Where to stay in Skipton

Skipton (also known as Skipton-in-Craven) is a market town and civil parish in the modern ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. Historically located in the East Division of Staincliffe Wapentake of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Skipton lies generally south of the Yorkshire Dales and is situated on both the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

"Skipton" means sheep town, and its wool trade was boosted by its position in the "Aire Gap" - the Aire and Ribble valleys create a low-level route through the Pennines. The countryside around is known as Craven, and is also suitable for cattle - the "Craven Heifer" was a vast 19th century cow. The castle was built in 1090 AD to protect the trade and route, and later the coast-to-coast canal, main road and railway all came this way.

Getting in

From London, the Midlands and beyond, travel to Leeds and change. That's swiftly done as trains from the south usually pull in a few steps from the Skipton trains. Skipton has two trains an hour from Leeds (40 min) and from Bradford Forster Square (40 min); these may also stop at Shipley, Saltaire (for Salts Mill), Bingley and Keighley (for Worth Valley steam railway). Skipton is just outside the West Yorkshire Metro travel zone, so you may find a better fare by split-ticketing to the edge of the zone, e.g., to Keighley or Steeton & Silsden.

Getting around

The town is best explored on foot, but you need wheels to reach Bolton Abbey. Gargrave is on the bus and railway routes. Taxi firms include Pink Ladies (+44 7728 386517), Skipton & Craven Taxis (+44 1756 701122), Dalesman (+44 1756 794444) and Station Taxis (+44 1756 700777).

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.