Skipton Woods, behind the Castle

Location: Start on the canal opposite Stanforths (Mill Bridge entrance)

Distance: 3km

What3words: living.clubs.marsh

If you are ever in Skipton then you must walk through Skipton Woods. It’s a great walk just off the town centre, accessible for all and with a few different routes to take.

The best way in is starting on the canal walking up behind the castle (Mill Bridge entrance) as this way you get to view the Castle sat way up high on the rock. This narrow sweeping route between Eller Beck and the canal is a real beauty of an entrance.

The entrance to the Woods, a Woodland Trust site, is just between the houses. There are plenty of signs so you shouldn’t get lost but once over the footbridge you turn left and continue along the gravel driveway to the gated entrance. The wicker lady (at the top of the slope) with her bow and arrow then points you in the right direction.

Pram friendly route

If you are wanting a pram friendly route then enter the woods by walking up Chapel Hill instead of behind the Castle, and follow the road round to the right, this will bring you to the entrance of the woods. You can follow the path all the way up alongside Eller Beck but you will need to retrace your steps to get out the same way.

One of the routes we like doing regularly is exploring the whole woods before exiting on Short Lee Lane (off Grassington Road). From here you can head over the stile into the field on the left and climb up to the top to take in the amazing views down over the town. The footpath continues down the hill emerging back onto Chapel Hill.

My little men love exploring the woods and there is always so much excitement. Obviously throwing stones into the water (Round Dam) features high on the list but they love playing hide and seek, running round the bench amphitheatre, finding geocaches, obstacle courses on the fallen down trees at the top, marvelling at the wicker statues and watching the waterfalls.

To make things even better there is usually an ice cream van parked in the lay-by on Short Lee Lane during the summer so that is all the motivation they need!