The Route - Kilometre 64 to 84

Kilometre 64 (Mile 40) Thorpe and Dovedale

Pull into the free car park on the right in 800 metres (0.5 miles).

It has public conveniences.

Parking is limited to 20 minutes in this car park. This is not sufficient time for a walk to Dove Dale and back, but does give enough time to get the best views of Thorpe Cloud from the track at the far end of the car park.

If a visit to the very popular Dove Dale is required, the following detour off the route can be taken:

Turn right out of the car park and follow the road for 1.2 kilometres (0.7 miles), over the hump back bridge, and take the next right, signposted to Dovedale Cars ONLY. The lane is 500 metres long with passing places, and ends at a huge car park. Parking costs 80p.

There are descriptions of both a short walk from Thorpe to Dove Dale and back, and a longer walk up Dove Dale and down the Manifold valley.

Turn left out of the Thorpe car park. In 800 metres, we are back at the Dog and Partridge cross-roads. Stagger right and left across this junction. It is signposted to Tissington and Buxton, and follow this road for 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) when the A515 is reached at a Give Way sign.

Go straight across the A515, through the narrow gap between the pillars and down the tree lined avenue to Tissington.

Kilometre 67 (Mile 42) Tissington

To get to the Tissington car park, which is poorly signposted, just keep going straight on through the village, past the duck pond on the right, and round the right hand bend which says Tissington Trail Car Park. The car park entrance is immediately afterwards on the right and not signposted!

After this small hassle, you will be pleased to know that parking only costs 30p. There are public conveniences and a picnic area here.

Tissington is a picturesque village. It is world famous for its Well Dressings which are held on Ascension day. See the Tissington page for more information and the page for a circular walk starting from the car park.

Drive back to the village centre and turn right just after the duck pond.

On the right is the church with a tower, and on the left is Tissington Hall.

Follow this lane for 800 metres (0,5 miles) back to the A515. At the STOP sign, turn right to head north on the A515. There are no signposts at this junction.

After 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) along the A515, turn left along an unclassified road towards Biggin. The road immediately goes under a railway bridge.

2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) later, the village of Biggin can be seen on the right.

After a further 1.6 kilometres (1.0 miles) there is a cross-roads without any sign, but there is a small pond on the far right of the junction. At this junction, turn left.

This small pond is a 'Dewpond'. They are depressions found in limestone which are used as watering holes for sheep.

In 1.2 kilometres (0.7 miles), just before descending the steep hill into Hartington and as the 30mph restriction is entered, there is Hartington Hall, on the right.

Hartington Hall is now a youth hostel, but is a fine example of Peakland 17th century vernacular architectural style.

In 200 metres, turn left at the T junction to go into the centre of Hartington village.

Kilometre 79 (Mile 49) Hartington

There is very limited parking in the centre of the village, but a large pay and display car park 200 metres from the village centre.

In the centre of Hartington follow the road round to the left and the car park is 150 metres on the right.

The car park charges are 20p for 1 hour; 80p for up to 3 hours; and £2 for over 3 hours.

Hartington has a few country and craft shops. Ye Olde Cheese Shoppe sells some excellent cheeses. Note that the shop does not open on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is also the last Stilton Cheese factory left in Derbyshire.

There are several public houses for refreshments. It also has a grey (to blend in with the local stone) telephone box. For the phone box buffs, it is a K6 designed by Gilbert Scot and has all glazing bars in place (which to the rest of us means it is one of the first of that style).

From the car park, return to the centre of Hartington then bear right to leave via the B5054 heading towards Ashbourne (A515). After 2.4 kilometres (1.4 miles) a signal box can be seen on the hill to the right. In another 300 metres, just after going under the railway bridge, there is an access road on the right to parking.

This parking only costs 30p and has public conveniences. It gives easy access to the Tissington Trail. The signal box seen earlier can be visited and it is opened as a Peak National Park Information Centre at weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter until the end of September.

Return back to the B5054 and turn right.

At this junction, on the right, there is a lime kiln with an interpretative board.

Continue along the B5054 for 1 kilometre (0.6 miles), at which point the A515 is reached. Turn left here signposted towards Buxton.

After 2.6 kilometres (1.6 miles) on the A515, turn left signposted to Parsley Hay and Pilsbury. Then follow the signs to the car park a few hundred metres away on the right.

This car park is on the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay.