Hawes, Yorkshire Dales: where to stay, what to do and why it works as a Dales base
Hawes is one of the strongest bases in the Yorkshire Dales for visitors who want to stay properly in the landscape rather than on its edge. It is the market town of Upper Wensleydale, with independent shops, cafés, walks from the surrounding area and a strong sense of being in the Dales rather than simply near them.
If Richmond is a better fit for visitors who want history, culture and a larger town feel, Hawes is stronger for those who want a more immersive Dales base with scenery, walking and Wensleydale character right around them. It is especially appealing if you want a market-town centre without giving up the sense that you are staying in the countryside.
Hawes at a glance
Hawes is best for
- visitors who want to stay deep in the Yorkshire Dales
- walkers and scenic short breaks
- people who prefer a smaller market town to a larger historic centre
- visitors exploring Upper Wensleydale
- travellers who like local shops, cafés and rural atmosphere
Why visit Hawes?
Hawes works because it feels like a real Dales town rather than a polished visitor backdrop. It has a proper market-town centre, but the bigger selling point is where it sits: in Upper Wensleydale, with easy access to some of the most distinctive scenery in this part of the National Park.
It also has a handful of attractions that genuinely strengthen a stay rather than merely filling time. The Wensleydale Creamery is one of the best-known visitor draws in the town, presenting itself as the home of Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and its flagship cheese experience and visitor centre. The cheese was first made in the 12th century by French monks that had settled in the region and it has continued to be produced locally ever since.
Hawes is one of the best bases if you want to feel surrounded by the Dales and spend your time in Wensleydale and the northern and western reaches of the National Park. The town has regular daily bus links to Leyburn with connections towards Garsdale for the Settle–Carlisle line, which support Hawes as a practical touring base as well as a scenic one.
Choose Hawes if you want:
- a base in the heart of Dales scenery
- a smaller market-town feel
- walking country nearby
- a stay with a strong local identity rather than a broader urban break
Travel: Hawes is on the A684 and is easy to reach from the M6 in the west and the A1(M) to the east.
Where to stay in Hawes
Hawes is compact, so the question is less about neighbourhood micro-choices and more about what sort of stay you want.
Stay near the centre of Hawes
This is the best option for most first-time visitors. You can walk to shops, cafés, pubs and the town’s main attractions, and you keep the market-town atmosphere right outside the door.
Stay near Gayle Lane and the Creamery side
A good fit if you want easier access to one of the town’s best-known attractions and a position close to the edge of town.
Stay on the quieter edges of Hawes
This can suit visitors who want a little more peace, easier parking or a more spacious feel while still keeping the centre close.
Stay just outside Hawes
A good option if you want a cottage-style break, more room, or more of a countryside setting while still using Hawes as your practical base.
Featured places to stay in Hawes
Simonstone Hall Hotel
3-star country home hotel offering views of the surrounding countryside.
The Hayloft
5-star holiday home experience with one bedroom and one bathroom.
Things to do while staying in Hawes
One of Hawes’s strengths is that it offers a good mix of light attractions and proper Dales access.
The Wensleydale Creamery is the obvious starting point. The home of Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and the award-winning Flagship Cheese Experience and Visitor Centre. There are cheesemaking demonstrations and a self-guided tour where you will learn about the thousand-year history of artisan cheesemaking in the Dales.
The National Park Visitor Centre in the former Railway Station at Hawes has expanded into a fully fledged museum, including exhibits in the stationary train! The Wensleydale Railway, currently running from Leeming Bar to Redmire, has ambitions to reconnect to Hawes and on to the Settle to Carlisle Railway at Garsdale.
Another place to learn about local life can be found at the Dales Countryside Museum and features artefacts which demonstrate rural life through history as well as works of art depicting the region’s beautiful countryside.
A site of major historical importance close to Hawes is Bolton Castle. Located around ten miles to the east of the town, this imposing 14th century fortress was built by Richard le Scrope, the lord chancellor of England under Richard II and is Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The castle still belongs to the descendants of Scrope, but is now open to the public and allows visitors to tour the bedroom where the Queen stayed, see the weapons in the armoury and explore the dungeon.
Beyond that, Hawes is really about being in Wensleydale. Nearby Hardraw Force Waterfall is the highest single drop waterfall in England! The natural amphitheatre below the waterfall is the site of the annual Hardraw Scar Brass Band Festival, the acoustics are amazing. The grounds are owned by the Green Dragon Inn whose owner has been restoring them to their former glory.
Frequently asked questions about Hawes
Is Hawes a good place to stay in the Yorkshire Dales?
Yes. Hawes is one of the strongest bases for visitors who want to stay properly in the Dales, especially in Upper Wensleydale, with scenery and walking country close by.
What is Hawes best known for?
Hawes is best known as the market town of Upper Wensleydale and for the Wensleydale Creamery, one of its best-known visitor attractions.
Is Hawes better than Richmond as a base?
Hawes is better if you want to be more deeply in the Dales and prefer a smaller market-town feel. Richmond is better if you want a larger historic town with more non-walking attractions and town-centre variety.
What kind of accommodation can you find in Hawes?
Hawes suits hotels, inns, guest houses, B&Bs, cottages and self-catering stays, with good appeal for walkers, couples and dog owners. This is an editorial judgement based on the town’s visitor profile and accommodation role rather than a single official classification.
Is Hawes easy to get around?
The town is compact enough to work well as a small base, and the National Park highlights bus links, car parks and the visitor centre facilities that support a stay there.