What to Visit

Skipton sits as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales which have been described as England’s Best Kept Secret. Watch this wonderful video …

Skipton – the best place and the happiest town! It’s official.

The Healthy Home is a 10 minute drive to the hills above the popular market town Skipton which was highlighted in 2014 by The Sunday Times as “The best place to live in the UK”. In the annual survey of the “101 Best Places to Live in Britain” the judges voted Skipton, the Gateway to the Dales number one … “the ultimate location”. In 2017 government research into wellbeing named Skipton and Craven district as the happiest place to live in the UK. With its ancient castle, bustling cobbled high street, renowned market, location on the historic and beautiful Leeds-Liverpool canal, Skipton was a worthy winner.

Around The Healthy Home
Looking out across miles of beautiful countryside is food for the soul bringing peace and well-being. The extraordinary and ever-changing beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and the life and spirit of local villages and towns offers endless variety. The nearest towns of interest got history and shopping are Skipton, Howarth, Settle and Grassington.

A paradise for walkers: The famous Pennine Way passes within a quarter mile of here and there are five local footpaths and bridleways to enjoy just a few meters from our gate. We have maps, compasses, hot flasks … just bring your walking boots and all-weather coat.

The Three Peaks Challenge: Walk the three peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, usually in this order, and in under 12 hours. These peaks form part of the Pennine range, and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. More.

Golf Courses: In a listing of the Top 100 Clubs in the UK and the best 30 in Yorkshire, these are the closest to Skipton. Pannal, Bingley, Ilkley, Harrogate, Woodsome Hall Huddersfield, Shipley, Halifax and Rudding Park. In neighbouring Lancashire, Clitheroe is listed in the North West’s top twenty. Skipton has its own local golf course as well. (13 min drive).

Fan of Trains: so many opportunities to travel on an old-fashioned train and in many cases a Steam Engine. Closest, in Skipton, is the Embsay to Bolton Abbey line. Look at the timetable for details of days and frequency. The journey is 15 minutes each way, often on a steam train with breakfast or afternoon tea service. Worth Valley Railway in Keighley maintains a full olde worlde station parallel to the modern station. Many different train experiences to Howarth and Oxenhope. The famous Settle-Carlisle line has a regular service and some dates with a Steam engine. See the timetable.

**Here are just some of the places to visit …..**

Skipton (12 min drive) The town is extremely popular for shopping and was given a ‘Best High Street in Britain” award in 2009 when the judges were impressed by the street’s eclectic mix of historic architecture, modern-day bars and cafes and its market four days a week in the central cobbled street (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).
Skipton Town Highlights:
Chocolate & Truffles. Luxury handmade chocolates with an extremely tempting shop on the High Street. Together with Whitakers factory (outlet open midweek), Skipton seems to be the Chocolate capital of this part of Yorkshire!
Leeds-Liverpool Canal: is the longest canal in Britain built as a single waterway. The historic 200 year old canal offers 127 miles of walking, boating, wildlife-watching and all-round relaxation. Two boat companies run regular trips of different lengths of time. Hire a narrow boat for a group with Pennine Cruises or Skipton Canal trips with options for dinner and afternoon tea on board.
Skipton Castle: located right at the top of the High Street. Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year. Visitors can explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War.
Skipton Sound Bar: a bit more recent history – music from the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s. A record shop AND pub full of musical memorabilia. Very social. A unique addition to Skipton social life and ideal for people with long memories! They play music all day with a live act on Sunday afternoons. A great way to round off a weekend.

Local Villages & Attractions to put at the top of your list

Grassington (25 min drive) (2019 Festival 21-29 June), tea rooms, Dales shopping in pretty cobbled streets
Gargrave (16 min drive) lovely village on the way to Settle. Good pubs and lovely walks around the stream with stepping stones and good access for walks along the Canal.
Settle (35 min drive), historic Dales town, in the centre of a spectacular limestone landscape and home for the world-famous Settle–Carlisle railway carried across Batty Moss on the Ribblesdale Viaduct in the Ribble Valley .An amazing feat of engineering from 1874 and magnificent to watch steam trains. Watch the famous Flying Scotsman Train travel over the viaduct.
Ingleton Waterfalls (46 min drive) Great trail to walk close to two rivers and see the spectacular waterfalls
Bronte’s Howarth (21 min drive). This beautiful village is the birthplace of the world-famous Bronte sisters. The historic hilltop village with its ancient cobbled high street hosts a number of events including a Beer Festival in March, a Bronte Vintage Gathering and a 1940s weekend (18-19 May 2019). Photo below

Bolton Abbey (21 min drive), The Duke of Devonshire’s estate on the River Wharfe, in 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside and 80 miles of footpaths
Malham Cove (35 min drive) and the spectacular curved limestone cliff is a must. Spectacular location for filming Harry Potter. See photos below. Malham village hosts an annual Malham agricultural show.
Aysgarth Falls (1 hr drive) a spectacular stretch of water in Lower Wensleydale. Aysgarth is best known for its triple flight of waterfalls, carved out by the River Ure.

Keighley Worth Valley Railway (15 min drive): Right next to the modern railway line is another station with trains from yesteryear.. another world. The steam railway has appeared in many TV and film productions including Yanks, Sherlock Holmes, Last of the Summer Wine, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Sons and Lovers, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Poirot, The Royal, Where The Heart Is, and A Touch Of Frost. The five mile journey is a powerful reminder of Yorkshire’s industrial heritage, as well as being a unique way of enjoying the beautiful countryside immortalised by Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.
Carnforth Station (1 hr 10 min drive) Here is where Brief Encounter the number one romantic film of all time was famously filmed (1945). Small museum and the original nostalgic tea room has been lovingly restored.
Thornton-in Craven (10 min drive) Thornton Hall Farm Country Park is one of the areas top attractions for families with wonderful entertainment for children. Farm animals; pony trekking; Afternoon Tea; Quadtrex driving over 160 acres of woodland, quarry and dirt track; Unicorn parties .. you name it, they have an endless list of fun activities for kids!

Family Adventure

Raven Tree Top Adventure in Skipton ..High ropes course designed for 7+ years, under 10’s to have an adult up in the trees with them over 10’s can be supervised from the ground. Zip lines, balance beams, wobbly bridges, high wires and more. Set between 3 metres and 6 metres off ground. Set behind craven Leisure centre
How Stean Gorge – (55 min drive) outdoor pursuits adventures in rock climbing caving, abseiling, canoeing and much more.

Local Villages

Lothersdale (4 min drive), one of three villages close to the Healthy Home, is crossed by the Pennine Way, has the welcoming Hare & Hounds pub and Raygill Lake Trout Farm and Wildlife trail.
Cononley (5 min drive) the local village with two pubs (The Railway & New Inn) and Railway station (for Leeds in the East, and Carlisle & Morecambe in the West) There is a disused lead mine and the village has been a settlement since medieval times
Carleton (5 min drive) – between the Healthy Home & Skipton. It has a Mill (now converted to homes) dating back to 1861 when it was used for spinning cotton. The Swan Inn pub.
Crosshills (8 min drive) – driving here is the opposite direction to Skipton but it is a busy village with a Coop grocery store, bakers, bank, dress shop, delightful quirky Tea Room (Luby’s), the very popular and great value 22 The Square Restaurant …. even an organic Natural Hairdressing Salon.

Local Landmarks for Walking

Earl Crag (7 min drive) across the valley from the Healthy Home, above Crosshills. Amazing views.

Wonderful views over towards the Healthy Home.

Movies and TV programmes filmed around this part of the world:

Wuthering Heights: various locations
The Railway Children: Oxenhope and Keighley Worth Valley Railway
Calendar Girls: Kettlewell & around Skipton
Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves: Aysgarth Falls
Brief Encounter – Carnforth
Wallace & Gromit – inspired by Wensleydale Cheese and sheep!
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows – Malham Cove

Lunch on the White Rose Pullman historic train out of Keighley orginal Station

Lunch on the White Rose Pullman historic train out of Keighley original Station

March: 23rd World Story Telling Day in Settle

June: 21-29 June A celebration of music and arts in the Dales. Over the last 38 years Grassington Festival has grown to become one of Yorkshire’s premiere art and music festivals. Played out in the heart of the beautiful Dales’ village of Grassington over the last two weeks of June, the festival offers an eclectic daily programme of music, comedy and cultural events.

July: Sunday July 7th is Skipton’s famous “Sheep Day” one of the top five most popular events across the UK! Sheep parade, sheep shearing, hug-a-sheep, ducking stool ..! 20-21st Yorkshire Dales Food & Drinks Festival, Skipton.

August: 10-18th Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival. Running for over 20 years, Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival is one of the original, biggest and best in the UK – and one of the best value summer days out for all ages in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales!

September 28-29th Yarndale Festival. Creative festival celebrating all things woolly and wonderful in Skipton.

October: 4-6th Skipton Puppet Festival. England’s largest celebration of puppet theatre for families. Since 2005 Skipton has become a magnet for puppet enthusiasts.