Van life guide: England
Van Life in Hawes: Best Spots, Meetups & Where to Park
Connect with fellow van lifers, plan meetups and convoys, or meet someone who gets the lifestyle in Hawes. Hawes is a Dales market town known for Wensleydale cheese and the nearby Hardraw Force waterfall.
The van life scene in Hawes
The upper Wensleydale valley opens around the town, with the Pennine Way crossing the nearby moors. Buttertubs Pass climbs over to Swaledale.
When you are staying in Hawes, it is simple to find your crew when you share a campfire with fellow van lifers. Hawes is part of our Yorkshire Dales guide.
Meeting people in Hawes
Start with a walk somewhere public and busy, let a friend know where you are going, and keep your exact pitch to yourself until you know someone. With VanDates you choose what you are open to, whether that is friendship, convoys or romance, and you only ever show an approximate area.
Hawes at a glance
- Where: North Yorkshire, England
- Best time to go: April to October
- Local flavour: Wensleydale cheese, Yorkshire puddings and Dales ales
- Approximate location only: never your exact pitch
Best spots in Hawes
Must-see spots in Hawes include the Wensleydale Creamery, Hardraw Force, Buttertubs Pass, the Dales Countryside Museum, Aysgarth Falls and the Settle-Carlisle line at Garsdale.
Ideas to try: a cheese tasting at the Creamery, a walk to Hardraw Force, a drive over Buttertubs Pass, a visit to Aysgarth Falls.
Parking up and staying legal in Hawes
Hawes’ car parks fill on market days, and Buttertubs Pass is narrow with sharp bends. Use campsites and check signs.
In England, wild camping is generally not allowed without the landowner’s permission, and overnight stays on roadsides, in car parks and at beauty spots are often restricted by signs, byelaws or council orders. Dartmoor has its own arrangements, so check the national park’s current guidance. Use campsites, Certificated Locations, farm stopovers or pubs that welcome vans, and follow the Countryside Code.
Read the Countryside Code. Please leave no trace, be considerate to residents, and see our Community Guidelines and Safety Tips.
Ready to meet van lifers in Hawes?
Join The Crew. Discover who is parked or travelling near you, join upcoming community meetups, or find someone special who truly gets life on the road. Membership is £1.99 a week and you can cancel any time.