Thursday 21st July 2016 When we arrived yesterday we walked along the busy towpath in Skipton to see what other moorings were available as we wanted to trade here for a few days, just past the Ice Cream Tug there are 14 day moorings through to the next swing bridge, Brewery Swing Bridge.
( There is a Wine Warehouse & a large Morrisons located just to the left of the Brewery Swing Bridge) just before the bridge you can look over the Aquaduct.
Just past the swing bridge is another water point, then more moorings right up to the Herriotts Hotel where there is yet another water point & the large Aireville Park which is great if you have dogs.
We got up this morning had some breakfast & I wandered under the Belmont road bridge to see if any moorings had become vacant, yes, a long stretch just pass the Ice Cream Tug was now empty so we quickly untied & made our way down to get comfortable for a few days, plenty of footfall, should be ok for trading.
Having secured a decent spot for a few days we decided to spend today exploring this busy little town.
There is an abundance of independent shops, great pubs, cafes & restaurants. I have to mention The Beer Engine a micro brewery hidden just off the beaten track behind the Pennine Cruisers day boat hire. If you like Real Ales give it a look. The fish & Chip shop Bizzie Lizzies is excellent too, you can’t miss it overlooking the basin but you’ll smell it before you see it.
Skipton Castle was built in 1090 as a wooden motte-and-bailey by Robert de Romille a Norman baron. In the 12th century William le Gros strengthened it with a stone keep to repel attacks from the Kingdom of Scotland to the north, the castle elevated Skipton from a poor dependent village to a burgh administered by a reeve. The protection offered by Skipton Castle during the Middle Ages encouraged the urbanisation of the surrounding area, and during times of war and disorder the town attracted an influx of families. It is now one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is open to the public.
Skipton became a prosperous market town, trading sheep and woollen goods: its name derives from the Old English sceap (sheep) and tun (town or village). A market stemming from its formative years still survives in its wide main street 4 days a week, although now it is a general market rather than livestock, In the 19th century, Skipton emerged as a small mill town connected to the major cities by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its branch Thanet Canal, now known locally as ‘Springs branch’. The Skipton Building Society was founded in the town & Chocolate makers Whittakers are now based in the town, established in nearby Cross Hills. Ida Whittaker began making chocolates there in 1903, taught by the wife of the vicar of Kildwick.
Below is a set of photographs from the start of The Springs Branch to the castle.
The trip boats used to go right up to & through the castle but Skipton wasn’t unscathed by the awful floods od Boxing Day 2015 & the heavy rains caused a breach to the castle wall so the trip boats can only go about half way up The Springs Branch now as far as the restored water-mill which is now a showroom for furniture & interiors
We spent 4 hrs exploring the town & wandering the cobbled streets.
We enjoyed lunch on the way then watched some boating activity in the basin on the way back & later popped up to the bridge for some Fish & Chips, very delicious they were too.
We like Skipton a lot & are looking forward to the rest of our stay here & a few days trading.
0 Miles 0 Locks 0 Swing Bridges 0 Hours
nb That's D'riculous 
A close friend of mine used to live near Skipton, we always called at Bizzie Lizzies and had a walk by the canal eating fish and chips when I stayed with her. Hope you have a fab weekend trading in the sun!