[1] Cross the stile in the top corner of the car park and turn right alongside the fence. (Do not stray beyond the red flags into the rifle range) Bear left on the footpath to Tissington at the National Trust signpost, pass through two waymarked gates and continue through Thorpe Pastures alongside the fence on your right. Pass through a squeezer in the field corner and bear left to a small wooden gate. Walk parallel with the wall on your left to reach a lane. Turn left for 100 yards and then right at the public footpath sign to Tissington.
[2] Head across the middle of the field, left of the pond, to a gap stile 30 yards left of the metal gate. Follow the fence on your right to a wooden gate and keep ahead to a gap stile. Continue across the middle of the next field to two stiles right of the large tree. Beyond the next stile, head across the field used as a caravan site to the road. Cross over to the gap stile opposite and head for the far corner of this unpathed pasture. Turn right along Washbrook Lane (no pavement) and cross the A515 with care to Tissington Gates.
[3] Follow the avenue of trees into the picturesque village of Tissington.
(A) Tissington is most famous as the birthplace of the pagan custom of well dressing, which can be traced back to the 1300s. The village escaped the ravages of the Black Death plague thanks to the purity of its water. Over the centuries the annual festival of thanksgiving evolved into a highly complex montage of pictures, usually on a Biblical theme, made entirely from natural materials like flower petals and moss pressed into clay. The clay is mounted in wooden panels, the design pricked out and then filled in. The festival runs for 7 days from Ascension Day.
Bear left at the junction for refreshments, to view Tissington Hall and Hall Well.
(B) Tissington Hall was built in 1609 and is still the seat of the Fitzherbert family. The house and gardens are open to the public (check opening times at www.tissingtonhall.co.uk). Hall Well is one of six dressed during Ascension week, but the total number of displays is often higher.
Walk back and head up through the churchyard.
(C) St Mary’s Churchhas a Norman tower and font and is open to visitors.
From the entrance, go straight on down the wide main path to the road and turn left. Pass the village duck pond and Town Well and bear right along The Green for a few yards to the Tissington Trail car park (toilets, picnic tables and refreshments every day in summer and at weekends in winter).
(D) The Buxton to Ashbourne line opened in 1899 as part of an express route between Manchester and London. A daily milk train served the capital. The line was axed by Beeching in 1967 and immediately acquired by the Peak Park. The 13-mile trail opened for walkers, cyclists and horse riders in 1971.
[4] Join the trail and follow it south for about 25 minutes. To begin with it passes through a wooded cutting. Half way you cross over the A515, now on a wooded embankment. Turn right upon reaching a car park and leave the trail along the exit road. Bear left upon reaching the road and go straight on at the Dog & Partridge (food) along Wintercroft Lane. Follow the pavement for 400 yards to the hotel.