Skipton- Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales
Tucked away in the outskirts of North Yorkshire, lies a small yet charming town- Skipton which captured my heart the moment I stepped into it. The Delta taxi driver from Liverpool loaded us and all of our luggage, drove us past the northern roads, and then disappeared into the valley beside the beautiful hills. At first, I felt like going for a weekend holiday, booking an Airbnb. But it also felt like we were going to be a bit isolated as none of our friends were there. But this is what I just craved in life- quiet, peaceful surroundings- just far away from the city.
A small house in the neighbourhood just overlooking the small hills, the initial days were filled with awe and bewilderment and sitting in disbelief of the fact that I was actually here having spent a long time in the hustle and bustle of London-a city I loved and hated like all Londoners. One can feel the energy shift when you hop from one place to another. The highly vigilant and busy pace of a city makes us swamped and everyone is either busy or has to act busy to fit in the crowd. I remember wearing headphones with no music just to show people that even I’m busy. A common pretence in a hustling crowd.
Driving past the English countryside, I embraced myself to not get overwhelmed because this isolation can also be the harbinger of a long emotional turmoil. Also, entering an unfurnished house spurred mixed emotions. But the view from the small backyard injected hope in us to move forward little by little. Slowly, I found myself falling in love with this beautiful market town. The UK has many such pretty villages which just make you feel cosy with its cute architecture and incredible sky.
And just like that, I started loving the long walks in Skipton Woods- it felt like being in a small rainforest and quite eerie with the overall dark hue. What I found to be so creative are the sculptures of animals and archers made out of twigs. Pretty dams, brooks and lakes decorate the pristine surroundings. These long walks are a therapy in itself- one cannot but admire the beauty and breathe crisp air walking where the way leads.
Each day spent here, we found ourselves hiking to the nearby hills and moors as it was summer-and it left us plenty of time to explore the nooks and corners. And no we were not in a hurry but driven by the curiosity of getting to know the place one lives in. Carrying a flask of hot tea and sandwiches, we hiked the Skipton moors an incredible hike which makes you feel like you got lost in a no man’s land when you reach the top like most of the hikes make us feel.
Not only that this town is the gateway to the vast Yorkshire dales, but it’s also got a market running at the town centre most days and buying Turkish baklavas and eating them while resting in the woods is my favourite guilty pleasure. A bespoken charm adorned this little town with its amazing charity shops, cute shopping centre with a glass ceiling which makes you visit again to do just window shopping and cafes, it almost felt like living in a town like those in the storybooks or this sudden quiet life is all too new for me. Going for a long walk in the cold by the Liverpool-Leeds canal, a part of which flows through Skipton, watching people take boat rides through the canal, a flock of swans parading and sheep eating their grass on the banks, I always look forward to this walk especially when the winter sun shows its face before returning. Leaving the sky all shy with tones of pink and orange.
Having lived here for over a year, I never felt like leaving. Skipton slowly became the home I always sought after. However, life calls for other adventures and experiences to shape our personalities. Being able to witness the luscious and raw beauty of nature makes me surrender to the majestic creation that nature is. No matter how enthralling the experiences are, a balance is formed through equally taxing endeavours.
