Ashbourne Area Guide

Ashbourne is a fantastic market town in the Derbyshire Dales, it is popular with buyers who are looking for a rural situation combined with many amenities. It is positioned near the southern edge of the Peak District being very close to Dovedale. The town's name derives from the Old English æsc-burna meaning "stream with ash trees".

Visit The Tissington Trail

Walkers, cyclists and horse riders will appreciate the fact that the town also sits at the start of the traffic-free Tissington Trail - a green gateway to Dovedale and the Pennine Bridleway, linking up further north with the popular High Peak Trail. The trail runs for 13 miles from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay where it is joined by High Peak Junction. The High Peak and Tissington Trails were formerly the Cromford and High Peak and the Ashbourne to Buxton railway lines.

Shop

Shopping is pure pleasure thanks to its plethora of small, family-run businesses and its weekly open-air market. You can browse for fine antiques, find quality food and drink in the many public houses and restaurants, there are boutique designer fashion shops and much more. It’s easy to find somewhere to relax over morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea in a selection of cafés, inns and tea rooms.

Enjoy

There is no doubt that Ashbourne is the perfect base if you want to explore the spectacular limestone landscapes of the southern White Peak, it also pays to take a leisurely walking tour around town to immerse yourself in its fascinating history and architecture.

With more than 200 listed buildings, including historic almshouses, fine coaching inns and genteel townhouses Ashbourne is a visual feast for the discerning visitor. Including the splendid facade of the Grade I listed Old Grammar School, the 'longest inn sign in the world' at The Greenman public house on St John Street; or the beautiful St Oswald's Parish Church with its striking 212 feet high spire, described by classic author George Eliot as the 'finest single spire in England'.

Only 7 miles away is the wonderful Carsington Water nature reserve, a large reservoir surrounded by wildflower meadows and native woodlands, ponds and reedbeds, here you can enjoy water sports, fishing, bird watching and cycling.

Commuting

• Train - approximately 10 miles from several stations including Belper and Matlock Bath with hourly services to Derby. Links from Derby include Leicester, Birmingham and London.
• Roads - with easy access to Derby, Belper, Leek and the Peak District National Park.
• Airport - East Midlands Airport is approximately 34 miles from Ashbourne.