Hartington to Tissington Walk

Alight from the bus at The Square in the centre of Hartington village. Walk south out of Hartington along Mill Lane, passing the Charles Cotton Hotel on your right. Immediately after the Hartington Farm Shop & Cafe, turn left and follow the narrow footpath that runs between the Farm Shop and the public toilets.

Go through a gate, bear right and follow the clear path out across fields, with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. After approx 300 metres, upon reaching a small wooden gate at a crossroads of paths, go straight on and immediately through a further gate directly ahead. Continue over the fields for approx 750 metres following the well-signposted path.

Half-hidden in the trees ahead, look out for the angular roof of the small 17th Century fishing lodge, known as ‘The Temple’, where the famous angler Izaak Walton once fished with his young pupil Charles Cotton.

You will eventually reach a further gate in a stone wall which leads into Morson Wood and Beresford Dale.

Follow the clear path through woodland, soon meeting up with the River Dove which runs to your right. After approx 400 metres the path crosses the river by way of a pretty footbridge to enter the area known as Pike Pool. Look out for the distinctive limestone column rising up out of the water immediately after the bridge.

Continue along the path, now with the River Dove on your left, through beautiful Beresford Dale. After approx 300 metres, on reaching a T-junction of paths, turn left and cross the river again by way of a further footbridge.

Immediately after crossing the bridge turn right and follow the clear path across fields.

After approx 300 metres, go straight on through two gates to enter Wolfscote Dale, with the River Dove again on your right.

Follow the clear path through Wolfscote Dale for approx 3.1kms, with towering limestone cliffs on both sides. Watch out for buzzards and kestrels soaring above and dippers on the river. Ignore all footpaths and bridges that lead off, and continue on the main path to Milldale through a succession of gates and squeeze stiles, always keeping the river on your right.

Look out for a small stone building on the left, just before a wide gate, at a prominent signpost. Turn left here, following the footpath signed to the Tissington Trail.

This path winds gently uphill through trees for approx 750 metres, until reaching a wooden barrier with a choice of paths to the left or right, the route straight ahead marked No Public Access. Turn right, go through a small wooden gate, and enter the wildflower fields of Bradbury’s Bank.

Follow the clear path that leads diagonally right over the brow of the hill ahead, following the wooden waymarkers. There are spectacular views over the Dove Valley as you reach the top of the hill. Continue following the path through a gate and head roughly straight on towards an old railway bridge visible ahead.

Go through a further gate to emerge at the railway bridge and then take the path that leads uphill immediately to the right of the bridge. At the top this joins the wide track of the Tissington Trail at the top. Turn right on the Tissington Trail.

The Tissington Trail runs for 13 miles between Parsley Hay and Ashbourne and follows part of the former London and North Western Railway line between Buxton and Ashbourne, opened in 1899. The line closed in the 1960s and it is now a popular traffic-free trail for walkers, riders, cyclists and wheelchair users. Look out for old railway architecture on the route, as well as wonderful views across the White Peak landscape.

Stay on the Tissington Trail at all times, ignoring all footpaths off to the sides. After approx 4.6kms, look out for a set of steps on the right, very soon after an old railway bridge, with a signposted footpath to Tissington and Parwich.

Take the footpath up to the gate at the top and turn left, heading away from the Tissington Trail, following the quiet country lanes into the village of Tissington.

At a junction of paths with Chapel Lane leading off to the left, continue straight on. Follow this lane for approx 250 metres, until it eventually bears left and reaches the houses in the village. At a T-junction, turn left and walk along the main lane through Tissington, passing Tissington Hall on your right.

Where the main lane through Tissington reaches a T-junction with another lane, you will see the bus stop at The Green directly ahead of you, beside the Kindergarten.