Ashbourne Cycle Hire Centre – the Southern End of the Tissington Trail

Traffic free cycling from Ashbourne bike hire centre, the ‘gateway to Dovedale’ (or the Peak District of course!) along the Tissington Trail.

General Peak District Cycling information …

Cycling in the Peak District: Off Road Trails and Quiet Lanes

The Peak District (AA 40 Pub Walks & Cycle Rides

Bike Safety

Before setting off on your bike, it is prudent to carry out some simple safety checks. Check tyre condition and inflation, make sure there are no cracks in the sidewall or tread. Check the brakes are working properly and that the saddle and handlebars have not come loose in transit. Also check the tightness of your wheels.

Tissington Trail bike hire centres carry out these checks on all hire bikes, including hand-cranked bikes and other accessibility bikes. If you are not a regular cyclist, it therefore makes sense to hire your bike for your day out on the Tissington trail.

Carry spare lights, quick-link for the chain, puncture repair kit and pump/inflation system. Wear at least one item of hi-vis clothing if the weather is gloomy. At night, reflective ankle bands are good as your feet will be the first thing that motor vehicle lights pick out. Carry an emergency reflective thermal blanket and it’s also useful for someone in your group to carry a first aid kit and know how to use it.

The Tissington Trail

The Tissington trail offers 13.5 miles of traffic free cycling, through the heart of the White Peak. The trail heads north from Ashbourne and passes over the A515 to Buxton. Three miles from the cycle hire centre, you reach Tissington village. Here, we recommend that you stop a while, take a look round the fascinating old church with its Saxon and Norman relics, see the well, duck pond, the impressive Tissington hall and maybe have a nice cuppa and a cake! The Tissington trail links with the High Peak Trail, which would make for a long day out if you explore that too.

Image: Tissington Trail bike hire - riding the trail

The Tissington Trail follows the track bed of a dismantled railway that joined Buxton and Ashbourne. It was operated by the the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). Initially popular with walkers heading up into the Peak District, the line was closed progressively from 1954 to 1967. The final section to close was Hartington to Parsley Hay. The track was single but there was enough width to make it double if necessary. It never was. There were several passing loops, including one at the eponymous Tissington (at the station).

Image: Tissington Station

Image: Tissington Station, no Tissington Trail bike hire here.

Tissington Station and Café

Riding the Trail

I recommend riding from south to north. That way, the return has a gently downhill gradient, meaning that you get a bit of gravitational assistance for tired legs at the end!! Slightly irritatingly, when heading north towards Tissington, you are invited to dismount for a short steep section. After that, no problem unless any of the bridges are out. The scenery becomes progressively more open as you ride north. The section near Hartington, overlooking Dovedale, can be a bit windy.

Image: Tissington Trail Dovedale section.

Tissington Trail as it passes close to Dovedale.

Tissington Trail bike hire

If you can’t or so not wish to bring your own bike, Tissington Trail bike hire is available. At the southern end, also available at Parsley Hay. Parsley Hay bike hire centre is actually on the High Peak Trail, a short way from the junction with the Tissington Trail.

Ashbourne Tissington Trail Bike Hire Centre

This Tissington Trail Bike Hire Centre is located conveniently at the Ashbourne end of the Trail. OK, it is not quite at the end, the trail heads into Ashbourne one way and Tissington if you head north. Heading into Ashbourne is downhill and through a tunnel.

Image: Tissington Trail bike hire centre at Ashbourne.

Mapleton Lane
Ashbourne
Derbyshire DE6 2AA
Tel. & Fax: (01335) 343156
Email: ashbourne.cyclehire@peakdistrict.gov.uk

Ashbourne accommodation

Other Cycle Hire Centres in the Peak District of Derbyshire (click on the name to find out more) …

Back to Main Derbyshire Peak District Cycle Hire page

Disclaimer – The information on this page is believed to be correct and is given in good faith. It may have changed since our research. Use of the information on this page is at your risk, we cannot accept any liability for any problems or incidents arising. The maps are based on the postcodes of the centres. We recommend that you confirm the location and other details before travelling.