Tumble
Skipton Castle

A castle morning in Skipton, then the Strid and stepping stones at Bolton Abbey

Skipton / Wharfedale

Skipton Castle · Photo: Adrian Taylor

Start inside one of England's best-preserved medieval castles in the middle of Skipton, then drive up the Wharfe to Bolton Abbey. After lunch by the river, follow the family trails to the ruined priory and the stepping stones, or into Strid Wood, where the river squeezes through a narrow rock channel.

One dayAll agesdryCost ££10:00–16:003 stops

The plan

  1. 10:001
  2. 12:152
    Cavendish Pavilion

    Food stop · 12:15–13:00 (45m)

    Cavendish Pavilion

    Riverside lunch by the footbridge.

    A riverside café-restaurant on the Bolton Abbey Estate at the edge of Strid Wood, serving sandwiches, hot food and cakes to eat in or take away. It sits by a footbridge over the Wharfe, so it works as a lunch stop between the Priory and the woodland trails.

    Illustrative photo: Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

  3. 13:003
    Bolton Abbey Estate

    Nature & gardens · 13:00–16:00 (3h)

    Bolton Abbey Estate

    Priory ruins, stepping stones and Strid Wood trails.

    A large riverside estate on the River Wharfe owned by the Duke of Devonshire's family, with the ruined Bolton Priory, stepping stones across the river, and Strid Wood, where the Wharfe squeezes through a narrow rock channel called the Strid. Waymarked family trails, seasonal events such as a pumpkin trail, and several tearooms make it easy to fill a day.

    PaidOutdoors
    • Café on site
    • Accessibility
    • Parking

    From the day-trip listing

    Photo: David Dixon

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