Hawes
This circular walk around the market town of Hawes visits three lovely waterfalls and takes you through some beautiful Yorkshire countryside. The town is in a great location for walkers with the lovely scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and some good waymarked footpaths to follow.
The walk makes use of the Pennine Way and other public footpaths to visit Hardraw Force, Cotter Force and Aysgill Force waterfalls.
The 10 mile route starts in the centre of the town and heads north, crossing the River Ure, before climbing along Hardraw Beck to Hardraw Force Waterfall. The impressive waterfall is England's highest single drop waterfall, falling some 100ft. Access to the waterfall is through the 13th century Green Dragon Inn.
The route then climbs west to Bluebell Hill, reaching a height of over 1000ft and providing great views over the surrounding area. From here you descend back to the River Ure, where you head west along the river to Cotterdale Beck and on to Cotter Force Waterfall. The falls are very pretty, comprising of six steps, each with its own small waterfall.
From here you head back along the river to Appersett, where you follow the Widdale Beck towards Appersett Viaduct. The route then heads back towards Hawes where you can take a detour south along the Gayle Beck to visit Aysgill Force Waterfall.
There's lots of other nice walks to try in the Hawes area. You could try the climb to the splendid Great Shunner Fell. The hill is the highest point in Wensleydale and can be climbed from the village of Hardraw which this walk visits.
A few miles to the south east of the town you can visit the lovely Semer Water. The lake has a nice walking trail which visits Keld Scar Waterfall, Crooks Beck and Marsett Beck.
Hawes Ordnance Survey Map
- view and print off detailed OS map
Hawes Open Street Map
- view and print off detailed map
Hawes OS Map
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Hawes Open Street Map
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Hawes Pubs/Cafes
This walk passes the Green Dragon Inn, the gateway to the splendid Hardraw Falls. The pub has an interesting history dating right back to the 13th century. Hardraw is old English for Shepherds dwelling, and the land once formed part of land owned by the Cistercian Monks, who settled here before moving to Jervaulx Abbey in lower Wensleydale. They kept a Grange at Hardraw and possibly a small chantry chapel.
The pub has a good selection of beers and a good menu if you wish to dine.
Pictured above, the exterior and interior of the Green Dragon in Hardraw near Hawes. The lovely old unspoilt and unaltered interior has a wealth of period features including a cosy real fire. There's also a few tables outside if the weather is decent.