We will leave Memorial Gardens by coach at 9am to travel to Skipton. Here we will first visit the newly refurbished Craven Museum, which was shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the year in 2024. Here we will have coffee and a short talk by the Curator, before touring the collection, which includes a First Folio Edition of Shakespeare’s plays. We will then walk the short distance to Skipton Castle where we will have a guided tour, finishing shortly before 1pm.Skipton Castle, one of the best-preserved castles in the North of England, was skilfully restored after the Civil War by Lady Anne Clifford. NB there are some steep steps in the Castle. The afternoon is free to have lunch and explore Skipton, there are 30-minute canal tours costing £5 a head, these take a maximum of 15 people and are non-bookable. The fourteenth century Holy Trinity Church, adjacent to the Castle has some fine Clifford family monuments and is worth visiting. There are also pleasant walks beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and plenty of shops and cafés. We leave Skipton at 4 15pm, returning to York at about 5 45pm. Maps of Skipton will be provided on the coach.

Cost £51: to include coach hire, entry fees, and donations