Hawes is a small market town situated in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Located at the head of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, the River Ure runs through the town and the dale which is one of the primary tourist attractions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The parish of Hawes also includes the nearby hamlet of Gayle. The hill of Great Shunner Fell towers over the town.
The town is particularly famous as being the home of Wensleydale cheese at the Hawes Creamery. Other local attractions for visitors include the Dales Countryside Museum, based in the old Hawes railway station of the Wensleydale Railway; nearby Hardraw Force waterfall; and the Buttertubs Pass, which links Wensleydale to Swaledale. Further down the dale one can find Aysgarth Falls.
As well as its regular market, there are also many shops, pubs and tearooms. The Hawes Promotion/Relegation party for fans of Sunderland AFC is held there every summer. It is well attended and organised, and increases year on year.
Hawes is at the hub of great walking country and The Pennine Way (the UK's first National Trail) passes through it.
