Tissington trail — Attraction in Derbyshire Dales

The Tissington Trail is a delightful route that winds through the heart of the Peak District National Park, offering a gentle and scenic path for walkers, cyclists, and horseback riders alike. Following the route of the former Ashbourne Line, the trail combines the charm of a historic railway with the natural beauty of the countryside.

One of the highlights of the trail is its accessibility. With a smooth and gradual incline, it's perfect for families, beginners, or those looking for a relaxing day out. The trail takes you through diverse landscapes, from lush fields and meadows to shaded woodlands and along the tranquil River Dove.

As you travel along the trail, you'll encounter quaint villages like Tissington and Hartington, where you can take a break to explore traditional cottages, local shops, and historic landmarks. These charming stops add a cultural touch to the journey and provide opportunities to sample local treats or enjoy a meal at a traditional pub.

Facilities along the trail, such as bike rental shops and picnic areas, ensure a comfortable experience for visitors. The trail's connection to other routes in the Peak District, such as the High Peak Trail, provides opportunities to extend your adventure and explore even more of the national park.

Type of Trail:

The Tissington Trail is a point-to-point trail. It runs along the route of the former Ashbourne Line, stretching approximately 21 km from Parsley Hay in the north to Ashbourne in the south. The trail's linear layout means that it starts and ends at different points, making it possible to complete the trail in a single journey or choose a shorter route by starting at any point along the way.

Many visitors choose to complete the trail as an out-and-back route, starting from one end and retracing their steps back to the starting point. This flexibility allows for various lengths of trips, depending on your preferences and...

I was told this was an easy walk, as in ifs flat, me, my partner, my two sisters, to of their kids, my mum and her partner went, when we returned to where we started by the Tunnel Cafe, we'd walked 8 miles on tarmac the whole way, we were all limping slightly from the hard ground, the dog had lost her harness, and managed to become briefly trapped in a field of sheep. The views are rather closed in, so no wonderful overlook, a good walk but not so easy. There is a rather nice cafe if you go through the tunnel away from town, past the bike rental and on, this is where we turned back after a toastie, where were gluten free and vegetarian options, ice cream, hot drinks. This place also has outdoor seating, places to lock up your bikes and toilets. There is a small car park...

We hired bikes from the bike barn in Ashbourne at a very good price of £18 per adult. People who run the shop are lovely and friendly and informative about the trail. Trail is easy to find just across the car park and over the road and you start the trail from there. The trail itself is slightly uphill but not steep or hard to do. We cycled about 2 miles and turned off into Thorpe to a pub called The Old Dog. Lovely pub with plenty of outdoor seating, nice cold beer and food was on point (can highly recommend the dirty fries with pulled pork...amazing). Excellent service also. We cycled back after a cold drink and some food but will be going back to cycle again and visit...