Skipton, United Kingdom

SKIPTON, southernmost town of the Yorkshire Dales, is best visited to coincide with one of its four weekly market days (Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat), when the streets and pubs are filled with what seems like half the Dales population. Sceptone, or "Sheeptown" – the annual Sheep Day (first Sun in July) celebrates its ovine heritage – was a thriving agricultural settlement long before the arrival of the battling Normans. Their Castle (Mon– Sat 10am–4/6pm, Sun noon–4/6pm; £5.60; Web: www.skiptoncastle.co.uk ) is among England's best preserved, thanks mainly to the efforts of Lady Anne Clifford, who rebuilt much of her family seat between 1650 and 1675 following the pillage of the Civil War.