Hawes

Hawes sits close to the banks of the meandering river Ure, almost at the head of Wensleydale. This town for all seasons is a traditional dales market town, small in size but with a large character. The town has grown and developed over the past 300 years creating narrow wynds and side streets around the market place that are a delight to explore. The town is popular with tourists and in spite of its rugged appearance is noted for the welcome and warmth provided by the pubs, restaurants and shops that satisfy every visitor’s need.

A general market and cattle mart are still held every Tuesday and The Auction Mart is always worth visit when a sale is on. There are many visitor attractions in Hawes, you can learn about life in the dales at The Dales Countryside Museum, the traditional craft of rope making at Outhwaite Ropemakers and of course cheese making at The Wensleydale Creamery, if bringing children there’s the public park for some fun, or St Margaret’s Church for 

a quiet moment in time. The red squirrel is making a comeback on a nearby nature reserve, call in to Hawes National Park Centre for viewing information. You can also go on a geocaching hunt through the town and out into the countryside, ask about hire of GPS equipment at the centre. There are interesting independent shops including two antique shops stuffed with treasures, Flares and Graces clothes shop and try White’s too for a great selection of shoes plus many other things to tempt, two walking shops, the list goes on.

Hawes is surrounded by beautiful meadowland, pasture and rising fellsides that provide breath-taking walks by river and stream and is also an ideal base for longer excursions throughout the Dales, Cumbria and The Lakes. There’s nothing else for it but to make a visit, mix with the locals, walk the hills and just explore.