Family Days Out in Skipton, Yorkshire Dales

It has been a while since we shared any travel-related post on the blog, this is mainly due to us cancelling our holidays and being in lockdown and then staying home to keep everyone else safe. During this time, we have enjoyed discovering our local areas, going for walks and spending more time in the garden, especially with the wonderful warm summer which we have had.  Now, after being stuck at home for almost 6 months, we finally decided that it was time to head out for a short staycation break to revitalise ourselves before the start of the new school year. I think our children needed this break as much as we did so we decided to head to Skipton which is a market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire.

We have never been to the Yorkshire Dales and were excited to see what the town was all about and to discover more about it. Although we were worried about staying in a hotel, eating out and going to public places, we decided that we were going to do our best to self distance, wear our mask and follow all COVID procedures. I am glad we went, as we had a whale of a time and enjoyed Skipton and all it had to offer us. If you are looking for a nice town to head to where it is family-friendly, then keep reading to find out more about this little town which is so rich in history.  To start off…did you know that Skipton actually means ‘Sheep Town’? Well, I did not, but it was wonderful to learn so much about it in the few days we were there. So enjoy reading the post…

There is so much to see and do in Skipton and I would recommend booking a night or two to get the full experience and enjoy its history, culture, local shops, cafes, pubs, market, castle and countryside!  In the short time that we were there, we had the chance to try the food in the local pubs, visit Skipton Castle, discover Skipton Castle Woods, take lots of walks along the canals and even enjoy a short canal boat ride, all while social distancing.

Dinner at Bay Horse Vintage Inns

After nearly six months of not eating out due to COVID and having maybe just two or three takeaways, we were all super excited to head to the pub for the first time for a good hearty meal. Bay Horse is part of the Vintage Inns Group and is located just about 5 minutes walk from Rendevous Hotel. Due to limited seating, we decided to book our table before heading to the restaurant and I am glad we did that.  I did notice a few people being turned away as the restaurants had to limit its customer numbers due to keeping empty tables between each customer table.  We did not need our masks but had to use the hand sanitizers when we arrived.  The food was slightly pricey but it tasted really good. My husband and kids ordered fish and chips while I ordered lamb, which was cooked in two different ways. Such a lovely meal as well, to celebrate us heading out for the first time.

Where to Stay in Skipton

There are lots of hotels, bed and breakfast, self-catering venues and hotels, camping grounds located around Skipton. We decided to stay at Rendevous Hotel which was a beautiful hotel with a fantastic view of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Their COVID procedures were fantastic. Our room had been steam cleaned before our arrival and there was a sealed sticker to note that on the door. We also brought additional cleaning sprays and gave the room a quick wipe for our sanity. The hotel staff asked that we wear our masks when we are in the main reception area and when entering/leaving the hotel.  Checking in was very quick and we just dropped our key card off when we checked out (as they slid the invoice under our door the night before we checked out to ensure the bill was accurate). We also request for our rooms not to be cleaned for the duration of our stay and staff was happy to adhere to that.

There is ample parking at the hotel, so we decided to walk along the canal instead which took us about half an hour of brisk walk into town. The canal view was really scenic and we enjoyed the lovely walk. Lots of people were also cycling along the path so worth bringing your cycle if you are a keen biker.

The hotel also has an in house restaurant, I found the menu to be quite formal and a little expensive especially since we had our children with us and wanted something informal. So on our last night, we opted to have just a light tea before 6pm at their bar area on the first floor.  Food quality at the restaurant was of high standard and well worth the money.

Skipton Castle Woods

If you are heading to Skipton, I would recommend bringing your wellies with you (if it is wet) for a walk in the Castle Woods. Part of the Woodland Trust, this stunning and scenic wood is located just behind Skipton Castle and easily accessible via clearly marked signs.  If you are a nature lover then this is a must-see place as there are lots of birds and animals to spot as you partake in your walk and enjoy nature at its best.

We also spotted a calming waterfall along our walks and noticed a lot of wild berries growing.  We also had a good view of the back of the castle.  This is a lovely way to get children excited about nature if you have a few hours to spare.  You could also get the Skipton Castle Woods Nature Spotter Sheet printed in advance to make your children’s walk exciting.

Skipton Castle

One of the main attractions in Skipton has to be the 900 years old Skipton Castle which is the best-preserved medieval castles in England.  They do allow visitors to visit and explore certain areas of the impressive history-rich castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War.  We had the chance to view the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber and Privy. My children also enjoyed the climb from the dungeon to the top storey of the watchtower where you get a good view of the gardens and entrance. Due to COVID, you must pre-book your slots online as you won’t be able to purchase your tickets on the day. Skipton Castle is open every day from 10am to 4pm  Monday to Sunday.  The Castle is just a 10-minute walk from the town centre, but if you are driving there Baileys’ Carpark is the closest with an all-day parking fee of £4.50 or a charge of £2.50 after 2pm.

We paid for a family ticket which admits two adults and up to 3 children and this cost us £28.50. We were given a tour sheet which comes in a choice of ten languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or Esperanto) which included about 40 drawings and interesting description of the rooms we were in. There is also an optional guide available for a small fee (we did not purchase this).  Upon arrival, both our children were given a Castle explorer badge each (this is given to all under 18s).  This is a lovely tour and the castle is worth a visit but I have to mention that if you are used to visiting larger venues like Warwick Castle then Skipton Castle might seem a little small for you especially since they have cordoned off half of the Castle as a private residence.

Skipton Market

If you are in Skipton on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday then look out for Skipton Market which is on the high street. We were in town on both Friday and Saturday during our visit and found that the market was quieter on Friday.  Skipton Market is unique in the way it operates as its history dates back to medieval times when a Royal Charter from King John granted consent to ‘The Lord of the Honour’ of Skipton Castle to hold a fair on Skipton High Street. This consent still holds true today – and the current owner of Skipton Castle grants the rights to hold the market on four days each week. For many years, the market in Skipton was a place where animals were traded. The town’s close association with sheep is reflected in the name. Skipton actually means ‘Sheep Town’ – so the historic link will always remain.   On each market day, stalls are erected on the area of the High Street known as the “setts”. These are, in effect, cobbled areas between the formal footpaths and the main road.  There are no fixed stalls. Traders bring their own – and they are built and dismantled at the start and the end of each market day.

Canal Boat Ride

I would totally recommend experiencing a canal boat ride while you are in Skipton. You could take a half-hour narrowboat ride with Pennine Cruisers like we did along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal which only cost £4 per person. Alternatively, you could either rent a boat (if you are feeling adventurous) or take a longer cruise which includes Afternoon Tea or Dinner. 

You don’t need to prebook your tickets (unless it is a busy day then you can leave your details at the counter to secure your place for the next day).  We really enjoyed our boat ride on Sam (the name of our narrowboat) as it was a smaller boat and it was open so we had a better view of the canal as some boats are completely covered and you only can view from a closed window.  Due to COVID there was only a maximum of 6 people (including children) allowed onboard. The skipper also wiped the boat down and made sure everyone used hands sanitizers before entering the boat.

Lunch at Royal Shepherd of Skipton Pub

We worked up an appetite after our canal boat ride so headed to the Royal Shepherd of Skipton Pub as we noticed it when we were on our boat ride. We did not pre-book our table but it was just before noon, so we managed to get a table for four.  They served good pub food and kids enjoyed their meal.  We were ready to now walk back to the hotel and drive back home. What a wonderful break we have had, one which we desperately needed after the long lockdown procedure and our short break has now given us fresh eyes to see through the new routine of slowly getting back to work and school. I would totally recommend heading to Skipton for a few days if you have yet to discover this beautiful canal town.

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