Hawes: Walking Trails, Cheese Making and Architectural History

Walking trails, cheese making, cycling and architectural history are among the possible focuses of a trip to Hawes.

Walking trails with different destinations

The Hawes Mosaic Walk is a circular route through Hawes that starts at the Dales Countryside Museum. If you want to include a circular walk in your plans, this route has a clearly named format and starting point. The walk leaflet was updated in 2025.

Another route is the Hawes-and-Aysgill-Force-Walk: it passes the place where Wensleydale cheese is made and continues to Aysgill Force waterfall. This walk therefore focuses on cheese making along the route and a waterfall as its destination. The Hawes-to-Sedbusk-Walk passes through the village of Hardraw, offering another connection to a specific place. If you choose walks by their described routes, you can distinguish between the circular walk through Hawes, the waterfall route and the walk through Hardraw.

Cheese making and architectural history

The Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience includes a gallery from which you can watch cheese being made. This insight adds to the connection with cheese production also found on the Hawes-and-Aysgill-Force-Walk: on the walk, the focus is on making cheese along the route; at the experience, it is on watching from a gallery. If you plan to include the gallery in your day, check the latest visitor information in advance, as facilities can change.

St Margaret, The Hill in Hawes also offers a specific connection to the town’s architectural history. The church was built around 1850 and designed by the architect AB Higham. Its furnishings include pieces by Robert Thompson, the craftsman known as the Mouse Man of Kilburn. The construction period, the architect’s name and the furniture craftsmanship are distinct details that draw attention to architecture and design in Hawes.

Plan cycling and connections

Stage 1 Cycles at the Hawes National Park Visitor Centre offers bike hire, repairs and guided cycling tours. Depending on your plans, you can look into hiring a bike, getting a repair or joining a guided tour. As the services offered may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before making plans.

The Little White Bus’s Garsdale Station Shuttle connects Gayle, Hawes and Garsdale Station. If you plan to include these three places in your trip, check the timetable before travelling: the specific timetable information for a shuttle connection is essential for planning your journey. This keeps your plans aligned with the named stops and the actual timetable. For travel planning, you can distinguish between the Hawes Mosaic Walk, a circular route through Hawes, and the shuttle, which connects the town with Gayle and Garsdale Station.

Discover more destinations: Ganton, Embsay, Crayke, Low Row, Burniston, Threshfield, Clapham, Gristhorpe.

For the regional travel overview: North Yorkshire.