Garsdale Head

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Garsdale Head is a hamlet in Cumbria, but is part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It lies at the top of the valley of Garsdale, on and near the A684 road between Sedbergh and Hawes. Its main attraction is the station on the Settle-Carlisle Railway and the former Wensleydale Railway. The alternative name was Hawes Junction until the branch line to Hawes was closed in 1964, and this name is still in common use.

Sixteen cottages were built by the Midland Railway Company for its employees soon after the opening of the line in 1876. Another six "Moorcock Cottages" were built in similar Victorian style half a mile away just over the border in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire. Between then, in a similar building style, is Mount Zion Chapel, a Primitive Methodist meeting-place which is still used for special events. See Hawes Junction Chapel's website

Apart from one other Victorian building, Clough View, all the other buildings in the hamlet are much older, or are renovations of older properties. The Moorcock Inn, at the junction of the A684 and the B6259 to Kirkby Stephen via Lunds, Mallerstang and Nateby]], is the only public house in the 16-mile journey between Sedbergh and Hawes. There are basic toilet facilities at the station, and an original red public telephone box at the bottom of the steep hill up to the station.

The "Coal Road" which joins Garsdale to Dent station is a scenic single-track route suitable for walkers, strong cyclists and any motor vehicle except when there is any snow or ice, when the steep surface becomes treacherous.