Who would have thought you could put cheese and waterfalls in the same activity, but if you think about it for a countryside picnic day, it is perfect really. This September we got to visit the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, followed by a visit along to Aysgarth to see the very impressive waterfalls there.
The picturesque market town of Hawes sits in North Yorkshire and has pretty little streets full of gift and home shops, antique places, a wonderful deli and a traditional sweet shop to mention just a few of the places to stroll the day away in. Just be prepared if you go slightly off season like we did, that the restaurants are only open for lunch and evening meals and do not serve food all day.
The big tourist draw to Hawes is the Wensleydale Creamery, just a sort walk up from the town. We did not go in to the cheese experience part of the creamery but it looks great for children. The shop was our highlight containing a gift and deli shop with so many local produce from art to beer. The cheese shop has all the cheeses out to taste as you walk around it and you are spoilt for choice with crackers and chutneys to accompany every possible flavour of cheese from strong blues, to spicy and of course to their famous Wensleydale.
With a rucksack full of deli food and local beer you can then take a short drive to take in the beauty of Aysgarth Falls. These limestone steps are a triple flight of waterfalls in the River Ure. The great thing about these falls is that you can take a riverside walk along the upper, middle and lower falls and actually get close to them as opposed to looking on from afar.
As a day’s activity these three are a perfect combination if you choose to visit North Yorkshire while staying at St Marks Stays.
