It’s been named the happiest town in the UK. And having visited Skipton on more than one occasion, it’s very easy to see why.
As Yorkshire folk living in Leeds (I’m from Sheffield, I must stress), Skipton, a quaint village town just over the North Yorkshire border has become one of our go-to weekend day trips thanks to its quirky shops, historic architecture and stunning surroundings.
So when I learned that Skipton has now been named the happiest place to live in the UK, according to property website Rightmove, I was not at all shocked.
Skipton topped the list above swanky Richmond upon Thames and Camden in London, and even beat out well-to-do North Yorkshire neighbours Harrogate.
Skipton is nestled right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, and is close to Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate. Crucially, it has the warm cosy village feel that’s a million miles from big cities like Leeds, coupled with a down-to-earth appeal that Harrogate lacks. Think ice cream parlours rather than health food stores.
Skipton is home to canals, complete with canal boats which tourists can hop on to take in scenic routes around the village. It also boasts Skipton Castle, one of the best preserved medieval castles in the north of England.
But when we visited, all of this pales in comparison to what I think is Skipton’s ultimate hidden gem: its waterfalls and woods walks.
Just a short walk on foot from the stone fascias, cobbled streets and canals lies Skipton Castle Woods. From the castle and the canals, visitors can take a short stroll along a walkway with waterfalls crashing into the waterway and a path cutting into beautiful woods. It’s hard to believe these sweeping verdant woods are just a few yards from the streets and the cafes and the car parks, but they’re a stunning and sizeable set of nature paths that feels totally isolated from everything else.
The only complaint I had about Skipton is one that’s pretty common for drivers: parking.
When we came by ourselves, it was easy to ditch the car on a side road and walk about a mile into the town. Once we had a baby, we didn’t want to push a pram for a mile and so parked closer to the shops. Unfortunately, for some reason there’s only a four hour max stay in the car parks in the centre (some are as short as two), so we had to get round the shops and the sights with one eye on the clock and hurry back to the car before it ran out.
Otherwise, it’s a place I’ll be happily returning to time and again.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
