Hawes has no railway station — the Wensleydale line closed to passengers in 1954 — and is not on any main bus route. By car, it is about two hours from Leeds via the A684 through Leyburn, or via the scenic A65 to Ingleton and then north over Ribblehead. The drive up Wensleydale from the east is one of the more beautiful approaches to a Yorkshire market town.
The Dales Bus service (seasonal, mainly summer weekends) connects Hawes to Northallerton and other Dales market towns. Services are limited and timetables change annually; check Yorkshire Dales National Park's website before relying on them. For most visitors without their own transport, the most practical approach is to base yourself in Richmond or Leyburn and drive up the dale.