The Tissington Trail, Tissington, Peak District
Walk or cycle the 13 mile Tissington Trail stopping off at villages en route to taste local cheese, cream teas and ice cream as you go.
The Peak District is a brilliant place to visit if you enjoy walking, cycling and tasting great food. Like the nearby Monsal Trail, the Tissington Trail follows a former railway line so it’s a mostly flat and traffic-free route which makes it a popular and relaxing day out for families visiting the area.
- Visit Tissington Manor
- Stop for Afternoon Tea
- Taste cheese
- Walk or cycle the trail
Follow The Tissington Trail
The trail runs for 13 miles from the Georgian town of Ashbourne to the beautifully-named Parsley Hay. It traces the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway line which, in its heyday, carried express trains from Manchester to London. Until after the Second World War, a daily train delivered milk from Peak District farms to Finsbury Park, London.
Have a Foodie Day Out On Your Bike
Although the line closed in the 1960s, it re-opened again in 1971 to walkers, cyclists and horse-riders as part of an experimental scheme, one of the earliest conversions of its kind in Britain. Enjoy stopping along the way for a taste of the Peak District.
Sip Tea in Tissington
Tissington is one of the prettiest and most unspoilt villages in Derbyshire. Home to the FitzHerbert family since the reign of Elizabeth I, their elegant Jacobean Manor is open to the public. Stop off at Herbert’s Fine English Tea Rooms for breakfast and then pick up a Homity pie from the butcher’s to eat with your cheese later. Don’t miss Edward and Vintage, selling old fashioned sweets such as aniseed balls, sherbet lemons and rosy apples. On your way back, have a cream tea at Bassett Wood Farm or enjoy one with a glass of fizz at Herbert’s.
Shop For Cheese in Historic Hartington
Continue along the trail to what was Hartington Station. It lies just over a mile from Hartington village so take a short detour here. With its duck pond, village green and limestone houses, Hartington was famed for its creamery which once supplied a quarter of the world’s Stilton cheese. Sadly, production of Hartington blue cheese ceased in 2009.
Taste Peakland Blue Cheese
The good news for cheese-lovers is that a new creamery was established making Peakland Blue which can be bought from The Old Cheese Shop. Selling cheese, chutneys and wine, the shop has its own picnic area where you can stop and eat lunch. If you fancy a pint of local ale, walk across the market place to the pub and if it’s a sweltering day, treat yourself to an ice cream.
Tips
- Seasonal cycle hire is available at Mapleton Lane just north of Ashbourne
- Check opening times in advance (Herbert’s closes at the end of October)
- Visit Tissington on Ascension Day to see the famous Derbyshire tradition of well dressing
- Turn around at Parsley Hay or join the High Peak Trail, which continues to Dowlow near to Buxton
- If you’ve enjoyed cycling the Tissington Trail, try the Monsal Trail or visit the Peak District in June for the Eroica Vintage Cycling Festival
- Looking for a gift? Check out our guide to the Best Gifts For Cheese Lovers
Where to Stay in the Peak District
The Devonshire Arms
Pilsley, Peak District
Devonshire Arms at Pilsley is only a 20-minute walk from Chatsworth House.
Rooms from £106 a night.
Dogs
A fantastic doggy day out for me in Derbyshire. Can we visit in August so we can go to the Ashbourne Sheepdog trials?
How to Find the Start of the Tissington Trail in Ashbourne
Ashbourne Cycle Hire Centre, Mappleton Rd, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2AA
Visit Website
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The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.