Hawes, Hardraw, Sedbusk Circular Walk

4 miles:  2 hours

Easy

The walk starts from the Dales Countryside Museum where there is adequate paid parking.  Alternatively, there is on-street parking throughout Hawes.

  • Leave the car-park and turn right and then right again along the road signed Hardraw. Keep to the footpath crossing over a disused railway bridge and the entrance to a small industrial estate on your left. 
  • On the opposite corner of the estate entrance is a signed footpath leading via a paved path along the left-hand side of a field.
  • Emerging at the opposite end of the field, cross the road and through a farm gate, turning left to walk along the edge of the river.
  • Pass through a gate and immediately turn right crossing over the road bridge (Take Care this can be a busy road at the height of the tourist season).
  • Keep along the road for approximately 100 yards until you see a footpath sign on your left-hand side, go into the field and follow a well worn track across the field with the river Ure on your left hand side.
  • Pass through a further gate keeping the limestone scar on your right-hand side and then, through another, two gates to cross a field on a paved path, emerging in the hamlet of Hardraw.

Directly facing you is the Green Dragon Inn which welcomes walkers with good ale, coffee and a good meal.  If you want to take a well worthwhile, short detour, pass through the Inn car-park and purchase a ticket to take the short walk to see Hardraw Force, reputedly the highest overground single-drop waterfall in England.  Truly spectacular in full flow or in icy conditions, the waterfall is set back in a natural amphitheatre.

  • If you take the detour, retrace your steps to the entrance of the car park and there, to the right of the pub as you face it, is a footpath leading behind the cottage on the right-hand side of the car-park entrance (signed Simonstone). (This can be a little obscured by a larger gate in front of the path.)
  • The path rises steeply on a paved track and then up steps to pass through a gate at the top of the field. Stop here at the carved bench and admire the view looking across Upper Wensleydale and Hawes. 
  • Following the path turn right behind the farm and follow the track with a wall on your left as you cross the front of Simonstone Hall.

Simonstone Hall is another excellent stopping place for a coffee or stronger drink.  They also serve food and though it is a distinguished country hotel, they do welcome walkers.

  • Continue along the track to the road and then turn left up the road for 50 yards and then through a gate on the right signed Sedbusk
  • This path is well defined and passes through several fields, stiles and gates following a straight path until you emerge in Sedbusk.

Sedbusk derives its name from the Old Norse “Saetr Buske” which means “The bush by the shieling (lonely hut)”.  In 1280 the town was recorded as “Setebuskte”

  • Emerging onto the road from between two houses, turn right down the hill and as the road forks, take the left fork to reach a gate on your right in around 50 yards.
  • Passing through the gate follow the path down the hill to the diagonally opposite corner and pass through a gate and cross the road passing through another gate into the next field.
  • In front of you now is Haylands Bridge and Hawes. Follow the path crossing over a delightful pack-horse bridge and emerge back onto the road to Hawes. 
  • Turn left and retrace your steps back over the river and into Hawes.