We ended up at this layby out of necessity rather than design. It was early January, cold and clear, and we’d spent most of the day in Skipton. By late afternoon the campervan bays on Bridge Street were full, and circling town again for a space didn’t feel worth the effort.
So we headed out of Skipton along the A59 and pulled into the layby just beyond the edge of the built-up area. It isn’t scenic or tucked away. It’s simply a strip beside a main road where you can stop, draw the curtains, and reset for the night.
What this place actually is is a roadside layby. It sits right alongside the A59, but set back from the road. That separation made a bigger difference than we expected when we were settling down so close to passing vehicles.
The surface under our wheels was what you’d expect from old tarmac: worn in places, a bit of grit, nothing levelled up or landscaped. You park parallel to the road, not tucked back from it, so there’s no pretending you’re somewhere else. Behind a fence, a council dump site sits just off to one side. We noticed it straight away and paused for a moment to wonder if it would be an issue. In practice it wasn’t. No smell, no noise, and as night fell it barely registered.
We pulled in just before dusk. January light fades fast, and by the time the engine was off the sky was already a flat grey-blue. A couple of cars came and went while we sorted ourselves out, headlights sweeping briefly across the van, then that was it for the evening. Traffic noise was present, a steady low hum rather than sudden bursts. Once inside with the kettle on, it softened into something we could almost ignore. We’ve slept in spots with louder traffic that were meant to be peaceful.
Mobile signal held up, which felt like a small luxury. Enough to check the morning weather and send a quick message without having to dance around trying to find a patch of better coverage.
When the night settled in it was calmer than we’d expected. Not silent, but more subdued. The road noise dipped later on, rising now and then when a lorry passed, but not enough to jolt us awake. We slept well, which is usually the real test. No late-night visitors, no knocks on the van, no sense of being watched. Just the muted sound of tyres and the odd gust of cold air rattling at the side of the van.
We knew we were only staying one night, and that made a difference. This isn’t somewhere to linger. It’s functional, and on a winter stop after a day in town, that was exactly what we needed.
Morning brought a small, unexpected bonus. As the layby started to stir, with people heading off to work and the road finding its rhythm again, a nearby café opened. Hot drinks and breakfast felt like a genuine welcome on a cold January morning: bacon and sausage sandwiches, tea and coffee, about ten pounds between us. Nothing fancy, just proper filling food served without fuss. Standing there with mugs in hand, watching the road come to life, it felt like an honest moment rather than a novelty.
This layby works best as a fallback. If you’re trying to park overnight in Skipton and the closer spots are full, it’s a practical option that doesn’t feel stressful or uncertain. It suits people who don’t mind roadside noise and don’t need views, walks straight from the door, or a sense of being immersed in nature. If you prefer quiet lanes and waking up to birdsong rather than traffic, this probably won’t be your favourite stop.
For a one-night stop, especially in winter, it does the job. The separation from the road makes it feel safer than many laybys, and the nearby café in the morning was a pleasant surprise.
Would we stay here again? Yes, under the same circumstances. Not as a destination, but as a reliable fallback if central parking options in Skipton are full. It’s honest about what it is: a layby beside a main road, with all that involves. But it’s quiet enough, feels safe enough, and is practical enough to be a useful stop on a tour or a road trip.
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.