| Coordinates: | 54.302, -2.197 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SD 87 89 |
| Population: | 887 |
The small market town of Hawes sits at the head of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, beside the River Ure. It’s best known for the Wensleydale Creamery, a lively Saturday market and a tourism economy built on dramatic limestone scenery, walking routes and nearby features such as Hardraw Force, while traditional hill farming - especially sheep - still shapes the surrounding landscape.
Gayle is the tiny hamlet just outside Hawes, clustered around Gayle Beck and notable for the restored historic Gayle Mill, a water‑powered mill once used for flax and sawing that attracts heritage interest. The two settlements share a close‑knit rural community, long upland farming traditions and a history touched by former lead‑mining and small industries, making them popular bases for exploring the Dales.
DL8 3QU, DL8 3AU, DL8 3RN, DL8 3QF, DL8 3NW, DL8 3NH, DL8 3RZ, DL8 3RY, DL8 3LH … See all