Between Blackpool And Newcastle Upon Tyne Is A Scenic Town Inside A National Park With Tasty Eats And Shops

In the north of England, nestled among the Pennines Mountains, is Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's 841 square miles of dramatic, big-sky landscapes, with limestone bluffs over sweeping glacial valleys (dales). You can take a long, slogging trek to mountain peaks, crawl through caves, or stroll along rivers to pristine waterfalls. English national parks operate differently than their American counterparts, and 24,000 people call the Yorkshire Dales home. Hawes is one of the towns tucked inside this national park, offering a charming home base from which to explore the mythical dales.

As a tiny, few-street market town tucked in Wensleydale, Hawes is walkable and less than a mile from one end to the other. The streets have a decidedly British feel: thin two-lane roads with stone buildings of varying shades of grey and pub tables pressed on sidewalks. It might be small, but the few main avenues and tiny dead-end lanes branching off of them have plenty to offer visitors. There are old-fashioned shops where you can buy nostalgic sweets and pottery, alongside florists, bakeries, and cozy English pubs. It's even home to a world-famous creamery that uses centuries-old techniques to craft a selection of cheeses.  

Hawes is less than two hours by car from both Blackpool to the southwest and Newcastle upon Tyne to the northeast, and the drive offers scenic views of the English countryside. On public transportation, nearby Northallerton connects by train to cities like Newcastle upon Tyne (40 minutes) or London (2 hours and 40 minutes), and from there, you can take a bus to Hawes. It's a village, but it's used to visitors coming to check out the Yorkshire Dales, so accommodation options are plentiful, from budget-friendly rooms in a converted chapel to spots above downtown pubs.

For a town of its size, Hawes has an impressive number and variety of shops lining its main thoroughfare, and it's very easy to amble through town and pop into any place that piques your interest. Funky Pheasant Boutique and Gifts is a good place to start for a card, mug, or other gift-shop type souvenir. Waltons of Hawes has a nostalgic, forest-green storefront with the words "Quality Country & Leisure Wear," and that's a fitting description. The old-school shop sells caps and jackets that will help you dress like a true local on your U.K. vacation. They've also got outdoor apparel if you plan on exploring the countryside. Cellar Antiques is another spot where you might find something surprising, offering everything from oak furniture to blue and white ceramic dinnerware. And if it doesn't fit in your suitcase, Cellar can ship it to you.

Wensleydale Creamery is one of the few spots not along the main downtown corridor in Hawes, but it's a half mile away and should not be missed. Carrying on a cheesemaking tradition that was started by French monks in the region back in 1150, the creamery hand-makes artisanal cheeses using dairy from local farms. Visitors can take a tour with a cheese-making demonstration, or simply swing by the shop for a block of their favorite variety like Wensleydale Blue.

Many fine eateries are dotted amongst the shops, supermarkets, and small hotels of Hawes. The White Hart Inn is in a 16th-century stone building, and its bar has a sophisticated rustic vibe, with a fireplace and bookshelf in the corner. The elevated British cuisine fits that energy, while they've got a small beer garden if you're just looking for pints. For the classic quick English meal, The Chippie has battered haddock, chip butties, mushy peas, and all manner of deep-fried goodness.

A tiny dot amongst the hundreds of square miles of Yorkshire Dales National Park, there's boundless nature to explore around Hawes. The best place to start is the National Park Visitor Centre for a better understanding of the park and its natural attractions. It shares the building with the Dales Countryside Museum, so you can also learn a bit of regional history. While there, pick up a guidebook, get advice from staff, and familiarize yourself with the park ranger tips for staying safe while hiking. Then set off to find adventure in the limestone bluffs, deep ravines, and stunning landscapes of the dales.

Great Shunner Fell is one of the park's highest points and can be reached via the Pennine Way, which was England's first national trail and has a trailhead right in Hawes. It's a 4.5-mile trek one way, and you can pause at the Hardraw Force waterfall on the way. At the top of Shunner Fell, Yorkshire Dales National Park notes that hikers can enjoy sweeping vistas of the North Pennines, the Lake District, and distant fells of the Yorkshire Dales. Other popular attractions require a drive, so it's all about choosing your style of outdoor adventure. More waterfalls, caves, quiet lakes, or glute-smashing uphill treks to peaks: it's all in this national park.

The Ingleton Waterfall Trail is one of the more popular spots in the region, a 30-minute drive from Hawes. Rather than a steep incline, Ingleton is a 4.3-mile wooded trail along river gorges and through bucolic countryside that can be completed in 2-4 hours. To help find other hikes, Yorkshire Dales National Park has an app. It's also a Dark Sky Discovery site, so waiting until after nightfall to bask under the sea of stars offers a unique experience.