are independent, as well as the outdoor market that’s on four days a week. And if you are planning on walking in the dales and forget something there’s a good choice of outdoor shops too.
We had great intentions of going for a walk in the dales, but unfortunately some bad weather scuppered that, so plans were changed for a visit to the castle at the top of the High Street. We have visited many castles over the years, and this is definitely in our top five. It’s the sort of place you can have a good nosey around, with lots of nooks and crannies plus great views out of some of the windows. Have a look at the Skipton Castle website for more information and to book.
Where to eat . . .
Skipton is teeming with places to eat, drink and be merry. They’ve got artisan coffee shops, craft beer bars, restaurants for every budget and shops selling goodies for picnics. We had a drink at the Yorkshire Rose and then dined Elsworth Kitchen which was delicious and I’d have quite happily gone back from breakfast the next morning. I can recommend the Farmhouse Black Pudding starter. The following day we had lunch at the Keelham Farm Shop and then stocked up on tasty treats from Yorkshire (including for the dogs) to take home.
Where to stay . . .
We were lucky enough to stay with family, but there is a good choice of hotels and holiday cottages, both in Skipton itself, which means you can everywhere or in the surrounding villages and countryside.
We can see why Skipton has such a great reputation in North Yorkshire and would recommend a visit allowing both time in Skipton itself as well as exploring the Yorkshire Dales.