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Hawes and Sedbusk

Hawes and Sedbusk
Distance:
5 miles
Duration:
2½ to 3 hours depending on stops
Level of walk:
Medium
Leaving Hawes at start of walk

Why you should do this walk…

You will feel like you are in the heart of the Dales with this fairly energetic romp – categorised as medium because of the climb half way round.  There are panoramic views, a chocolate box village and a great dog-friendly pub along the way.  If that’s not enough, there’s even a paddling opportunity for your dog near the picturesque packhorse bridge on the way home too!

What else you need to know

How to get there – from Richmond, take the A6108 to Leyburn the take the A684 towards Hawes. From the A1, take the A684 Northallerton to Kendal road through Wensleydale to Hawes.  The No.156/157 bus from Bedale and Leyburn operated by Dales and District passes through Hawes. On Sundays and summer Bank Holidays, the Wensleydale Flyer – the No.856 bus operated by Dales Bus runs from Northallerton through Bedale and Leyburn to Hawes. Bus journeys can be co-ordinated with a trip on the Wensleydale Railway, which runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire.

Suggested map – Ordnance Survey Explorer Map Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central areas Wensleydale and Swaledale OL30

Car park – Gayle Lane pay and display car park off the main street (Market Place) at the west end of the town

Start – Gayle Lane car park

Length/time – 5 miles, takes between 2½-3 hours depending on stops

Terrain/difficulty – MEDIUM, one stiff climb, the paths pass through many gaps in dry stone walls – mainly using spring gates. The route is easy to follow along stone and green paths, with one ladder stile to negotiate

Dog friendliness – there are dog waste bins in Gayle Lane car park and by the roadside early on in the walk.  The route passes along some quiet roads for short periods, there are few stiles with just a couple where your pooch will need a helping hand – to hold back those springy gates! This the Dales so expect to see sheep and be ready to keep your dog under control. River paddling is also available if conditions allow.

Food and drink – the Green Dragon, and the Crown Hotel in Hawes among others– see Directories for details

Public toilets – on Market Place in Hawes, by the steps and ramp leading to Gayle Lane car park.

Other interesting info:
Hardraw Force is England`s highest unbroken waterfall and is set within the grounds of the Green Dragon pub, mentioned on this walk.  The Force cascades from a reputed height of one hundred feet!

 The Walk

  1. Following the signs near the ‘Welcome to Hawes’ board in Gayle Lane car park, take the steps or ramp towards Market Place – joining the main road through Hawes by the public toilets. Turn right and head along the pavement towards the town centre – taking either option where the road forks to follow the one-way system. Cross the Gayle Beck then look for the road to Hardraw and Muker, near the roadside stone carvings of a shepherd and his flock.
  2. Follow the pavement next to the road as it passes over the former railway line, then at the entrance to an industrial estate bear left towards a kissing gate and wooden footpath sign for the Pennine Way and Haylands Bridge (¼ mile). Pass through the wooden gate and continue on the stone path through the field – keep your dog under control if there are sheep about. Pass through another kissing gate (there is a dog-waste bin just beyond it), cross the road and head left next to dry-stone wall. Pass through the gap in the wall and keep to the path next to the road as far as the bridge over the River Ure.
  3. Cross the river and continue along the quiet road as it curves left then right before heading uphill towards a line of trees. As the road starts to climb, look for a public footpath sign on the left near a gap in the dry-stone wall. Cross the road and climb the stone steps up to a gate and sign pointing the way to Hardraw (¾ mile) along the Pennine Way.  Pass through the gate and follow the wide green path with a dry-stone wall to the left. Keeping Great Shunner Fell in view ahead, continue on the path as it passes through a number of gates in the numerous dry-stone walls.  Approaching Hardraw village the path becomes paved as it passes houses to the right and Hardraw Beck to the left.
  4. After passing a wooden Pennine Way footpath sign (marked with an Acorn), head through a wooden kissing gate out onto a road. Nearby is the dog-friendly Green Dragon Pub, gateway to the famous Hardraw Waterfall – and well worth a visit!
  5. After stopping for a drink, viewing the waterfall or just passing by the front of the pub, turn immediately left as if heading into the car park, following a public footpath sign to Simonstone ( 1/3 mile). Then look for a narrow gate by the wall on the right and following another Simonstone sign, pass close by a house. Follow the path through another gate up a short flight of stone steps into a field still following signs for Simonstone. At a kissing gate by the dry-stone wall, follow the straight ahead way-marker along an uphill path towards a stile in the wall ahead. Cross the stile – most dogs will need help here, and continue uphill – not forgetting to stop to enjoy the panoramic view of Wether Fell behind. Bear right past a house and following a footpath sign for Simonstone and Sedbusk, pass through a gate into a field.
  6. With Simonstone Hall visible behind the trees, head across the field towards a gap in the wall by a barn. Pass through the gate and continue close to the dry-stone wall towards another gap in the wall leading to the driveway of Simonstone Hall. Turn right and head down the driveway to a road.
  7. Cross the road and turn left for a short distance before turning right through a gap in the wall to wide farm track now following a footpath sign for Sedbusk. Pass farm buildings to the right and head towards a ladder stile over another dry-stone wall ahead. Continue in a straight line across several fields using gates and stiles before heading towards some houses – the village of Sedbusk ahead.
  8. Passing between two houses head into Sedbusk, emerging on a wide grass verges with a bench – perfect for a tea and buns stop! Turn right along the road by a red telephone box and head through the quiet village, downhill, passing a post box to the right before another magnificent view of Wensleydale comes into sight.
  9. Just after the road bears right turn right through a narrow gap in the dry-stone wall following a wooden footpath sign for Haylands Bridge (½ mile). Head diagonally across the grassy field towards the treeline below. Pass through a gate in the wall, cross the road and take the path opposite near another footpath sign for Haylands Bridge. Head diagonally, downhill across the field and over a beck keeping the bridge over the River Ure in sight straight ahead.  Pass through another gate in the wall ahead into the next field and make for the pretty stone packhorse bridge by the trees. Cross the bridge and continue across the field to the road used earlier, and retrace the route back to Hawes.

The Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk Map

 

 

 

Reviews / Comments ( 2 )
  1. Carole Stone says:

    Done this walk today – absolutely beautiful and many fields free of sheep so they were able to run free a little too. Just be aware that some of the stiles are just narrow gaps in the stone walls – one was too narrow for my medium sized dogs to fit through….we had to pick them up and squeeze sideways, which wouldn’t be possible with a bigger dog.

    • corina says:

      Sounds like you had a good day for this walk :) Can you remember where the very narrow gap was? The Dales are stunning, but do pose some difficulties with the stone walls! The views are worth the squeeze most of the time. Look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks for the information.

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