MORE than 30 tourism and management students from Leeds Becket University enjoyed a day in Skipton thanks to Friends of the Dales.

Ann Shadrake, the charity’s executive director said “We met the group at Skipton Railway Station and led them a walking tour along the canal towpath, keeping away from busy roads, right up to the historic setting of Holy Trinity Parish Church and Skipton Castle. Students were challenged to consider how to make this attractive route more obvious and appealing to visitors and how to promote businesses in Canal Basin. Later we took them into Skipton Woods to test the self guided walk leaflets produced by the Woodland Trust and feedback on the design and route. The group also visited the castle with a volunteer tour guide to learn how to market this important visitor attraction. This was a very different day for Friends of the Dales staff and volunteers to organise and lead- but the students were a real pleasure to work with and the day went really well.”