Villas in Ashbourne
Ashbourne suits larger groups wanting a Peak District base near Dovedale and the Tissington Trail, in homes often sleeping eight or more. Most have a fireplace. The homes are scattered through the countryside around the town rather than in it, so you will drive most days.
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About Ashbourne
Ashbourne is a small market town of about 9,000 people that received its market charter in 1257, and the market still runs on Thursdays and Saturdays. Church Street holds 17th-century almshouses, the old Elizabethan grammar school and a run of antique shops, while St Oswald's Church is known for its choir ceiling and stained glass. Evenings mean the pubs; the Green Man & Black's Head, a listed coaching inn, hangs its gallows sign across the road. Dovedale lies about 3 miles north-north-west, and the old railway line is now a walking and cycling trail. Our homes are spread across the countryside around Ashbourne, so expect lanes and a drive into town.
Is Ashbourne right for you?
- Best for
- Big groups walking or cycling the southern Peak District
- Not for you if
- You want to stay in town and walk to the pubs every evening.
Near Ashbourne
Dovedale
Dale about 3 miles north-north-west of Ashbourne, with stepping stones over the River Dove and the conical Thorpe Cloud above.
Tissington Trail
Former railway running 13 miles from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, with a crushed-limestone surface and cycle hire at Mapleton Lane.
Ilam
Village where the River Dove, after flowing through Dovedale, meets the River Manifold.
Getting to Ashbourne
East Midlands Airport is the nearest, around 40 minutes away by car. Ashbourne lost its railway in the 1960s, though buses run from Derby. With the homes scattered in the countryside, a car is essential; the A52 and A515 meet at the town.
When to go to Ashbourne
Shrovetide football takes over Ashbourne on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday each year, so book early or avoid those days. The Highland Gathering comes every July, and an arts festival runs from mid-June to mid-July. Dovedale draws around a million visitors a year; walk it early or midweek.
Villas in Ashbourne
The Shires at Alstonefield
Ashbourne, East Midlands, England
5
3
0
DishwasherMicrowaveParking+6 more
Farmhouse Cottage, Nether Burrows
Ashbourne, East Midlands, England
4
2
0
FireplaceMicrowaveParking+6 more
Ashbourne villa holidays: questions answered
When is Shrovetide football in Ashbourne?
Once a year, on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Book early if you want to watch the Royal Shrovetide game, and plan around it if you only need the shops.
Can you cycle from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay?
Yes, on the Tissington Trail, a 13-mile former railway line with a firm crushed-limestone surface. It runs gently downhill southwards from Parsley Hay, and both ends have cycle hire run by the national park authority.
How far is Dovedale from Ashbourne?
About 3 miles north-north-west, via the A515 and Thorpe village. The car park is on the Staffordshire side, and the stepping stones and Thorpe Cloud are at the southern end of the dale.
Is Ashbourne good for a large group?
Often. Many homes around Ashbourne sleep eight or more, the largest up to 14, and most have a fireplace. Only some have a garden, so filter for one if the group wants outdoor space.
Nearby towns to Ashbourne
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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