The Tessington Trail

The Tissington Trail is a bridleway, footpath and cycleway in Derbyshire, England, along part of the trackbed of the former railway line connecting Ashbourne to Buxton. It takes its name from the village of Tissington, which it skirts. Opened in 1971, and now a part of the National Cycle Network, it stretches for 13 miles (21 km) from Parsley Hay (53.1706°N 1.7828°W) in the north to Ashbourne (53.0196°N 1.7397°W) in the south. At Parsley Hay, a small settlement to the north-east of Hartington, it is joined by the High Peak Trail, another rail trail which is 17 miles (27 km) in length from High Peak Junction near Cromford, Matlock, to Dowlow, near Buxton. The trail has a firm crushed-limestone surface suitable for cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users. It has easy level access at many points along its route. The elevated nature of the line (at Parsley Hay it is over 1,000 feet (305 m) above sea level) means that it affords good views, but it is exposed in poor weather. The trail runs gently downhill from Parsley Hay southwards, but about 1⁄4 mile (400 m) north of the cycle hire centre at Mapleton Lane, Ashbourne, the trail dips down and up where a viaduct has been removed; both slopes are about 130 feet (40 m) long with gradients of 1:9. Hartington signal box, beside the trail although some distance from the village, has been converted to an Information Centre, open in summer on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. The National Park Authority operates cycle hire at both ends of the trail. From Hartington station northwards, the route is part of the Pennine Bridleway, a 130-mile (209 km) leisure route which includes 73 miles (117 km) through Derbyshire to the South Pennines. The bridleway has two southern starting points, and another at Middleton Top, near Cromford, on the High Peak Trail. This was one of the last of the Victorian railways – it opened in 1899. It supplied milk to London and several quarries were opened along the track sending limestone to the industrial areas. The Trail was created after the railway closed in 1967. The signal box at Hartington Station has been preserved. You can go inside and see how it worked. At its southern end the Trail goes into a 600 metre long tunnel to emerge in the centre of Ashbourne.

Don't miss

Visit the quintessentially estate village of Tissington for sightseeing and refreshments and admire Tissington Hall (home to the FitzHerbert family for 600 years!) At the southern end of the trail, follow a 600 metre long tunnel to emerge in the centre of Ashbourne, an historic market town famous for its gingerbread.