THE TISSINGTON TRAIL

The Tissington Trail is one of Ashbourne’s major tourist attractions. It starts in the town centre heading through a 353m tunnel to Mapleton station and continues for more than 13 miles to Parsley Hay and beyond, following the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway line. The trail winds through the beautiful Derbyshire Dales countryside, through the picturesque village of Tissington and to the doorstep of Dovedale, a dramatic limestone ravine with stunning scenery, famous for its much-loved stepping stones across the River Dove. It carries on through Alsop-en-le Dale and Hartington Moor on the edge of several beautiful, historic Derbyshire villages. The route has been transformed into a recreational trail suitable for cyclists and walkers of all abilities, and is also wheelchair and pushchair friendly. The first couple of miles between Ashbourne and Thorpe are often thronged with families, so walkers and cyclists need to take special care in this area. Please see the directory for bike hire.

ST OSWALD'S CHURCH

The church is named after Oswald of Northumbria, with a brass plaque in the chapel on the south side of the church commemorating its dedication on 24 April 1241 .With it's 212 foot spire it presides over the town which was referred to by George Eliot as the "finest single spire in England". Construction is said to have been started in 1240, probably lasting until the early 14th century. It replaced an earlier Saxon church, with the church listed as a Grade I building. Impressive stained glass windows adorn the church including a Christopher Whall window dated 1905 with chapels containing historic funerary monuments which have contributed greatly to the church's renown.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Ashbourne has one of the oldest schools in the country. In 1583 it is believed that Sir Thomas Cokayne petitioned for a free school in Ashbourne, on the grounds that the lack of education meant people were “given over to wickedness and vices…”.   The building of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School was started in 1585 on Church Street near the centre of Ashbourne, founded by Queen Elizabeth I and a Royal Charter with one of the governors being Sir Thomas Cokayne (1520-1592). The school was finally completed in 1608, situated on Church Street it was built as close to St. Oswald’s Church as possible, as part of the specification – this of course caused strong religious influence within the school. The original “Old School” is in the centre of the town but from 1909 teaching has been based on the Green Road Site where the school developed as a mixed Grammar School and later into an Academy, continuing to expand and develop, providing ever impressive opportunities for today's pupils.

THE GINGERBREAD SHOP

The Gingerbread shop was built around 1492, the building is believed to have been an Inn until the period of the Napoleonic Wars when it became a bakery.  It is the spiritual home of Ashbourne Gingerbread.  Local legend is that the recipe for this gingerbread was given to an Ashbourne baker by a French prisoner of war, billeted in Ashbourne during the Napoleonic Wars; and you can still buy local gingerbread in the bakery to this day.

ASHBOURNE RECREATION GROUND

Bordering the countryside east of Ashbourne, the Recreation Ground is a place to play and relax without straying too far from Ashbourne’s town centre. On the corner of Cokayne Avenue and Park Road you will find the impressive sandstone gateway to the park, comprising a classical arch with pillars and fluted columns, welcoming visitors to the ornate formal gardens planted in memory of Ashbourne’s war casualties. To the north of the gardens there is a statue of the Salvation Army co-founder, Catherine Booth, who was born in the town, with a bandstand in the middle and an adventure playground for children, while crossing the Henmore Brook there is an opportunity to explore the Fishpond Meadow.