An augmented reality trail for Dales Countryside Museum

Available in app stores from the 1st October 2026

A gust of wind has scattered Marie Hartley's prints across the museum grounds, and visitors are invited to help find them.

In Marie's Footsteps is an outdoor app trail for Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.

It celebrates the life and work of Marie Hartley, the Yorkshire Dales artist and writer. Visitors follow clues around the museum's outdoor space and use their phones to find six of Marie's lost wood engravings.

Each print opens up stories from her life, objects from the museum's collection and the landscape that inspired her.

When all six are found, Marie's terrier Hardy appears in augmented reality, ready for a photo on the trail.

In Marie’s Footsteps Trail

See the trail in action, from the first clue to meeting Hardy in AR.

Co-created with young people

The trail was developed with the museum's Young Creatives, a group of 16–30-year-olds who helped shape the content, illustration and visitor experience from the start. Hardy's illustrated look was created by illustrators Emily and Beth, drawing on the hand-drawn feel of Marie's own work.

Connecting people with place

In Marie's Footsteps gets visitors outdoors and looking closely at the landscape Marie spent her life recording. It links the museum's collections to the places they came from and gives people a reason to explore, linger and return.

How to make friends with Hardy, and AR dog

How it works

  • Follow the clues: illustrated clue cards lead visitors to six locations around the museum grounds.

  • Find the prints: Bluetooth beacons tell the app when a visitor is close, and a rub-to-reveal interaction uncovers each print.

  • Learn more: every print links to Marie's own words, objects from her collection and "Did you know?" facts about Dales life and landscape.

  • Meet Hardy: finding all six prints unlocks an AR scene where Hardy comes to life, so visitors can take photos with him.

  • Works offline: once downloaded, the app needs no Wi-Fi or mobile signal to work.

Project details

  • Client: Dales Countryside Museum, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

  • Programme: part of Going Places, an Art Fund initiative, linked to the Green Spaces, Shared Places exhibition (3 October 2026 – 3 January 2027)

  • Platform: iOS and Android

  • Features: Bluetooth beacon triggers, rub-to-reveal interaction, augmented reality, offline content, collection-linked storytelling

  • Support: This AR trail was created through the Going Places Programme. Going Places is an Art Fund Programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.

  • Download In Marie's Footsteps free from the App Store and Google Play.