Gayle Mill

Gayle Mill sits beside Gayle Beck in the Wensleydale hamlet near Hawes and is one of the oldest unaltered mill buildings in the country. Visitors are shown around by volunteer guides who explain how the building moved from cotton to flax, wool and then sawmilling, and who demonstrate the water-powered turbine and the Victorian woodworking machinery that still runs from it. The tour covers three floors and suits children with an interest in history, machines and how things were made. Under-18s go in free, which makes it an easy stop for families staying in the Dales, and it sits within walking distance of the Wensleydale creamery. Because the building has narrow stairs and cramped rooms, numbers are limited and booking ahead is sensible. Some visits fall on a single open day each week, so families should plan around that.