Hawes

Hawes
Yorkshire North Riding
Hawes Market
Location
Grid reference:	SD868898
Location:	54°18’14"N, 2°12’8"W
Data
Population:	1,180
Post town:	Hawes
Postcode:	DL8
Dialling code:	01969
Local Government
Council:	Richmondshire
Parliamentary constituency:	Richmond

Hawes is a small market town in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The town sits on the River Ure at the head of its dale, Wensleydale , a pretty town in pretty landscape and popular with visitors.

The town is at the centre of great walking country, a jewel of Upper Wensleydale and a centre for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. It is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Pennine Way passes through Hawes.

Wensleydale draws many folk here and the little town is a honeypot tourist attraction. Local tourist attractions include:

• The Dales Countryside Museum, based in the old Hawes railway station of the Wensleydale Railway;
• Hardraw Force, the nearby waterfall;
• The Buttertubs Pass, which links Wensleydale to Swaledale.
• The Aysgarth Falls further down the dale.

Hawes itself has a regular market, as well as many shops, pubs and tearooms.

The parish of Hawes also includes the neighbouring hamlets of Gayle. The hill of Great Shunner Fell stands over the town. The town is famous as the home of Wensleydale cheese.

Originally the town was known as The Hawes, a name meaning "the neck", from the Old English or Old Norse word hals, meaning in each language "neck" or "pass between mountains". Hawes granted its market charter in 1699.

Houses in Hawes

The Ure in Hawes

The Hawes Promotion/Relegation party for fans of Sunderland AFC takes place there every summer. It is well attended and organised, and grows year upon year.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hawes)

• Hawes Guide
• The railway may eventually return here
• Gayle Mill - website of restored C18 Hawes watermill