Is Skipton a good base for exploring North Yorkshire?

4th November 2022

Skipton does make a good base for a holiday, not only for exploring the scenic Yorkshire Dales but also for visiting many other tourist destinations within the county and maybe even some in Lancashire!

Instead of the coutryside you might decide to visit some of the Yorkshire Towns below:-

Harrogate is an 18 mile drive which takes about 40 minutes, York is 38 miles away and that journey takes around 90 minutes. If you want to visit Leeds or Bradford, then take the train from Skipton direct to the town cebtre of both cities.

Yorkshire also has a historial seaside coast on the North Sea. Places to visit include Scarborough, Filey and Whitby and the car journey takes between 2.5 to 3 hours. It can be a frustrating drive as most of the journey is A roads with an occasional few miles of dual carriageway.

Despite being the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton is only a few miles from the Lancashire border. If you are brave enough to journey over the border to the dark side, then we would recommend taking the A59 from Skipton towards Preston. It is a wonderful drive and so picturesque but just be wary of the mobile speed cameras. If you want to visit Manchester, we would recommend driving, it takes around 90 minutes to the City Centre. Going by train is a nightmare as there is no direct route. There is a good public bus service to Lancashire from Skipton know as the Witch Way

Don’t forget that Skipton itself has plenty to offer, from exploring Skipton Castle, to shopping at the Market and canal boat trips, three popular activities with our holiday cottage guests.