Skipton is a country market town, up in the Pennines, at the southern base of the Yorkshire Dales. It's a small, friendly town with a population of around 16,000. It has history, a castle, cobbled streets, ducks and canal boats. It's a pretty town to walk around, and gets thousands of visitors.The name Skipton comes from the Saxon word for sheep - the town really began as a trading centre for sheep and wool. The canal came and went, the mills came, and now it's a big tourist centre for people passing through to see the Yorkshire Dales.
Grassington is one of the best loved of the many delightful little towns and villages in the Yorkshire Dales.Often described by locals as a "village" it is really a small town, as indicated by its name and the fact that it was granted a charter for a market and fair in 1282, which continued to be held regularly until about 1860. Centred around its small cobbled square is a selection of family-owned shops offering quality food, clothing and gifts, alongside small cosy cafes, restaurants and hotels.