AFTER more than two years of planning, Skipton's Millennium Walk was officially opened on a suitably glorious day.

Skipton mayor Richard Colley performed the ceremony and rector Rev Adrian Botwright gave a blessing.

The walk has been created at no public expense but is expected to benefit the town and businesses in the central area as it attracts thousands of tourists as well as residents on a route which takes in Skipton's historic and cultural past.

Special brass waymarkers have been created to sink into paving stones to point the way and a booklet explaining the route and major sites of interest has been produced and is sold from the tourist information centre.

A detailed book, updating the history of Skipton, has also been produced to coincide with the walk and is available from bookshops and Thomas's Jewellers, on Sheep Street.

In his speech, Coun Colley pointed out that several matters were still to be resolved - such as the danger of crossing The Bailey to Skipton Castle, the narrow path which wheelchairs had to take round Holy Trinity churchyard to Mill Bridge and the crossing of Broughton Road from Aireville Park to the railway station.

However, much has been achieved and tribute was paid to the people and organisations who had pulled together such an interesting walk.

Well-known aspects of Skipton, such as the canal, castle and Dewhurst's Mill, are featured on the route but the walk also takes visitors to some tranquil, hidden beauty spots in the town. Among these is the Wilderness, an area between Shortbank Road and Otley Road.

The area has been taken over by Skipton Civic Society, cleaned out, paths restored and stepping stones and steps to Otley Road installed to ensure that a neglected part of the town has been brought back to life.

Civic Society secretary Gwynne Walters has appealed for a small army of volunteers to ensure that the area remains in good condition.

The brochure outlining the route of the Millennium Walk is available from Skipton Tourist Information Centre, price £1.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.