If you’re looking for a family-friendly cycle trail that has incredible views, fresh air, and adventure, then the Tissington Trail in the Peak District is a proper gem. It ticks all the boxes for a day out with kids – safe, scenic, and you can stop anywhere along the path easily for snacks and breaks to take in the views.
In May, whilst staying at the Trail View campsite, (add link?) we cycled along the Tissington Trail.
It is a really peaceful path through the heart of the Peak District that’s perfect for little legs, but equally fun and challenging for all ages.
Where is The Tissington Trail?
The Tissington Trail runs through the Derbyshire Peak District, starting in Ashbourne and heading north towards Parsley Hay, covering around 13 miles.
We started at Trail View Campsite, which is perfectly placed – literally just off the trail, making it an ideal base for families. You can literally see the trail from the campsite, but annoyingly, the access isn’t straightforward. You can either drive to a spot just two minutes from the site (we turned left out of the campsite and then parked just under a bridge and pushed our bikes up a little incline to join the trail) or you can try to walk down the field. Apparently the person who owns the field isn’t always happy about it, and bikes are not supposed to be on it – I am not sure whether that just means riding or actually walking along with a bike. Matilda and I did try the field way on the way back, and it was doable, but I had to lift our bikes over quite a few gates so I wouldn’t recommend it if you would struggle to lift your bike above your head. I would recommend just driving two minutes and leaving your car.
Anyway, once we were on the trail, we cycled up to Tissington village, which is around 5 miles each way. Matilda is a very competent cyclist and did it easily on the way but I would say we were both looking forward to seeing the campsite for the last mile, as on the way back there is an ever so slight incline.
The History of The Tissington Trail
Once upon a time (not that long ago), the Tissington Trail was actually a busy little railway line – the Ashbourne to Buxton branch line, to be exact. It opened in 1899 and carried passengers and goods through the Peak District until the line was closed in the 1960s.
Instead of letting it fall into disrepair, the clever people at the Peak District National Park turned it into one of the UK’s first traffic-free cycling and walking routes so it is a really lovely way of keeping something from history alive. I love anything like this that has been repurposed and used by so many.
What Is There to Do?
Whether your kids are full-on cyclists or more into toddling, there’s plenty to do:
Cycling
The main activity here is, of course, cycling! The trail is flat, wide, and well-surfaced – ideal for children (and slightly nervous adult riders too). There were loads of places to stop, snack, and admire the views. You will see in one of the pictures that we actually found a bee in Matilda’s helmet, and she hadn’t even known it was there until she took her helmet off whilst we were chilling for a bit!
Explore Tissington Village
We stopped at Tissington village, which is so pretty. We stopped at the lovely little pond and just had a little walk around. There are benches to sit at and then a really nice cafe – ‘Herbert’s Fine English Tea Rooms’. We bought an ice cream from here and sat in the sunshine. The inside wasn’t open whilst we were there, but they do more substantial meals and run events throughout the year too.
There’s a well-dressing day if you’re visiting in spring or summer – check the date each year.
Nature Spotting
There’s loads of wildlife along the trail – we saw rabbits, birds, butterflies, and many sleepy sheep lounging in the fields.
Picnic Time!
There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic along the way – and we didn’t cycle the whole trail, so there will be even more that we didn’t see.
Facilities on The Tissington Trail
Cafés:
There’s a fab little tea room in Tissington village called Herbert’s Fine English Tea Rooms.
If you cycle further, there’s also a café at Ashbourne cycle hire centre where you can grab drinks, snacks, and ice cream. Ashbourne itself has loads of cafes and a really nice park that we went to in the morning in the car.
Toilets:
Available at Ashbourne, Tissington, and Parsley Hay. We didn’t use any, so we cannot comment on cleanliness.
Areas for Improvement
While we had a fantastic time, there’s always room for improvement:
- Accessibility: Definitely a very slight incline on the way back from Tissington Village to our campsite.
- Signage: The signs were okay, but I would have liked a few more saying how far places were, but this is only very minor and I used Strava.
- Play area: There’s no play area on the trail or within Tissington Village. This would be a good addition to attract families.
Would We Recommend It?
Yes, I really would. We loved it and I can’t wait to find more like this. It did remind me of the Monsal Trail in Bakewell, which we really like too, but just more open the whole way rather than going through many tunnels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a café?
Yes! There are several. The one we went to was Herbert’s Tea Room in Tissington village – homemade cakes, ice creams, and drinks. There’s also a snack stop at Ashbourne cycle centre.
What was your favourite part?
We just really enjoyed how peaceful it was, and we could take it easy or go a bit faster at certain points. We said hello etc to a few people as there was always someone cycling, walking or running by, which is always nice. I like that the trail is suitable for all. You could just go for a short walk and then turn around – it is great to suit all.
Is it suitable for dog walkers?
The trail is really popular with dog walkers, and there’s plenty of space. Just remember, leads are needed because it is a busy trail and everyone should be able to enjoy it in their own way.
How much is it?
It’s completely free to access the trail! You’ll only need to budget for parking, food, and bike hire if you need it.
Is there suitable parking?
Yes. There’s paid parking at Ashbourne, Tissington, and Parsley Hay. We parked for free as I said, just on a small road, just past a bridge two minutes from our campsite.
When we drove in Ashbourne we found it super easy to access and well signposted, with a car park, play park and loads of nice shops. Although we were drawn in by the sweet shop and paid what felt like £100 for sweets that we could have eaten in a Haribo bag…we still enjoyed them though!
Pros of the Tissington Trail
Family-Friendly & Traffic-Free
- Perfect for children learning to ride or using balance bikes.
- Wide and mostly flat – no scary hills or road crossings.
Beautiful Countryside
- Gorgeous Peak District views, wildflowers, and wildlife.
- Lots of chances to spot animals and nature – great for curious kids.
Great Picnic Spots
- Plenty of grassy spots to stop, snack, and play.
- Benches and shade along the route if you’re riding on a sunny day.
Charming Stops Like Tissington
- Lovely little village with a tea room, candle shop, and duck pond.
- Feels like stepping back in time and what Ryan and I want for us and our children – peaceful and safe to wander.
Good Facilities
- Toilets at main points (Ashbourne, Tissington, Parsley Hay).
- Baby changing available.
- Cafés, snacks, and ice creams along the way at various points.
Perfect for Camping Trips
- Campsites like Trail View give direct trail access – great for a weekend of outdoor fun.
Cons of the Tissington Trail
Surface Isn’t Paved
- Mostly compacted gravel – easy for most bikes, but a bit bumpy for scooters or small buggy wheels. I am reaching here as I think it was great..
- Not ideal for roller blades or anything with tiny wheels – again reaching!
It could get busy on sunny weekends
- Especially near Tissington village and Ashbourne.
- Early starts or weekday visits are a bit calmer for families – we usually do things first thing; however, we did this in the afternoon in May, and it was fine but, I think it could get busier during the summer months.
There & Back Route
- It’s a linear trail, so you ride back the same way unless you arrange transport or loop off onto other trails.
Paid Parking
- Parking is available but not free at most main access points.
- Be sure to bring change or check if the machine takes cards.
This isn’t a con of the trail as such, but as I mentioned earlier, we went through the field on the way back to our campsite and it was a bit of a mission with carrying both bikes over gates, etc – but we did it!
Final Thoughts
The Tissington Trail is ideal for all cyclists (balance, cargo, mountain, etc), walkers, and runners.
Matilda and I really enjoyed it together, just me and my girl and our bikes. On the bit we found hard at the end, we listened to Bensone Boone Beautiful Things on speaker (there was no one around!) and it got us laughing, singing, and most of all..cycling faster! I would say I won’t forget that, finding the bee in her helmet, the views, and the nice ice cream we shared.
Cycle enjoyment rating
Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by Ryan
Hi I am Beth, mummy to Barney & Matilda and wife to Ryan. I love to do many things – explore, exercise, spend time with loved ones, read – to name a few. For paid work I teach primary children, I teach Bikeability, I work on our businesses, and we are always dabbling in something together. I like to write for our blog, and I am here for our children every day wherever they need me, and for that, I am very happy. We love to experience new and old adventures, whether that’s on our bike or via foot or further afield. Whatever you do in life, try to do it with passion, care and kindness.