This fascinating museum, managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales past and present, and stimulates visitors to think about its future. Displays interpret the development of the Dales from prehistoric times to the present day. Themes include school days, home life, leisure time, religion, transport, communication and tourism, farming, local crafts and industries.
You can now explore the Dales Countryside Museum on its own dedicated website.
The Museum itself is housed in an exciting and imaginative conversion of the Hawes railway station in Wensleydale in the north of the National Park. It is designed to be fully accessible for wheelchair users and a wheelchair can be borrowed on site. The Museum has many interactive and hands-on exhibits and object handling sessions can be arranged for pre-booked groups.
Hawes National Park Centre - a networked tourist information centre - can be found in the same building as the Museum. There is a shop and Research Area in the centre.
The Museum is FREE for children and also offers a range of educational activities. A selection of events, workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions also run throughout the year.
We also have a range of facilities for hire including a meeting and training room - visit our Museum Facilities page for details.
New for 2016 is the Firebox Cafe is situated within the National Park Centre. It is a brand new contemporary coffee shop with high quality light refreshments made where possible from ingredients sourced from local supplies based in the Yorkshire Dales. 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. The FireBox Cafe is a perfect place to recharge, refuel and recharge. In addition the cafe is an integrated part of Stage 1 Cycles. There is a new workshop on site and cycle equipment shop.
How to find the Museum
The Dales Countryside Museum is housed in the old railway station at Hawes, just off the main A684 in Wensleydale. Its grid reference for sat nav is SD 875 899.
A map showing its location can be downloaded from our Document Library. Just click the link below.
Location map for the Dales Countryside Museum
To help protect the special qualities of the National Park, we would ask visitors to consider using public transport to visit the Museum.
Contact details
Dales Countryside Museum
Station Yard
Hawes
North Yorkshire
DL8 3NT
Tel: 01969 666210
Email: hawes@yorkshiredales.org.uk
