We didn’t plan to stay here. We ended up here because the day had run its course.
It was early January. Cold, clear, and already dimming by the time we finished in Skipton. We had spent most of the day in town, and by late afternoon the campervan bays on Bridge Street were full. Circling again didn’t feel worth it, so we left the centre and followed the A59 out past the last of the houses.
The layby sits just beyond the built-up edge of town. It is not scenic and it does not try to be. It is simply a stretch beside a main road where you can stop for the night and get your bearings again.
What struck us first was how close it is to the A59, and yet slightly set back. That small separation mattered more than we expected. You park parallel to the road, fully aware of where you are, but the extra distance takes the edge off the traffic. It feels less exposed than many roadside stops.
Under the tyres, the surface is old tarmac. Worn, a bit gritty, uneven in places. Nothing levelled or improved. Behind a fence to one side sits a council dump site. We noticed it immediately and paused, wondering if it would affect the night. In practice, it did not. No smell, no noise, and once darkness settled it faded from attention entirely.
We arrived just before dusk. January light disappears quickly, and by the time we switched off the engine the sky had flattened into that muted grey-blue you get on clear winter evenings. A few cars came and went while we put the kettle on. Headlights swept briefly across the van, then the road steadied into a low hum.
The traffic was constant but not aggressive. A steady background rather than sharp interruptions. From inside, it softened further. We have stayed in quieter-looking places that carried more noise through the night. Here, it was predictable. A lorry would pass now and then, tyres louder for a few seconds, then the sound dropped back again.
Mobile signal held strong. That felt like a small but useful comfort. Enough to check the morning weather and send a message without searching for coverage.
We slept well. No knocks, no late arrivals causing concern, no sense of being unsettled. Just the low rhythm of passing vehicles and the occasional gust of cold air brushing the side of the van. Knowing we were only staying one night helped. This is not a place to stretch out for days. It is a functional stop, and in winter after a full day, that can be exactly right.
Morning shifted the feel of the place. The road picked up pace again as commuters passed through. The layby stirred. And then the nearby café opened.
That simple detail changed the tone of the stop. Hot drinks and breakfast on a cold January morning felt welcome rather than convenient. Bacon and sausage sandwiches, tea and coffee, around ten pounds between us. Nothing elaborate. Just filling food, served without fuss. We stood outside with warm mugs, watching the road settle into its daytime rhythm. It felt straightforward and unpretentious, which suited the setting.
This layby works best as a fallback. If overnight options in Skipton are full, it offers somewhere straightforward and usable without feeling uncertain. Being just outside the town means you are not deep into countryside lanes, but you are far enough from the centre to avoid the feeling of being in the middle of things. It suits travellers who are comfortable with roadside noise and do not need views or walking routes from the door.
If you prefer complete quiet and birdsong in the morning, this will not be your first choice. But as a winter stop, or a one-night reset on a longer route along the A59, it does what it needs to do.
Would we stay again? Under the same circumstances, yes. Not as a destination, but as a reliable option when central spaces are taken. It is honest about what it is: a layby beside a main road. But it feels safe enough, quiet enough, and practical enough to earn its place as a dependable overnight stop.
Information
Address: A59, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AB, United Kingdom
Latitude: 53.970484
Longitude: -1.981004
What3Words: ///triads.recovery.thickens
Directions: From Skipton town centre, follow the A59 out towards the outskirts and use the lay-by access directly off the A59 near postcode BD23 6AB.
Practical note: This is a roadside A59 location, so expect traffic noise and a typical tarmac lay-by surface.