is a town in the
Craven district of
North Yorkshire ,
England . An open-air
Market is held four times a week on the high street (Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday). It lies along the
River Aire and
Leeds And Liverpool Canal . The town slogan is ''Gateway to the Dales'' (meaning the
Yorkshire Dales ). Skipton is
Twinned with the Bavarian town of
Simbach Am Inn . Skipton is the home of one of the best preserved
Medieval Castles in England dating back to the
11th Century . During the
English Civil War , the castle was the longest held
Royalist stronghold in
North England until its honourable surrender in December
1645 after a three years siege.
As well as
Aireville School ). Both schools have comparable
A-level scores. There is a
Further Education college -
Craven College .
Skipton is on the
Settle-Carlisle railway. There are regular services to
Leeds and
Bradford on the electrified
Airedale Line . Nearby towns and villages include
Bradley ,
Kildwick ,
Stirton ,
Carleton ,
Gargrave ,
Embsay ,
Cononley ,
Lothersdale and Farnhill. The north section (
A65 &
A59 ) of the £16.4m Skipton Bypass opened in December 1981. The rest of the six-mile bypass (
A629 ) opened in October 1982, to much reduction in journey times to the Dales.
Skipton is served by
Airedale NHS Trust . The local paper is the
Craven Herald . The
Train Station is next door to a
Tesco and a
Morrisons . There is a
Little Chef and a
Travelodge at the roundabout where the A59, A65 and A629 meet.
Fresh Radio , the local radio station for the
Yorkshire Dales , broadcasts programmes from studios based in Skipton.
