Fun Things to Do in Hawes

Hawes is a beautiful market town in the Yorkshire Dales and we have a wonderful day every time we visit. There are so many wonderful things to do in town, you can spend much longer than a day wandering its streets, enjoying tasty treats in its independent cafes, restaurants and pubs, and learning more about the area in the museum.

Check out some of our favourite things to do in Hawes and start planning your perfect day in the Yorkshire Dales.

Wensleydale Creamery

We cannot visit Hawes without at least popping into the Wensleydale Creamery shop! Their tasting room holds a special place in our hearts and the cheesy afternoon tea available in their café is a treat you’ll remember forever.

We recommend the Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience too, where you’ll begin by seeing the cheese being made, learn the history of cheese making, and get up close to Wallice and Gromit.

Dales Countryside Museum

Free for children, the Dales Countryside Museum tells the fascinating stories of the landscape and the people who call the Yorkshire Dales home. From prehistoric life in the area right through to the modern day, this wonderful museum is well worth a visit. Make sure you check their website for their current special exhibitions too!

Gayle Mill

Gayle Mill is the oldest unaltered mill building in the UK, and it’s just outside of Hawes. It was first built in 1784 for manufacturing cotton, converting to flax in 1810. By 1860, the mill converted again, this time to become a sawmill, which it operated as until 1988. It is now a Grade II listed building and available for tours. Please check their website for opening hours.

Independent shops

As well as a market every Tuesday where you can get lots of locally made products, there are a huge range of independent shops in Hawes.

There are lots of wonderful gifts and homeware shops in town. The Mulberry Bush, Elijah Allen & Son, Funky Pheasant are some of our favourites. For clothing, you definitely need to drop into Whites of Wensleydale.

For people with a sweet tooth, make sure to visit the Old Sweet Shop. Cheese and gifts are available in the Wensleydale Creamery shop and Raydale Preserves offer over 50 jams, chutneys and sauces all made in Yorkshire.

If you love local art, you need to visit Chapel Gallery and the Stacey Moore Art Gallery. If antiques are your thing, Cellar Antiques and Sturmans Antiques offer a fantastic range of interesting things for sale. If you like to knit, you’ll have to pay a visit to the Knitting Basket while you’re here too.

Walks

One of our favourite walks to do from Hawes is a 4 (ish!) mile circular that starts (and ends) at the Hawes National Park Visitor Centre, takes you along some of the Pennine Way and takes in Hardraw Force, England’s largest single drop waterfall.

If you’re a serious hiker, why not take on one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks while you’re in the area? Whernside is just a 20 minute drive from Hawes and offers a challenging climb with view that make it all worth it at the summit.

Places to eat and drink

There are so many places to eat and drink in Hawes, it’ll be hard to choose! We’ve already mentioned the restaurant at the Wensleydale Creamery, but when you’ve had your fill of cheese, you can try the Wensleydale Pantry, the White Hart Inn, Penny Garth Café, the Firebox, The Fountain, The Crown, The Board Inn, and another of our favourites, the Chippie.

Places to visit in the local area

You are absolutely spoiled for choice if you’re using Hawes as a base for your holiday. Other places we recommend a visit to are Bolton Castle, Cotter Force, Aysgarth Falls, White Scar Cave, Malham Cove, Ribblehead viaduct, and The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park.

What would you add to this list? Let us know and share your Dales pics with us on Facebook and Instagram.