Visit Hawes and Wensleydale with the Kids

Heard of Hawes? Well, if you haven’t, it’s about time you checked it out, because Hawes is one of our favourite places in the Yorkshire Dales.

It is quite literally a jam packed hub of family friendly stuff to do. Come rain, or shine!

Want to know what stuff there is to do in Hawes and Wensleydale for the Kids?

Yes? Well you are in the right place! We love a trip to Hawes, and there really is so much to do with the family on a day trip or even a staycation! Hawes is located at the top end of Wensleydale, surrounded by high fells and is a pretty and bustling market town. With cobbled streets, waterfalls, local businesses and VIEWS, you need to get yourself to Hawes. I’m not kidding!

What’s great for the kids to do whilst you are there?

Well take a scroll down, we’ll tell you all about it! Walks, attractions, stuff to see and places to eat, we’ve got it all covered!

Follow us, @thereluctantexplorers on Instagram and Facebook for ALL things outdoors in the Yorkshire Dales!

Child standing on a bride overlooking a waterfall surrounded by trees in summer

Our Best Hawes and Wensleydale Walks for Kids

Hawes is a hub for family friendly walks and is located RIGHT in the midst of some of the BEST waterfalls the Yorkshire Dales has to offer! We have loads of walks in the Wensleydale area, but here are a few of our favourites!

Do you want to find a waterfall? Well, I’ll be honest, you’re spoiled for choice! Try walking to Aysgill Force from the centre of Hawes, or you could take a short drive to Hardraw Force or walk from the town centre. A more challenging waterfall walk is Mill Gill and Whitfield Gill Force down the road in Askrigg, or who can ignore the classic Aysgarth Falls?! You can try walking it from West Burton to bag an extra waterfall too! Looking for pushchair friendly? Head to Cotter Force! You will quite literally be spoiled for choice.

Looking for a woodland walk? Check out Freeholders Wood next to Aysgarth Falls, Shaw Gill Woods above Hardraw Force, or head to the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel trail (this is a MUST DO!)

Want to walk around one of the only lakes in the Yorkshire Dales? Head to Semerwater you will not be disappointed and this place is steeped in legend!

Paddleboarding on Semerwater

Paddleboarding on Semerwater

Outdoor Activities for Kids in and around Hawes

You will NOT be surprised to hear that there is a whole LOAD of outdoorsy activities around Hawes that are great for the kids!

Ever heard of the Forbidden Corner? A day here will take you on a journey through a bizarre and outrageous labyrinth, you will witness crazy follies, get absolutely soaking and also there is an adventure playground. Which is precisely why it’s my two’s absolute favourite places to go in the whole of the Yorkshire Dales! Lucky for you, the Forbidden Corner is just down the road from Hawes, near Leyburn. The attraction is seasonal and operates roughly between April and December (with limited opening times towards the end of the year).

Fancy a trip to a castle? Bolton Castle is located in Wensleydale and opens roughly between March/ April and October. You can take a tour of the castle, see falconry displays, wild boar, do archery and often during school holidays you will find seasonal trails or activities on. It’s also a great place to walk from.

Are water sports your thing? You can head up to Semerwater and launch from the beach there. The land is privately owned and the farmer requires payment. Simply head from the car park on the shore up to his farmhouse and you’ll either find him, or the parking/ launch tickets there. Just make sure you bring cash (change is best!) You will require Insurance to launch on Semerwater so make sure that’s sorted before going.

Do you want to go cycling? Head to Stage 1 Cycles at the Yorkshire Dales Countryside Museum for bike and equipment hire, they also regularly have family friendly events on.

Looking for a brilliant way to spend a morning or afternoon? SQUIRRELS

Head to the Snaizeholme red squirrel trail, which is right outside of Hawes. This is a sanctuary for red squirrels and if the weather isn’t too rubbish, you’ll see loads of these gorgeous creatures out in the wild! All you need to do is head to the Dales Countryside Museum to book yourself in. There are limited parking slots or you can get the Little White Bus.

The doors into the Labyrinth of Forbidden Corner

The Forbidden Corner

Child using a steady hand wire on some flower shaped stands

One of the activities to try at the Wensleydale Creamery

Rainy day stuff to do in Hawes

Come on guys… it’s Yorkshire. The likelihood is, you’ll be dealing with rain at some point! But NEVER FEAR! For we have some IDEAS (see what I did there? Poet and I don’t know it and all that….)

Where does it not rain (much?) in a CAVE! White Scar cave in Ingleton is just down the road (20-30 mins drive) it’s the longest show cave in the country, is filled with waterfalls and SO much wonder (we love a cave, can you tell?!) You’ll get a guided tour through impressive formations to a huge cavern. The tour takes around 1.5 hours, but make sure it’s not TOO rainy, the cave will flood in extreme wet weather (but don’t worry, they won’t let you in if that’s on the cards!)

The Wensleydale Creamery is also located in Hawes and has a visitor centre with loads of family friendly stuff to do there! Plus it’s all about cheese. And when in Wensleydale, you almost CERTAINLY have to do something related to CHEESE! (Gromit).

The Dales Countryside Museum is found right in the middle of the town and is a great place to stop off on a rainy day. There are plenty of interactive elements for the kids to check out and often there are seasonal activities too in the school holidays there are also nature trails around the area and the car park is a dark skies reserve! Check out the Dales Countryside Museum for more info. Oh and the ticket gives you a whole week’s worth of entry. A BARGAIN.

On a rainy day what you need is…. ICE CREAM! In the Market House in the centre of Hawes is the Hawes Ice Cream Parlour, or located on the road between Leyburn and Hawes is the Wensleydale Ice Cream Parlour & Coffee Shop serving ice cream as well as hot drinks and light bites.

Children sitting on a play park in sunshine

Where’s the play park in Hawes?

This is OBVIOUSLY essential information when visiting anywhere with kids!

So, I’ll TELL you where the park is at Hawes!

It’s almost directly opposite the Dales Countryside Museum on Burtersett Road. It is a decent sized play area, perhaps a little rough round the edges, but when you’re a kid, that doesn’t really matter does it! Plenty to keep my two occupied for a half hour or so!

What 3 Words: musically.toasted.apron

There is a further play area down the road in Bainbridge, outside the pub! If you want to find out more about the Yorkshire Dales Play Parks, head to our A-Z guide!

A red squirrel sitting in a tree

A Day Out in Hawes must do Itinerary

Ok. You only have a day in Hawes, what would we recommend you do?!

Grab a breakfast and a brew from Cafe Curva.

See the Red Squirrels at Snaizeholme Sanctuary

Stop off at Cotter Force on the way back to Hawes (do you dare to dip?)

Grab a tasty lunch from the Wensleydale Creamery restaurant.

Take a tour of the Wensleydale Cheese Factory and watch it being made.

Get Ice Cream from the Ice Cream Parlour at the Market House or check out the sweet shop on Hawes hight street.

Squeeze in a tour of the Dale Countryside Museum if you can, make sure you check out the story about Buckden Bill and grab a little lantern to head through the replica lead mine.

Go to the park (of course!)

Head to Simonstone Hall for a MEGA treat tea. You might want to have a date night, but they do allow kids and can cater VERY well for them (trust me, we’ve tried it!)

Want to Find Out More About the Visit with Kids Guides?

Tap HERE to head to all of our Visit with Kids Guides

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

Follow us for up to date Outdoors Adventures!

We live and BREATHE the Yorkshire Dales outdoors life!

BEEN INSPIRED? Tag us @reluctantexplorers

Come follow our journey over on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, where you’ll find up to date walk info, breaking news on Yorkshire Events, new Yorkshire Dales wild swim spots, climbing, caves and more!

Follow us on Social Media for all the up to date info: @thereluctantexplorers