This is a fairly easy, family friendly walk that takes you through the ancient woodland surrounding Skipton Castle. This wood has been important for providing fuel and building materials to the castle for nearly 1000 years! Today, it is a wonderful place to visit if you’re looking for something to do in Skipton, and is located in the beautiful county of North Yorkshire.
Parking and Travelling:
There are multiple car parks in Skipton within walking distance of the Skipton Castle Woods walk, but the closest one is the Bailey car park. Tickets can be booked online or paid on arrival.
Skipton has its own train station located in the centre of town, and connects travellers to Leeds, Bradford, Morecambe, Carlisle and other places.
Prams and Accessibility:
Parts of this walk are accessible and would be fine for prams. These paths are indicated on the map below with the yellow dotted line. The other paths have steps, tree roots and sometimes muddy patches that would make using a pram impractical. In some parts there are steep drops into the valley, so keep and toddlers close.
Things to do with kids on the Skipton Castle Woods walk
1.Find the sculptures
Scattered around the woods along the trails are beautiful sculptures. Challenge your little ones to spot them all, including ‘The Stalking Horse’, the deer, and ‘Spirit of the Medieval Huntress’. They are made of willow on a hand forged steel frame by the blacksmith Adam Crane.
2. Spot the wildlife
Skipton Castle Woods walk is a haven for wildlife and there is much to see if you have a keen eye. On our last visit we spotted a woodpecker and we were followed by a very melodious robin. This woodland is also home to four different species of bat, such as the Pipistrelle, which is Britain’s smallest bat, and the Noctule, which is one of the biggest! Lots of sheep can be spotted in the beautiful fields over the traditional dry stone walls, and there are ducks in the round dam.
Things to do with kids nearby
This magnificent castle is one of the most imposing and intact in Britain and is an excellent place to go with kids if you’re visiting North Yorkshire. Lots of the castle is indoors, making it a good day out in both rainy days and sunny days. There’s enough to do to spend a couple of hours here, especially if your little ones have a budding history interest.
In this free museum about Skipton and the local area of Craven, there are a lot of interactive displays for children to get involved in. They can have a go at weaving, dress up in historical costumes, guess what objects are through touch and much more. It is also a very accessible museum with room to push a pram around.
You can take a cruise down the Leeds/Liverpool canal on a boat in Skipton. There are lots of different options to suit you and your family, from 30 minute cruises to a whole day of hiring out a boat yourselves. Some of the cruises offer afternoon tea, fish and chips or a Sunday dinner, and you are provided with a commentary by the comedian Dave Spikey. You can enjoy a drink at the bar and admire the countryside as you sail past.
