Yorkshire Dales Day Trip: Hardraw Force & Wensleydale

See England's highest single-drop waterfall and taste Yorkshire cheese in one day from Chester

This 11-hour day trip from Chester explores the Yorkshire Dales and Moors with a live English-speaking guide, visiting Hardraw Force waterfall, the market town of Hawes, Haworth's Brontë Parsonage, and Wensleydale Creamery for cheese tasting. Pickup and drop-off happen at Chester Train Station. The coach includes air-conditioned seating and full audio narration throughout the route. You'll see the Ribblehead Viaduct's 24 stone arches, walk to a 100-foot waterfall through a wooded gorge, browse Hawes Market Hall's local crafts and produce, and sample the country's famous Wensleydale cheese at the creamery's shop and café.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hardraw Force Waterfall30m
2. Wensleydale Creamery1h

Explore Yorkshire Dales and Moors

• View Ribblehead Viaduct from bus
• Visit Hardraw Force Waterfall
• Explore Hawes Market Hall area
• Taste cheese at Wensleydale Creamery
• Stop at Haworth and see Brontë Parsonage

The experience

You start at Chester Train Station in the morning and travel north into the Yorkshire Dales on an air-conditioned coach. The route itself is part of the day: as you approach the Ribblehead Viaduct, the guide points out its 24 massive stone arches spanning 400 metres, built in the 1870s for the Settle–Carlisle railway. On clear days you may see a train cross it. The narration fills the journey between stops, so the landscape and its history unfold as you travel.

The first major stop is Hardraw Force, England's highest single-drop waterfall at 100 feet. You walk through the historic Green Dragon Inn and into a wooded gorge to reach it: a short stroll that leads to the waterfall whether it's in full flow after rain or gently spilling on a quiet day. From Hardraw you move to Hawes, a market town with cobbled streets and the Hawes Market Hall at its centre, where local traders sell handmade crafts, fresh produce, baked goods and Yorkshire treats. The rolling hills and dry-stone walls frame the whole village. This is where you can grab lunch if you choose. The market area has tearooms and traditional pubs nearby.

The Wensleydale Creamery comes next. You explore the stone buildings and the Cheese Shop, where you sample and buy the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese alongside other local and artisan varieties. The creamery has a café and restaurant if you want to eat there instead of in Hawes. Your final stop is Haworth, a hillside village where the Brontë Parsonage Museum sits at the top. You see the exterior and the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels Church, a 45-minute window for photos and reflection on the literary history of the place. The coach returns you to Chester Train Station by evening.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned coach transport between Chester Train Station and all four stops.
• pickup and drop-off at Chester Train Station.
• full audio narration throughout the journey.
• live guide speaking English.
• a digital diary of your day uploaded to the operator's Facebook page (optional).

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by BusyBus (Chester)

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Chester and have a full day free to explore the Yorkshire Dales. The 11-hour length means you see four distinct stops (a waterfall, a market town, a cheese creamery, and a literary landmark) without the planning of arranging your own transport and navigation between them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Hardraw Force and how do I get to it?

Hardraw Force is England's highest single-drop waterfall at 100 feet, hidden in a wooded gorge near the village of Hardraw. You walk through the historic Green Dragon Inn to reach it: a short stroll from where the coach stops.

Can I eat lunch during the day trip?

Yes. Hawes Market Hall has tearooms and traditional pubs, or you can eat at the Wensleydale Creamery's café or restaurant. Food and drink are not provided as part of the tour, so you bring money for meals and refreshments.

What will I see at Haworth?

Haworth is the hillside village where Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë lived and wrote their novels. You see the exterior of the Brontë Parsonage Museum at the top of the village and the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels Church during a 45-minute stop.

Is the Ribblehead Viaduct a stop on the tour?

The Ribblehead Viaduct is not a formal stop. You view it from the coach as you approach it. The viaduct spans 400 metres with 24 stone arches and was built in the 1870s for the Settle–Carlisle railway. On clear days you may see a train crossing it.

What does the Wensleydale Creamery visit include?

At Wensleydale Creamery you explore the Cheese Shop, where you can sample and buy the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and other local varieties. The creamery also has a café and restaurant if you want to eat there.

How long is this day trip?

The tour runs 11 hours from pickup at Chester Train Station to drop-off at the same location. You spend time at each stop (Hardraw Force, Hawes, Wensleydale Creamery, and Haworth) with travel time between them on the coach.