Skipton, North Yorkshire

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Skipton is often considered a gateway to the Dales. Indeed the Norman Castle was built to guard the Aire Gap through the Pennines. It’s one of the best preserved and most complete medieval castles in England, despite enduring a three-year siege in the Civil War.

After the battle of Marston Moor it was the only Royalist stronghold left in the north. At last the Governor, Sir John Mallory, negotiated a surrender, and in December 1645, the garrison marched out with colours flying and trumpets sounding. Cromwell ordered the removal of the Castle roofs, but only ten years later the owner, Lady Anne Clifford, was allowed to replace them, on the condition that they were not strong enough to bear firing cannon.

Skipton means ‘sheep town’, and the sheep market made this a prosperous capital of the Craven district. It’s still a market town and you can’t avoid the broad High Street where the bustling market takes place. There’s more to Skipton than just buying and selling: Pleasure barges pull into the canal side and the town is a starting point for many of the walkers in the Dales.

Skipton is featured on our 55-minute video Picture Postcard Yorkshire, and can be purchased on line. Click here to find out more.

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