DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE

AND THE

PEAK DISTRICT

HARTINGTON STATION - TISSINGTON TRAIL

THE FEATURE

The railway signal box at Hartington has been preserved. It operates as a small kiosk selling refreshments at busy times of the year. The late Victorian railway that it served came into service in 1899. Originally the line was the trackbed of the Buxton to Ashbourne railway line, built by the LNWR.

In its heyday, it carried express trains from Manchester to London and until after the Second World War a daily train delivered milk from Peak District farms to Finsbury Park, London. Also several quarries were opened along the track from where limestone was extracted and then sent by rail to industrial areas.

The trail, known as the Tissington Trail was created after the railway closed in 1967. It runs along a 13 mile route from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay. At this point it joins up with the High Peak Trail, which runs from High Peak Junction to Dowlow near to Buxton. Surrounded by beautiful countryside the traffic-free trail is ideal for horse riders, cyclists, naturalists and walkers. It is suitable for wheel chairs and pushchairs along the flat sections.

Originally the creation of the trail was experimental and it was one of the first schemes of its type in the country. It has been great success, since opening to the public in June 1971. Large numbers of people are attracted at weekends throughout the year and every day during peak holiday periods.

You can walk, cycle or ride a horse every day of the year on this wonderful traffic free trail and it will not cost you a penny. During all seasons of the year you will be able to admire the many stunning views. In the spring and summer, wild flowers are found in abundance and wildlife is plentiful at any time.

Tissington Trail is mostly flat, once you have passed the relatively steep incline at Mapleton, near the southern end of the trail. The trail is well surfaced and there is a car park and a seasonal cycle hire centre at Mapleton Lane, which lies just to the north of Ashbourne. Refreshments are also available in season.

Further on up the trail, there are car parks at Thorpe, Tissington and Alsop as well as at Hartington Station, which lies just over a mile from the village. A short distance after leaving Hartington, the Tissington Trail joins the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay, where parking and seasonal bike hire are available.

Hartington is a picturesque village  with a spacious market place, village green, delightful duck pond and limestone houses, which sparkle in the bright sunlight, which make it one of the major tourist centres in the Peak District. It has more the air of a prosperous market town than a village. It is a good place to visit for refreshments and to shop.

The village’s main industry apart from tourism is cheese making. The cheese factory, opened in the 1870s, is the only survivor of seven that at one time operated in the area. It closed after about twenty years but was soon back in action and had the distinction of achieving a Royal Warrant to supply Stilton to George V in the 1920s and 1930s.

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HARTINGTON STATION

Situated just over a mile to the north of the village, on the B5054. There are car park and toilet facilities available. Refreshments can be obtained from the kiosk at peak times. Picnic tables on site.  

TISSINGTON TRAIL

Runs from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, for 13 miles along the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway line. At Parsley Hay, it joins the High Peak Trail, which  continues along another former railway track to Dowlow near to Buxton.

The traffic-free trail is available throughout the year for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It is suitable for wheel chairs and pushchairs along the flat sections.

Tissington Trail

All details on this page were correct at the time of publication, but changes may be made without notification.