Hartington Station is perhaps one of THE best parking venues for horse riders with an enclosed parking area, tie up rings, coral area and mounting block. Add to that the flat, all weather disused railway line trails with grass verges for the barefoot ponies plus spectacular views of the white peak and this ride is surely one of the best that the southern Peak District has to offer.
Route Description
1. Head out of the horse parking towards the old signal box and the start of the ride onto the Pennine Bridleway trail. Turn right and head north following the trail over a road bridge and then through a stone cutting. There’s canter opportunities on the verges if you’r savvy.
2.The Pennine Bridleway soon joins with another disused railway (also the Pennine Bridleway – confusing I know!). If you continue riding you will end up at Parsley Hay, with lots more routes to explore but that’s for another day. This ride turns right, almost doubling back onto yourself to pick up the disused railway line running southeast. Continue along here for several miles with spectacular views to either side. You will ride past a brickworks factory on your right (it smells of biscuits but disappointingly it’s just bricks!). The factory makes a humm but apart from that, there’s nothing scary or spooky about it. You’ll then cross over another road bridge and arrive at the Friden car park (this is the start of the Gratton Dale route!).
3. Cross over the A5012 with care. There are bridleway gates on both sides but these have nice handles with lots of room to manoeuvre and got on and off if you need to. Follow the railway line round a sharp left hand bend. Soon after this bend, take the signposted righthand turn, heading down off the railway line and following a stoney farm track that curves its way through the dale. This section can be a little stoney but there’s usually a grass centre to avoid the worst of it. Follow the farm track down, round and back up – a good but unexpected workout after the flat railway lines. It will soon reach a T junction with a wide crushed stone track. Turn right and follow this until you reach the end of the track / a road.
4. Caution this road crossing can be fast and busy but there is a wide grassy verge so you can safely wait until there is a lull in the traffic before crossing. Take the road straight over (well slightly right on a staggered junction). Follow this minor road slightly downhill until you see a bridge infront of you. This is the Pennine Bridleway again. Take the bridleway gate on your right which leads you up a narrow path back onto the disused railway line. The views from this point are wonderful!
Turn right and make your way home along the final stretch of railway line. Before long the Hartington signal box will come back into view and you can detour back to your trailer/box.
Parking
Use the Peak District National Park Car Park at Hartington Station, well signed from the road with a large and secure horse parking area complete with mounting block, tie up rings and coral. There’s toilets too and the cafe is open during the summer.
Address: Peak District National Park Car Park – Hartington Station, Buxton SK17 0AZ
Cost: £4.75 for cars or £7 for horseboxes, with card payments and parking app accepted
