Skelton Tower, Pickering - Added to Historic Buildings in Yorkshire and the Humber

I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene:

Land owner permission not required.

Had a fantastic journey hiking from Levisham to Skelton Tower and onwards, in the North Yorkshire Moors, even got a clip of the steam train as it passed.

Skelton Tower is a fascinating historical landmark located in Levisham, North Yorkshire, England, within the stunning North York Moors National Park. Skelton Tower was built in 1830 by the Reverend Robert Skelton, a rector of Levisham. It is believed to have been used as a shooting lodge where Skelton and his guests could enjoy the scenic surroundings and engage in hunting. The tower is a small, two-story structure made of local stone. Though now a ruin, its Gothic-style windows and dramatic location contribute to its romantic and picturesque character.

Positioned on a high escarpment overlooking the Newtondale Gorge, the tower offers breathtaking views of the surrounding moorland, valleys, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which passes below in the gorge. Skelton Tower is a popular destination for walkers and hikers. It can be reached via a variety of walking routes, including trails starting from the nearby village of Levisham. It is a prime spot for photography and picnics.

The tower is often admired for its romantic, solitary ambiance, making it a favorite for artists, photographers, and history enthusiasts. It combines historical intrigue with natural beauty, making it a cherished landmark in the North York Moors.

It is very remote and had walked there from where we staying in Levisham, just over a mile away. Definitely not a place for a comfort break, in fact there are no facilities at all as is the case in the North Yorkshire Moors. The trails are good though and the terrain moderate to easy. There are quite often NOTAMs in the area so best check before you go.

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 30/10/2024. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location.

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I want to fly here @D0c.Col, have you got any tips or advice on where to park?

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@biyan21 I’m afraid it’s in the middle of the moors, so as far as I am aware you’re in for at least a 2k walk to get close to the tower (maybe closer if walking from Levisham Station). Levisham (where I was staying) is about 30+ mins away, but you can pass the pub on the left hand side (from the direction I flew over it at start of video) and park on the side of the lane a little further up to save you about 1k but there isn’t much room to park TBH on the lane.

The route we took was from Levisham by the Pub, straight up to the Tower and then onto the Hole of Horcum (see the crude red line on the map!). The going is pretty good as you can see in the video so it’s not a difficult walk at all. Can be a tad muddy after rain though.

Watch out for NOTAM’s as the nearest ATZ have excercises on that restrict flights now and then, but this is the case in the North Yorkshire area regardless where you are going.

I’ve done another video of our walks in the lower part of the valley area, it’s a lot longer and will be out as soon as I finish editing the thing!

You can park near Gallows Dike off the A169 at the Saltergate Bank Carpark (had a cup of tea and a cake there, very nice mobile trailer) and follow the Tabular Hills Walk but you will be on the upper part of the valley and will have to go off piste to get to the Tower.

Good luck!

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Thank you , very helpful tips

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You’re welcome buddy. :hugs:

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