A Visit to the Peak District Village of Hartington
Visit Hartington, a picture-perfect Peak District village with everything you could wish for—a charming duck pond, mellow stone cottages on twisty lanes, great country pubs, and even a famous cheese shop founded by the Duke of Devonshire in the 1870s. Explore the 13th-century church of St Giles, browse delightful gift shops, and use the village as a gateway to some of the Peak District’s finest walking country, including Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale, Dovedale, and the Tissington Trail. Follow in the footsteps of Charles Cotton, co-author of the fishing classic The Compleat Angler, and discover why this corner of Derbyshire has inspired visitors for centuries.
This very pretty Peak District village is situated towards the south of the Peak District National Park, and can be combined with a visit to Dovedale if you have the time. Hartington has everything you could hope for from a Peak District village: a duck pond in the centre, houses of mellow stone on twisty lanes, great country pubs … and even a famous cheese shop!
A wander around Hartington
The village is a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with a number of lovely gift shops to browse around, and no shortage of great places to eat and drink.
The famous Hartington cheese shop is well worth visiting. It was founded by the Duke of Devonshire from Chatsworth House in the 1870s, and produced a number of its own local cheeses unique to the area.
The beautiful church of St Giles is also worth exploring. It dates back to the 13th Century and, unusually for this area, it is built of local sandstone.
Close by you will find
The area around the village is a walker’s paradise. The village is located close to the Tissington Trail, a 13 mile long walking/cycling trail from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne that runs through the most spectacular White Peak countryside. Hartington is also within easy reach of the stunning Beresford Dale, Wolfscote Dale and Dovedale, all fabulous locations for walking.
Keen anglers who come to the area to fish along the River Dove will also be interested to follow in the footsteps of Charles Cotton, a local man, born at nearby Beresford Hall. Charles Cotton was responsible for introducing Izaak Walton to the Peak District, and the pair wrote the famous fisherman’s ‘bible’, The Compleat Angler, written in 1653. There is a pub named after Charles Cotton in the village square.
A Day Out Walking
To explore this beautiful part of the Peak District for yourself, why not try out our Hartington Dales Walk (5.4 miles)? From the village it takes you over fields and through beautiful woodland into Beresford Dale and onwards into Wolfscote Dale, where the path runs beside the crystal-clear River Dove that marks the boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The route then returns through the steep-sided Biggin Dale and back into the village on quiet lanes with superb views.
How Do I Get to Hartington?
Hartington can be reached by taking the A515 road out of Ashbourne and after about 12 miles turning left onto the B5054.
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If the cheese shop and village charm of Hartington delighted you, there are plenty more Peak District treasures to explore. The world-famous Dovedale is just a short distance away, while the idyllic village of Ilam offers a perfect gateway to the valley. The hidden gem of Coombs Dale provides a quieter alternative, virtually unknown to visitors. For walkers, the Tissington Trail is within easy reach, offering traffic-free routes through stunning countryside, and the High Peak Trail provides 17 miles of almost traffic-free bliss with stunning views. For more White Peak inspiration, visit our Dovedale & White Peak Villages Guide.
