Skipton & the Dales Through Time : Amberley Publishing : 9781848685628 : 1848685629 : 15 May 2011 : Skipton is the gateway to the Dales. Designated a National Park in 1954 because of its range of wildlife and their habitats, beautiful scenery and local history, The Yorkshire Dales is a rugged upland area of staggering beauty. The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers almost 1,800 square kilometres and has a total population of about 20,000 residents. Over 8 million visitors a year come to see the wonderful landscape, wildlife and village life of the Dales. Join Ken Ellwood on this nostalgic visual journey around the area as he shows how much, or indeed how little, parts of it have changed over time. There are even some never seen before aerial shots taken by Ken in his Tiger Moth!