Bolton Abbey - Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales

Skipton & The Local Area

Explore the Yorkshire Dales – on land or water, there are lots of places to see…

As the Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, there are many attractions in and around Skipton. You can find lots of information about what Skipton has to offer on websites such as welcometoskipton.com but in a nutshell here is a bit about what Skipton has to offer.

Skipton is a lovely town that has lots of independent retailers and an award winning market and high street. Skipton market stands on the main high street four days a week (Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) offering everything from fresh fruit and vegetables through to unique gifts and souvenirs. The canal basin is only a few minutes walk from the main high street, and a local tip is to walk through Victoria Square to get there as it is a lovely little courtyard, again full of cafés and shops.

Here in the canal basin you will find Pennine Cruisers (obviously!) offering everything you could need from a boating perspective. Along with some more shops and cafés. We have lots of little alleyways and snickets off the main high street in Skipton that lead to some lovely areas of the town…Skipton has a lot more to offer than just the main high street! So when visiting Skipton make sure you explore properly!

You may decide to explore the surrounding area – a few places of interest may be: Skipton Castle, Bolton Abbey, Embsay Steam Railway, Settle–Carlisle Railway, Malham Tarn and Ilkley.

For those who wish to have a day’s excursion and venture further afield, there are possible visits too: East Riddlesden Hall, Haworth and Brontё Parsonage, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, National Museum of Photography Film and Television and Saltaire Village

Whilst cruising in the Dales, why not do some walking, exploring the hills and valleys, taking in the fresh air and beauty? Whether you and your crew are first time sailors or already well experienced, you will feel yourself unwinding as life takes on a different pace and aspect. The locks and swing bridges provide your crew with plenty of exercise and amusement.

Your evening mooring may find you alongside one of the canal-side inns, where you will find refreshment and the opportunity to exchange tales of your experiences, or you may choose the quiet solitude of the open countryside with only the call of the curlew or the chatter of the moorhen for company. Ideal for the whole family, a canal holiday provides interest and entertainment for all ages whatever the weather.