The B6538 number was allocated to an east-west route through Skipton following the opening of the northern bypass; the road was originally numbered A65 to the west of the town centre and A59 to the east. It is not known if the number appeared on the ground (if it did it was very short-lived); currently the ex-A59 is numbered A6131 whilst the ex-A65 is unclassified.
The road would have started at the roundabout near Stirton where the A65, A59 and A629 all met and headed into town along Gargrave Road. After following Water Street there would have been a multiplex over the canal along the B6265, after which the B6538 would have turned left into the High Street to pass the castle and continue out of town to end on the A59.
