Skipton

Skipton is another place that, although broadly on my doorstep, I have never actually explored. I have kept meaning to walk there as a part of my canal project, but this time we got the train.

What struck me about the place is that it is big. It’s population is only shy of fifteen thousand – smaller than the council Ward I live in, and on par with some of the small satellite towns of Leeds, but the town centre is huge. I guess being “The Gateway to the Dales” it is one of the largest towns for some distance in the rural areas.

Skipton is of interest to be sitting on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and is the location of the small Thanet Canal, also known as the Springs Branch, opened in opened in 1773 by Lord Thanet, the owner of Skipton Castle, to serve his quarries.

The canal itself is quite short and kind of fades out as you pass the castle into the woods. Nonetheless it is a nice walk, and Skipton has some lovely shops and pubs to explore.