Hawes to Hardraw Force via The Green Dragon Pub
An easy riverside loop to Hardraw Force and back past Wensleydale Creamery — a gentle one to blow off the cobwebs before pie and a pint back in Hawes.
Effort: Moderate distance, manageable climb
Underfoot: Some uneven or off-path ground
E2·T2 — how we grade routesMostly on runnable ground, but most runners still walk the steepest climbs.
A brisk 10 km circuit from the market town of Hawes to Hardraw Force Waterfall and into the fells above Upper Wensleydale - the classic way to blow out the cobwebs and welcome in the new year with wide-open views.
An easy riverside loop to Hardraw Force and back past Wensleydale Creamery — a gentle one to blow off the cobwebs before pie and a pint back in Hawes.
Hawes to Hardraw Force via The Green Dragon Pub
There are few better place to be for a brisk walk than Hawes. This 10.3 km route starts and finishes in the heart of Hawes - the highest market town in England and the natural centre of Upper Wensleydale - giving you some proper fellside perspective before you earn your pie and a pint.
The route climbs steadily out of the town onto the open fell above, where the views open up across the broad, flat floor of Wensleydale. On a clear January day you might see snow on the higher fells of Buttertubs Pass and the faint outline of Ingleborough to the south-west.
The middle section crosses rougher pasture and moorland edge on good bridleway tracks, with the occasional gate and stile to keep you alert. In wet or frosty conditions the paths can be slippery, and the higher ground can hold snow well into late winter.
The descent back towards Hawes passes above the Wensleydale Creamery - the only remaining producer of genuine Wensleydale cheese in the dale. If the shop is open, it would be rude not to pick up a wedge for New Year's lunch.
The town rewards those who linger. Beyond the creamery, Hawes has the excellent Dales Countryside Museum, a National Park Visitor Centre, and enough independent cafes and pubs to keep any walking party happy long after the boots come off.
Key Facts
- Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
- Ascent: 176 m
- Terrain: Town paths, farm track, moorland edge
- Start/Finish: Gayle Lane Car Park, Hawes (DL8 3RQ)
Field gates and stiles throughout, so expect a few stops. The riverside path gets slippery when wet or frosty, and there's often snow on higher ground in winter.
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
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