Skipton, Skipton

Just 22 miles north of Leeds in the beautiful Aire valley Skipton's position at the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has earned it the moniker "Gateway to the Dales". It is indeed perfectly located for those seeking to explore the spectacular local countryside. An attractive market town, it secured its place in history as the last Royalist stronghold in the north after the famous Battle of Marston Moor. There's a host of shops, cafes and restaurants to discover but the town's major attraction has to be its medieval castle an imposing structure that has survived the ravages of history to remain remarkably well-preserved. A stroll along the lovely canal is highly recommended.