Location
Skipton Castle Woods lies in the heart of Skipton, next to Skipton Castle on the northern fringe of the town.
Nearest postcode: BD23 1AW
Maps:
OS Explorer 2
Landranger 103
How to get here
By car
From the M1 (northbound) take the M62 west, the M606 to Bradford, A650 to Keighley and A629 to Skipton.
From the M6, take the A65 to Skipton.
The postcode for parking is BD23 1UA, at the Bailey Car Park.
Nearest petrol stations (Google maps)
Parking information can be found on our Facilities page.
By bus
Most bus services stop at Skipton Bus Station, which is approximately half a mile away on foot from the elevated tow path which leads to Skipton Castle Woods. Leave the bus station and turn left proceeding to the opposite end of the High Street for Mill Bridge.
By train
Regular trains run on the Airedale Line into Skipton Station which is approximately three-quarters of a mile away from Skipton Castle Woods. Services include trains to and from Leeds, Bradford, Carlisle, Lancaster and Morecombe.
A single daily return service also operates between Skipton and London Kings Cross. Exit the station and turn right following the blue town centre signage to the High Street and proceed to Mill Bridge where you will find the towpath which leads to the woods.
On foot
You can enter Skipton Castle Woods from three different entrances;
Old Sawmill Entrance – the main entrance to the woods, via the Canal and Rivers Trust elevated tow path at the side of High Corn Mill, just off the High Street. This entrance can usually be accessed by visitors with lightweight pushchairs and extends for quarter of a mile before entering the woods.
The Bailey Entrance – following a line of Victorian-aged lime trees, this inspiring walk has steep drops to old stone quarries and a viewpoint overlooking the river valley.
Short Lee Lane Entrance – passing through old pines, spruce and oaks, you might even spot a family of deer that make the wood their home.
For information on public footpaths in Skipton please visit the Welcome to Skipton website.
By bicycle
Taking the Yorkshire Dales Cycleway (YDCW) offers spectacular scenery and challenging routes. If you’re stopping off in Skipton and want to secure your bicycle to visit the woods on foot, the nearest cycle rack is located in the High Street Car Park, just behind the Town Hall.