The National Park Visitor Centre is housed in the Dales Countryside Museum where you can learn about life in this area. You will also find Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes - home to the famous cheese. National Park Centre staff can guide you on your way to explore the market town of Hawes and the surrounding countryside.

The Firebox Café is situated within the National Park Visitor Centre a contemporary coffee shop with high quality light refreshments made where possible from ingredients sourced from local supplies based in the Yorkshire Dales. It is a perfect place to refuel and recharge. When the weather allows there is an outside seating for you to enjoy lovely Wensleydale Ice-cream and they provide Grab and Go Bags for those on the move. Dogs are very welcome in the outside area. In addition, the café is part of Stage 1 Cycles where there is cycle hire, a workshop on-site and a cycle equipment shop.

We have put together a PDF document which you can download which visually shows what you might expect when you visit the Dales Countryside Museum.

There is a large car park and toilet facilities, including a Radar toilet, plenty of space for coaches and a small picnic area. There is also an electric car charger point in the car park.

The car park is a designated Dark Sky Discovery site, so why not visit after dark to experience the dark skies above?

Hawes can be reached by bus and there are connections to the Settle Carlisle Line at Garsdale and East Coast mainline at Northallerton.

The National Park Visitor Centre is a great starting point for anyone wanting to make the most of this beautiful area. There are interesting displays about the area, guidebooks and leaflets and of course, friendly staff to help you enjoy the National Park in just the way you want.

You can ask us about:

• Planning your visit
• Buying maps, books, souvenirs and clothing
• Leaflets and brochures
• How to get to and around the area by public transport
• Booking the Little White Bus or car parking spaces for the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel trail.

Please note: opening hours are subject to change – please call to confirm before setting out.

When we are closed the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority online shop is available

You can find out about walks and things to do in Hawes and the surrounding area here.

Other information

This place is:

• Dog friendly
• Dark Sky friendly
• Cycle friendly