Skipton
Enter the Dales through this portal, famous for the unblemished
castle, a canal, and sheep. This is the nearest town to Grassington
and usually athrong with coachloads of tourists vying for
pavement space. Lots of shops and pubs and a market...and
of course sheep.
Or
... you can do one of the
local popular walks>>
... go and look at the Events
Board >> for possible suggestions.
... ask for advice from contributors on the Message
Board>>
Contact details:
Skipton and Craven Tourist Information Centre
35 Coach Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1LQ
Telephone: 01756 792809 (+44 1756 792809)
Fax: 01756 700709 (+44 1756 700709)
E-mail: skipton@ytbtic.co.uk
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Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North
Yorkshire. It is located along the course of both the
Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the
south side of the Yorkshire Dales, 9 miles from Grassington.
Skipton has a population of over16,000.
Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire,
Skipton was anciently distinguished by Skipton Castle,
first constructed in 1090 as a motte-and-bailey by Robert
de Romille, a Norman baron. This building was replaced
by a stone keep as a means to repel attacks from the
Kingdom of Scotland to the north, the erection of which
elevated Skipton from a poor dependant village to a
burgh administered by a reve. The protection offered
by Skipton Castle during the Middle Ages encouraged
the urbanisation of the surrounding area, and it times
of war and disorder, attracted an influx of famillies.
The community around Skipton Castle encouraged the
region to become a prosperous market town, trading sheep
and woollen goods. A thriving market stemming from its
early years still survives. In the 19th century, Skipton
emerged as a small mill town connected to the major
cities via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its branch
Thanet Canal, but during the 20th century Skipton's
economy shifted to tourism, aided by its historic architecture
and proximity to the Yorkshire Dales. Since 1974, Skipton
has been the seat of Craven Borough Council.
There is a very presentable free museum upstairs in
the Town Hall, open at 10 a.m. see
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