Skipton Castle, the most complete medieval fortress in England! Town walk and food tasting adventure

Join me on a full tour of one of North Yorkshire's best preserved medieval fortresses - Skipton Castle, a real gem of a day out! I try out the castle's delicious food and find a ruin abbey in the castle grounds. Also take a town tour around Skipton and check out the canals full of narrowboats!
The castle was originally a motte and bailey castle built in 1090 by Robert de Romille, lord of the multiple estates of Bolton Abbey. Shortly after 1102 Henry I extended Romille's lands to include all of upper Wharfedale and upper Airedale. The earth and wood castle was rebuilt in stone to withstand attacks by the Scots. The cliffs behind the castle, dropping down to Eller Beck, made the castle a perfect defensive structure. The Romille line died out, and in 1310 Edward II granted the castle to Robert Clifford who was appointed Lord Clifford of Skipton and Guardian of Craven. Robert Clifford ordered many improvements to the fortifications, but died in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 when the improvements were barely complete. Skipton was raided by the Scots during The Great Raid of 1322, yet the castle, with all its improvements, withstood the attack.
The castle has six drum towers, with a domestic range connecting two towers on the northern side, protected by a precipice overlooking the Eller Beck. The first floor comprises the original kitchen, great hall, withdrawing rooms and the lord's bedchamber. New kitchens, storage and work cellars make up the ground floor. The remaining towers are military in nature and purpose. In the 16th and 17th centuries were added a new entrance staircase (replacing the original drawbridge), a further domestic wing, and larger windows in the original structure. The roof is fully intact. In the centre is a Tudor courtyard, the Conduit Court, which contains a yew tree, reputedly planted by Lady Anne in 1659.
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[@karlspence4529]

To enter the castle you are not allowed to pay by cash.

[@andrewemmerson]

Ah really? I didn’t realise that