Aire Gap

The Aire Gap is both an area of low, rolling hills formed by the meeting of Airedale, Wharfedale and Ribblesdale, and a vital pass through the Pennine Mountains.
The core of the Aire Gap is roughly trangular area of grassy hills east of Skipton, about 10 miles (16km) north-south at its widest, and a smilar distance east-west. It is surrounded by the dark moorland of the Pennines to the south and the limestone uplands of Craven to the north.
Four routes converge on Skipton. The route down Wharfedale, to the east, leads to Knaresborough and York. The route down Airedale, to the south-east, leads to Wakefield and Pontefract. The route down Ribblesdale to the south-west leads to southern Lancashire, and the route to the north-west leads Kirkby Lonsdale, on the River Lune, giving access to northern Lancashire and Westmorland.
The Gap is defended by Skipton Castle in the east, Clitheroe castle in the south-west and Kendal Castle in the north-west.

Type

Vale

Owning Organization

Honour of Skipton