Providing opportunities for people who are retired from full-time employment in Skipton and neighbouring areas

Out and About Groups

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For those looking for fun outdoor activities in Skipton and the surrounding area we have many groups to choose from.

Ad Hoc Walking Group 25-26 (70770/Out and About)

There is no programme; walks are proposed by group members at short notice taking advantage of good weather. Any group member can propose a walk anytime, anywhere, any length. The proposer can set the maximum group size. Groups are usually small (historical maximum: 18, average: 6). On joining the group, you will be sent the latest guidelines.

Allotment (70773/Out and About)

Joint working on three plots at Broughton road allotments. No experience needed just enthusiasm. The group meets together on Sunday mornings but it is expected that members will work at other times in the week in the busy season and be part of the watering rotation when necessary.

Birdwatching (70783/Out and About)

Group has indoor meetings at Bolton Abbey Village Hall, mostly with presentations from speakers with accompanying pictures. Expert members contribute and external experts and photographers. These are from10-12Outdoor meetings are mostly at RSPB reserves so a good idea to join. You'll also need binoculars and group members are generous in sharing their spotting skills and telescopes! Nearby trips are by car share ( passengers contribute 10p a mile for petrol and we leave Skipton at 8.30 as a rule) but we also run several coach trips further afield which are great days out albeit more expensive. We start and end the Autumn programme with a welcome meeting and Xmas quiz and food so meetings don't always alternate indoor/ outdoor. New members are welcome to this long established and popular group.

Crown Green Bowls Group 1 (70795/Out and About)

Instruction and guidance on how to play crown green bowls.

Crown Green Bowls Group 2 (70796/Out and About)

Instruction and guidance on how to play crown green bowls.

Culture Vultures (70797/Out and About)

If you’re into the arts but your friends and/or family aren’t, the Culture Vulture group could be for you! Via our WhatsApp group, we arrange to meet up with other members to attend theatre, cinema, music and other arts events, both in Skipton and further afield. Where appropriate, we arrange to travel together and have been known to meet up before or after events for a drink or two!

Day Trips with Friends (70798/Out and About)

The Bus Pass group uses Whatsapp to organise trips out to various interesting locations by bus, train or car share. Enjoy a day out with friends. The group runs throughout the year on different weekdays

E-biking (70800/Out and About)

We are a relaxed, friendly and supportive group of cyclists of varying experience and fitness. We arrange outings on ad hoc basis via a WhatsApp group, riding more frequently in the better weather! Term dates are a guide only; some hardy souls might like to venture out in the winter. Our routes tend to start from Skipton or Gargrave, and are usually between 20 and 30 miles in length, with a stop at a tea-room. All members are welcome to propose and plan routes. Some members can transport several bikes if necessary.

Gardening (70809/Out and About)

If you enjoy gardens and gardening, this is the group for you. You do not even have to have a garden . We share plants and gardening tips. We visit formal gardens and spend time is each others gardens. It is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours in the spring and summer,in a garden, chatting with our gardening friends over a coffee. We can communicate with each other via Whatsapp and emailWe get together a couple of times a year to plan the following gardening year

Geology Walks (70812/Out and About)

Please come along and join us on our fortnightly morning walks, mostly following geology trails of up to 4 miles with a focus on the fascinating geology of Yorkshire. The walks are offered and led by Group members but please note we are not experts, just keen to share our knowledge and learn from each other. Walk details will be circulated the week before and will include date, time, meeting place, walk length and geology features.

Motorcycle Group (70827/Out and About)

The motorcycle group restarted in March 2025 for motorcyclists who enjoy a ride out and a chat. All are welcome. There are scheduled rides from March to October, usually on a Monday or Friday, a couple of times a month. There are also impromptu rides outside the formal programme, around the year, depending on the weather. These rides are posted on a Whatsapp message. The group will run in 2026, from March to October, as described above. The rides start from Morrisons in Skipton at 10 am.

Nature Rambles (70831/Out and About)

Occasional short walks (no more than a mile) to observe and identify plants and invertebrates along the way. Locations will be selected for their potential variety and will be in the broadly local area. Group members bring and share their knowledge and interest and we all learn from each other. There is also a WhatsApp group where members can share their photographs, observations, questions and comments from other locations and keep interest going between rambles.

Photo Group (70841/Out and About)

If you are keen on photography, either using your camera or phone, this group will enable you to share your skills with others and maybe learn some new tips on how to improve your photographs. It will be a Whatsapp group where members will meet up at a specific location to take photographs , share your photos on line and discuss the results. There is no leader of the group as the aim is for group members to communicate with each other to decide what they want from the group

Shorty Walks (70857/Out and About)

Walks of up to 5 miles are offered by group members. The walk can be anything any member would like to share with the group. Amongst others, we have enjoyed town trails, moors walks and canal walks. A walk can be any day of the week, throughout the whole year.

Two Hour walks (70871/Out and About)

This group is intended for people who only want a very short walk or have limited time. The walks are local and take place on a Tuesday morning from 10am -12pm when a walk is offered. There is consideration of access by public transport or lifts can be arranged. There is a small group of walk leaders, but members with walk offers are always welcomed.

  • Meets: Tuesday 10:00-12:00 2/9/2025 to 30/12/2025
  • Leader(s): Shirley Davids, Stephanie Crolla, Kathy Warburton, Lynda Newhouse, Jamesine Cundell Walker
  • Contact: Click here to contact the Group Leader
Walk to Lunch 25-26 (70873/Out and About)

We offer morning walks of 4 to 5 miles followed by a pub/café lunch. Please note that a regular commitment to walks is required and pre-booking for walks/lunches is essential. Members must be fit to walk at a good pace and able to manage hills and stiles. Meeting points and pub menus are circulated by email a week before each walk. You’ll need boots, waterproofs, email access and (sometimes) a sense of adventure !!

Walking Group 25-26 (70875/Out and About)

We meet every Tuesday and Thursday weekly for walks in the Yorkshire Dales, Moors and Lake District, between 6 to 13 miles, either easy, moderate or strenuous in grade. Full details in the the group's programme published Winter, Spring and Summer. You will receive a copy as a member

Wharfedale Walking (70877/Out and About)

A friendly way to walk, at an easy pace up and down the Dales. Walks are on Saturdays, and mainly in Wharfedale. Typically, walks will be between 6 and 8 miles. You should have appropriate clothing, boots, drink and a picnic lunch. We meet at the start of the walk at 10.00. (Sorry, but no dogs).We like to stop from time to time to take in the scenery and anything else of interest during the walk. A few days before the Saturday walk a description of the walk will be sent by e-mail, and you reply if you can come. New walkers can join at any time and members are welcome to offer to lead a walk. We will meet fortnightly and occasionally, weekly.