"Skipton Castle" Top 5 Page for this destination Skipton Things to Do Tip by nickandchris

Our main reason for being in Skipton was to visit the castle and in the end, it was a pretty rushed affair, having had to wait for Green Flag to get us mobile in the morning!!

The castle began life as a wooden fortress in 1090 but was soon replaced with stone when Lord Robert Clifford took over,sazafter continual raids. It's position is strengthened by the sheer drop down the cliffs on one side, into the Eller Beck.Skipton Town sat huddled beneath it's castle for centuries, feeling safe in it's proximity.

The castle today is one of the best preserved and complete, including roof, in all of England and is certainly an impressive sight as you enter.

The Clifford Family became owners in 1310 and as you enter through the archway of the main gate,, the family motto, written in French, "Desormais"(Henceforth)can be seen, cut into the stone above the battlements. Here, through the entrance is the Shell Room, where you purchase your tickets. This is an amazing room, embedded throughout the walls are hundreds of mother of pearl shells, collected from I can't remember where, by the Clifford family over the years. Quite an impressive sight.

After climbing Lady Anne's steps,you find yourselves in a lovely little courtyard, the Conduit Court, so named because the castle's piped supply of springwater ended here. Growing here is an impressive yew tree, planted by Lady Anne Clifford in 1659 with a girth of over 9ft. From this courtyard, most of the rooms are accessed. To the right of the castle open to the public, is the Tudor Wing, now a private residence. My God, what a place to live!!!!

Although impressive, I have to admit we didn't find the castle overly exciting, with empty rooms and no admittance to the roof. It was all a little bland and tame. And not cheap...

Open daily from 10am (Sundays 12 noon.)

There are tea rooms, shop and picnic area. Parking is in the town.

Address: Skipton, N. Yorks.BD23 1AW
Directions: Centre of the town, just up from the Town Hall. Within easy walking distance of all carparks.
Phone: 01756 792442
Website: http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk