A real welcome to Skipton

Saturday, 08 August 2009 17:18

We arrive in Skipton, the Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales

From our overnight mooring near Stirton aqueduct we very soon in the outskirts of Skipton. First we had to negotiate Niffany permanent moorings. These carry on around the bend towards Niffany Swing Bridge (175).

This mooring garden was well tended!

The Yorkshire Dales seemed even closer over the rooftops of Skipton

A taste of old industry beside the canal

The terraces of houses built of Yorkshire stone were very evocative of the industrial age that is Skipton's heritage. There might be a mill opposite but the view up the road is spectacular! Each house had its enclosed back yard and an outside "privy" - all mod cons now though, including satellite dishes!

Terrace housing

As we neared the town centre we passed a golf course and park on our left. We had been recommended a mooring after Gawflat (or Park) Swing Bridge. These are 14 day moorings and there is water available by the SB and by next one, Brewery SB.

Moorings by Belle Vue Mill, built in 1828 as a spinning and weaving mill

We had started really early hoping that it would be easier to moor as someone at Gargrave locks had told us that the moorings were extremely busy. We figured that some might have moved off by the time we arrived. We were in luck as there were a couple of free spaces, so we were moored up by about 10am in a good spot just before the restored mill.

Down the steps by our bows is the road into Skipton from Barnoldswick. The station is here, as is Morrisons, and it is only a five minute walk into the centre of Skipton. Ideal!

Pretty soon after we settled we had our first visitor - Roger, whom John knew from SOW days. He and his wife, Margaret, live in Skipton and it was Roger that gave us the good mooring advice! 

No sooner had he gone but some more visitors arrived. Alan and Judith follow our blog and had emailed to say they would like to meet us! I hope you were not disappointed! It was great to meet you both and hear about your boating experiences!

We are beginning to think that we know more people "up north" than "down south"! We certainly feel very "at home" in the northern counties. Everyone is friendly and helpful and hopefully we have made new friends and renewed old friendships too!

We did a big shop in Morrisons and then after lunch walked along the tow path towards Skipton Basin. This brought back memories, although some of the canalside has changed since we were here.

Skipton Basin

Looking up the Springs Branch; this led to the limestone quarries owned by Lord Thanet

We wandered up onto Belmont Bridge (178) and along Swadford Street into the shopping centre. Plenty here to tempt the pocket - another day, perhaps. It was easy to see that we would not be bored in Skipton - shops, Castle, Church and heritage enough to keep me very happy!

After calling in to see Roger and Margaret at their invitation, we strolled back. Thanks for the tea, after our wander around Skipton we were ready for it! On Epiphany, these were the views from the swan doors - the photos had been taken at lunch time and the boat traffic had temporarily ceased!

Back towards Gawflat SB

Forward towards Brewery SB

A meal sitting in the cratch and a long summer evening with a glass of wine for me and a tankard of beer for John finished the day off in the right way! So who is to be our next visitor/unexpected meeting?

Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Stirton aqueduct to Skipton - 53 minutes, 1.32 miles, 0 locks