Wensleydale is a popular destination to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With rolling green fields dotted with sheep, it’s best known as the home of Wensleydale cheese. The area is so picturesque and charming, and there’s some good walks and pretty waterfalls to explore. Aysgarth Falls is a great place to visit, but just a bit further is the pretty market town of Hawes. Here’s my Wensleydale guide for exploring around Hawes and seeing some waterfalls!

What to See in Hawes

Hawes is a charming village, and one of the main hubs in the Yorkshire Dales. With shops, restaurants, and numerous pubs, make sure spend some time strolling around.

The main attraction in Hawes is the Wensleydale Creamery. Producing the well-known Wensleydale cheese, there is a visitor center (where you can do a Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience), café/restaurant, and large shop for all your dairy needs. I definitely stocked up when I went!

There is also the Dales Countryside Museum, which is run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park and attached to the National Park Center. The museum has exhibits detailing the lives and stories of the people who have lived in the Dales, the places that have shaped the area. For more insight into rural life, visit Hawes Ropemakers, where you can see demonstrations of ropemaking.

There is also a pretty waterfall, Hawes Falls, in the center of the town.

Hawes to Hardraw Force Walk

One of the biggest attractions in the region, and one of the best waterfalls in Wensleydale, is Hardraw Force, a magnificent waterfall located about 2 miles away from Hawes. The walk took me about half an hour, following the Pennine Way up the road and through several fields.

Exploring Hardraw Force

Hardraw Force is located behind the Green Dragon Pub in Hardraw. Because it’s on private property, there is an admission fee of £4 (for adults) to see the waterfall. It is a really beautiful place and I do recommend going. Follow the Upper Walk for a different view of the waterfall, then head down on the paths to see it up close. I spent a good amount of time wandering around Hardraw Force, and even saw someone swimming there! This was used as a film location in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. There’s a tea room (with toilets) at the site as well.

Hardraw Force to Hawes Via Sedbursk

The return journey of the walk goes via Simonstone Hotel and Sedbursk, a tiny little village. Make sure to enjoy the view after the initial climb up from Hardraw—the views over the Dales are stunning. It took me about 1 hour from leaving Hardraw Force to get back to Hawes.

Other Waterfalls in Wensleydale

Just past the Wensleydale Creamery is the village of Gayle. There’s a pretty waterfall at Gayle Mill, which is essentially on the way to see Aysgill Force.

Aysgill Force is a stunning waterfall, and it’s location outside of Hawes means it’s pretty quiet—you won’t need to worry about crowds here. There’s a public footpath sign out of Gayle that then joins up with the river and takes you to the waterfall. It took me 20 minutes from Gayle Mill to get to Aysgill Force.

Cotter Force is another pretty waterfall in Wensleydale, just outside of Hawes. You could walk there from Hawes, or even combine it for a big loop including Hardraw Force. But I chose to drive, as it’s 2 miles from Hawes. There are no road signs, but there is a layby with space for 5-6 cars. Once you’ve parked, cross the bridge and turn left at the signpost for Cotter Force. It’s only a 5ish minute walk to see the waterfall—this is on a gravel path that’s suitable for wheelchairs.

Aysgarth Falls are probably the largest and most popular set of waterfalls in Wensleydale. As I had already been on a previous trip I didn’t go this time, but they’re one place you can’t miss in Yorkshire.

Cauldron Falls in West Burton is another beautiful waterfall in Wensleydale. The village is quiet and charming, but the waterfall a great place to spend the afternoon. It was a bit chilly, but I went swimming here!

It’s not far from Hawes to Buttertubs Pass, a scenic road in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. You can also take a ride on the Wensleydale Railway, a heritage train that typically runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire (reduced services this year). Hawes is also fairly close to Swaledale, one of my favorite parts of the Yorkshire Dales.

Planning Your Trip

As Hawes is located in the national park, there is extremely limited public transportation and it’s best to have your own vehicle. DalesBus runs some services to Hawes, which can be accessed from various rail stations like Leeds, Northallerton, or Garsdale. I always use Trainline to book my train tickets in advance. If you’re flying in, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports are closest – I book flights throgh Skyscanner. Looking for a tour? These tours to the Yorkshire Dales all visit Hawes!

I visited Hawes as a daytrip from where I live in York, but it makes a great base if you’re visiting the Yorkshire Dales or Wensleydale specifically. The main hostel here is YHA Hawes, but you can search for nearby hostels here and for hotels and B&Bs here. You can also sign up to and search accommodation on Airbnb here.

Booking.com

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Wensleydale is a beautiful part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and a visit to see Hawes and explore the waterfalls around the town is a must. There is a lot to see and do so you could very easily spend a weekend here, it’s possible to see quite a lot in just a day. Don’t miss Hawes and Wensleydale on a trip to Yorkshire!

Have you been to Hawes before? Would you want to visit this part of the Yorkshire Dales?

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All of my Yorkshire posts!

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