With a meager population of seven thousand people, Ashbourne is a beautiful, unassuming piece of history in the East Midlands. This self-proclaimed "Gateway to Dovedale" is proud of its roots and heritage and anybody visiting this quaint burg will be aware of that fact right from the outset. Like many small towns in the Western World, Ashbourne has a dedication to sports that borders on the obsessive. Despite many of these small towns, however, Ashbourne's sports history is more than deserving of its strict adherence.
No example of the city's dedication to history and tradition is more prominent than its annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match. This two-day sports bonanza isn't just another way to pass the time in a small burg, though. The Shrovetide Match has a rich a storied history that dates back to over a thousand years. In this hallowed tradition, the entire town splits into two teams called the Up'ards and the Down'ards and a massive, citywide football game begins that spans the entire town limits. Thousands participate each year in the two-day event and, with goals that are three miles apart and little to no rules, the game quickly turns into a free-for-all that moves through the city streets. For better or worse this is Ashbourne's most notable aspect and many in England and Ashbourne itself have attempted to have the Shrovetide Match shut down because of the violence and chaos that intermittently ensues on account of an entire town engaging in a glorified rugby match. Despite protests, though, Ashbourne's millennia-old tradition continues unabated.
Though the Shrovetide Match doesn't do much for tourism, there are plenty of annual visitors to Ashbourne who revel in the natural beauty and splendor that the city offers. The Tissington Trail is a popular draw for joggers and cyclists as well as anyone who enjoys scenic views. Starting near the northern city limits, the Tissington winds through old railways long since shut down until it meets the similarly glorious High Peak Trail. Many of these roadways have been around since the late 1800s but most of the flora remains largely untouched. Another old railway can also be found closer to the south end of Ashbourne: The North Staffordshire Railway. This relic has been shut down for over fifty years and the remnants of it evoke the imagery of a steam engine rushing through the thick forestry, shipping valuable goods to and from Ashbourne's town center. Those looking deeper into these intricate trails can also find the ancient deposits of limestone that have been around even longer than Ashbourne itself.
Ashbourne is one of the few cities left in the world that still plays to the beat of its own drum. As a small, isolated town surrounded by beautiful scenery, Ashbourne has maintained its own identity for countless centuries and it looks poised to continue this tradition for even more centuries in the future. Those that are lucky enough to visit the city will find much to love from the quaint neighborhoods to the imposing forests but, unless you want to get involved in a citywide brawl, avoid Ashbourne during the Shrovetide Match!
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