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Activities and attractions in The Dales

The thriving market town of Hawes, with its cobbled streets, offers a good selection of craft and gift shops, antique and specialty shops, restaurants, cafe's, Dales pubs and places to visit. The town is famous as being the home of Wensleydale cheese, watch it being made at The Wensleydale Creamery. Also there is the renowned Dales Countryside Museum, Gayle Mill and The Ropemakers, and many more...

Hawes in Wensleydale is truly the heart of the Dales. An ideal base for exploring the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. We are ideally situated for touring The Dales or walking, exploring Wensleydale, Swaledale, Wharfedale and further afield.
There are many walks from Hawes of all levels, from gentle ambles to more challenging higher levels, such as Shunner Fell, easily accessible from Hawes and a good days walk.

The rugged limestone scenery with its unusual features such as the 'Buttertubs', deep and strangely shaped sink holes on Buttertubs Pass, north of Hawes, the Yoredale series causing the stepped landscape of the Dales.
Other features well worth seeing are Wensleydale's waterfalls. The highest unbroken waterfall in Britain, Hardrow Force at The Green Dragon Inn at Hardraw, 100 feet high, an easy walk from Hawes. Further down the dale are Aysgarth Falls, three of them, Upper, Middle and Lower. Semerwater, is a lake formed by glacial action from which flows the shortest English river, the river Bain and a beautiful walk around the lake.
A few miles to the South West is the famous Ribblehead Viaduct, surrounded by the three peaks, Ingleborough, Pen-Y-Ghent and Whernside. Truly a sight to behold with high and lower level walking around the area.

There are many attractions in the area including the famous Aysgarth Falls and, the magical garden of ‘The Forbidden Corner’ which is sure to make your life move in mysterious ways! The area is perfect for walking and mountain biking, or you may simply wish to enjoy the wonderful, welcoming surroundings. Great family days out include the Lightwater Valley Theme Park and the historic City of York, Dales Countryside museum, Gayle mill, The Ropemakers and The famous Wensleydale Creamery, home of Wensleydale Cheese. There are many cosy country pubs and tea shops in the area to while away the hours with refreshments.

There are many web sites offering guidance to activities and attractions in The Dales.
Here are a few links: (opens in a new window)