Skipton Castle Woods and Eller Beck
North Yorkshire
Skipton Castle Woods is a 36 acre ancient woodland in the heart of Skipton where dogs go on a lead at certain times of year for nesting birds, cared for by the Woodland Trust and wrapped around the back of Skipton Castle. It was once part of a vast hunting forest, and in the 18th and 19th centuries it worked for the town: water from Eller Beck was diverted through a series of dams and sluices to power woollen, saw and corn mills, and the Springs Canal was cut along the valley to join the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The Round Dam and its sluice survive, with small waterfalls at the weirs. This 4km circuit links the upper and lower paths from the castle end, on surfaced paths with some steep slopes and steps and only about 60 metres of climbing.
This is a dog friendly wood right in town, with Eller Beck alongside most of the way for a drink and a paddle and no livestock at all. There is moderate off-lead potential for a dog with good recall, but the Woodland Trust asks for dogs to be on a lead at certain times of year to protect nesting birds, and the paths are popular with families, prams and joggers, especially at weekends. Herons and kingfishers use the stretch between the canal and the beck. The Bailey car park by the castle is pay and display, and Skipton's cafes and pubs are a few minutes away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, River, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- No toilets in the wood; toilets, cafes and pubs in Skipton town centre a few minutes away.
- Parking
- Bailey car park at Skipton Castle (castle-run), pay and display; other town car parks nearby.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Skipton Castle Woods and Eller Beck, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Town End Farm - Stable Cottage
Sleeps 6 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £745 / 7 nights
Waterfall Cottage - Barnoldswick
Sleeps 4 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £551 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in North YorkshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Skipton Castle Woods and Eller Beck dog friendly?
Skipton Castle Woods rates a solid 8/10 for dog friendliness, and it's a genuinely lovely spot to bring a dog. There's no livestock in the wood, Eller Beck runs alongside most of the route for drinking and paddling, and the whole 4km circuit is right in the heart of Skipton, making it easy to combine with a café stop or pub lunch afterwards.
Can dogs be off lead at Skipton Castle Woods and Eller Beck?
There's moderate off-lead potential here for dogs with reliable recall, but it's worth knowing that the Woodland Trust asks visitors to keep dogs on leads at certain times of year to protect ground-nesting birds. The paths are also popular with families, pushchairs and joggers — particularly at weekends — so it's a good idea to be ready to clip the lead on when things get busy.
What should I know before visiting Skipton Castle Woods and Eller Beck with my dog?
The 4km route runs on surfaced paths with some steep sections and steps, so it's manageable but not completely flat. Parking is at the Bailey car park by Skipton Castle, which is pay and display, and there are no toilets in the wood itself — though Skipton town centre is just a few minutes away with cafés, pubs and facilities. Keep an eye out along the beck for herons and kingfishers, which are regularly spotted between the canal and the water.
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