Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes is where one of Britain's best-loved cheeses is made, and its visitor centre is among the most popular stops in the upper Yorkshire Dales. Cheese has been made in Wensleydale for centuries, first by the monks of Jervaulx Abbey, who are said to have brought the recipe from France, and later in farmhouses up and down the dale. The creamery in Hawes opened in the 1890s, and when it faced closure in the 1930s a local man named Kit Calvert helped to save it, a story that is still told on site. The cheese became known all over the world in the 1990s when the animated characters Wallace and Gromit named Wensleydale as the favourite of the cheese-loving inventor, and the creamery has embraced the connection. Today the visitor centre lets you watch cheese being made through a viewing gallery on working days, learn the history in a small museum, taste a range of cheeses in the shop, including the classic crumbly white Wensleydale and varieties with cranberries, apricots, smoked flavours and other additions, and eat in the restaurant or cafe. It is a lively, family-friendly stop that suits both food lovers and travellers with children.
How to visit
The creamery is on the edge of Hawes, the highest market town in Yorkshire, with a car park beside the visitor centre. The Dales bus network serves Hawes, and the town can also be reached on a Dales day tour. The visitor centre is normally open daily except for a few days around Christmas, but the cheese making viewing is limited to working days and times, so if watching production matters to you, check the schedule on the creamery website.
Entry to the experience is ticketed, while the shop and cafe can be visited separately.
What to expect
A visit takes one to two hours. You start with the story of Wensleydale cheese, then move to the viewing area above the production floor, where you can watch the curds being cut, milled and pressed. There are tasting stations where staff offer samples, and the shop sells whole cheeses, chutneys, biscuits and gifts to take home. The restaurant serves lunches, cheese scones and afternoon tea, and the classic combination of Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake is a local favourite. Facilities are modern and mostly level, so access is straightforward.
Making the most of it
Hawes is full of things to do, so use the creamery as the start of a day in the northern Dales. Walk a short distance to Hardraw Force, England's highest single-drop waterfall above ground, which is reached through the Green Dragon pub, visit the Dales Countryside Museum, browse the Hawes ropemakers or drive over the Buttertubs Pass for dramatic views.
Cheese lovers can look for Wensleydale at local farm shops, and book a table early at lunchtime in summer, because tour groups often arrive together. A visit on a rainy day works well as much of the experience is indoors.
Who it suits
Food lovers, families, Wallace and Gromit fans and anyone exploring the Dales by car or coach. Children enjoy the viewing gallery and the free samples, and couples will find plenty of gifts. For a bigger day, pair it with a Dales full-day tour or the All Creatures Great and Small country around Askrigg.
What to expect
The experience
A visitor centre with a cheese-making viewing gallery, a museum, tastings, a shop and a restaurant.
Best time
A weekday morning, when production is under way, or a wet day when the indoor exhibits suit well.
How long
One to two hours, plus lunch.
Tips
Check the production viewing schedule, taste before you buy and leave time for Hardraw Force nearby.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers, families and Wallace and Gromit fans.
- Families
- Viewing gallery, samples and a lively shop suit children.
- Couples
- A tasting stop followed by a waterfall walk at Hardraw.
- Pair with
- Hardraw Force, Dales Countryside Museum and Buttertubs Pass.
- Time needed
- Allow one to two hours, or half a day in Hawes.
Good questions
Where is Wensleydale Creamery?+
It is on the edge of Hawes, in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Can I watch cheese being made?+
Yes, through a viewing gallery, but production happens on working days at set times, so check the schedule before you go.
Why is Wensleydale cheese famous?+
It is a crumbly, mild white cheese with a long history in the dale, and it became world famous as the favourite of Wallace in the Wallace and Gromit films.
How long do I need?+
Plan one to two hours, plus time for lunch and nearby sights such as Hardraw Force.
Is it open all year?+
The visitor centre is usually open daily apart from a few days around Christmas. Check opening times for your date.
