Hawes is a great base for exploring The Dales because it offers holidaymakers amenities that are lacking in many other locations. We cannot understate the convenience of having all these facilities within generally three minutes walk from the cottage. Just a short walk to independent cafe's and shops including grocers and butcher / baker. 

From the front door of the cottage walk down the hundred metres down our gentle sloping hill;

To The left at the bottom of The Hill

The main shopping / eating / services area of Hawes extends about 500m to the left / westwards from the bottom of The Hill either side of Main Street. Provision includes;

• St Margaret’s Church.

• Two grocery stores; Elijah Allen and Spar. Please support these shops as they are vital to the town. Note its circa 30 minutes’ drive to Campbells and Co-op in Leyburn.

• Pharmacy.

• Barclays ATM (opposite the pharmacy, near Café Curva & The Folly Coffee Shop). There is also an ATM (that charges a fee for withdrawal) by the public toilets near The Chippie and you can withdraw cash over the counter at Hawes Post Office.

• Various outfitters and outdoor shops and Stacey Moore Gallery.

• The Old Sweet Shop.

• The Chippie (Huge portions, great flavour, highly recommended. NB Cooked in beef dripping so not suitable for vg or ve). Eat in or takeaway.

• Prachin Spice Indian Restaurant (set back between The Fountain & The Crown pub’s).

• Four cafés;

• The Wensleydale Pantry; a really popular café / restaurant set above Spar. Café Curva. Penny Garth Café & The Folly.

• Four pubs. Book tables for food well in advance. The Fountain is the locals local and if you read David Gatward’s Harry Grimm Detective stories (set in Hawes) you can sit in Harry’s chair and try the famous deep friend Cockett’s Fruitcake and Wensleydale Cheese balls. The 400 year old White Hart Inn 100m from the cottage is really popular with our guests.

• The Community Hub, including library, Post Office, Little White Bus office, town centre office. Walk along Main Street as far as Elijah Allen’s, and opposite Elijah Allen’s is a parade of shops; just at the right-hand end of this parade is a cut through leading to the hub.

• Pet Supplies Shop. Follow directions to the hub as above.

• Petrol Station & EV Charging. Set at the very end of Main Street just beyond The Chippie. This is open 24 hours a day (out of hours it is unstaffed). EV charging is lower speed here.

To the right at the bottom of The Hill

Shops continue for circa 300m to the right at the bottom of The Hill. Follow the cobbles to come to;

• Cockett’s Bakery and Butchers. Family run craft bakers and butchers since 1854. At some point in 2026 we are anticipating the opening of Bosc, a planned new Bistro in the old Iverson’s electrical shop by Cockett’s.

• Various gift shops, and antique shops.

• Hawes Club. On the bridge opposite the signature waterfall. You can take a holiday membership of this club for £1 a person. Cheaper drinks, tv’s for sport, and two full sized snooker tables.

• Hawes Doctor’s Surgery. After you cross the waterfall bridge, stay on the left-hand side of the road and angle further left past the hairdressers. Just on the corner on the left by the road to Hardraw is the doctor’s surgery.

• The Alchemist’s Cottage. You can buy Hawes or Wensleydale blend coffee here.

• Hawes Playpark. A lovely traditional park perfect for younger children to let off steam.

• Chapel Gallery & Coffee Shop. One of our favourites; local art / crafts and coffee / cakes.

• Hawes Pizza Takeaway. Opposite Chapel Gallery.

• About 300 metres further uphill / eastwards along the main road from the playpark is Hawes Auction Market and Carr’s Billington Farmers Store. Auction day is generally on a Tuesday (staring at either 9 or 10 am). Turning right off the main road, walk 150m uphill and on your left is a low uninspiring concrete single storey building. This is the auction market café (it’s cash only please). Its open only on auction days and serves a hearty full English breakfast. An opportunity to see the real rural community as farmers gather.

Spur road opposite Hawes Playpark

• Just 200m down the spur road is The Dales Countryside Museum which includes a National Parks Visitor Centre / Tourist Information. The car park here has six EV chargers (fastest in Hawes).

Turn acute left out of our cottage

• Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre / and Gayle. Turn acute left out of our cottage and head uphill on the cobbles passing St Margaret’s Church on your right. At the gates (just past the church) take the most left-hand path (it feels straight on) following stone paving slabs across the field (you’ll see Gayle Beck downhill to your left) for about 600m passing through two stiles before reaching the road. At the road turn right and you will come to Wensleydale Creamery Visitors Centre after about 200m (see more later).