Tissington Trail

The Tissington Trail is a 13.1-mile, one-way walk from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, following the former Buxton–Ashbourne railway across the White Peak. The published figure is rounded to 13 miles; this full visitor route uses a short public bridleway link into Parsley Hay. Choose it for a long cross-country walk rather than a loop or summit climb. You finish far from your start, so arrange a lift or be ready to retrace the route.

The traffic-free track is shared with walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Its former rail bed keeps most of the gradients easy, but short steeper sections around Seven Arches and Mapleton interrupt the steady pace. Allow about five to six hours on foot. At Ashbourne, the route passes through Ashbourne Tunnel. Former platforms and a signal box recall the railway, which opened in 1899 and once carried milk to London. Tissington village is a worthwhile diversion, but it is off the mapped line.

Start at the Ashbourne trail access beside the bike-hire centre. Both ends have pay-and-display parking, toilets and refreshments; the trail itself is free to use. This is a through walk, so plan a pickup at Parsley Hay or a return over the same 13 miles. The short steeper grades at Seven Arches and Mapleton may challenge wheelchair users.