6 Things to Do Around Matlock and Matlock Bath

Do you like visiting an area where you can enjoy the most stunning views whilst being challenged by nature? Learn about history whilst doing fun activities and having plenty of choice when it comes to food? If so, then you definitely need to put Matlock and Matlock Bath onto your bucket list.

The most amazing thing about Matlock and Matlock Bath is the fact that you can choose to have a casual sightseeing day, but you can also make your visit a bit more challenging and combine sightseeing with hiking. I personally love the combination of hiking and sightseeing, so no wonder this place stole my heart and I’m already planning my return visit.

If you’d like to see our walk then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here.

About Matlock and Matlock Bath

Located just south-east of the Peak District, Matlock and Matlock Bath are the gateways to the Peaks. Matlock Bath is situated about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) to the south of Matlock along the A6. It is ideally set in the stunning gorge of the River Derwent so no wonder that the poet, Lord Byron, gave it the nickname of ‘Little Switzerland’. 

When you first enter the village you might feel like you are in a seaside town, but in reality you’re as far from the sea as you can be here. Seaside towns generally attract a lot more tourists since the water and fresh air have many health benefits. So why is Matlock Bath so touristy you might wonder? Well, from the 17th Century it slowly became a tourist paradise thanks to the spa waters which were discovered in 1698. As the news about the spa water spread across the country it started to attract aristocrats who would seek it out to improve their health. Even Queen Victoria visited Matlock a few years before she became queen. 

When Matlock Bath railway station was built in 1849, the place started to attract day trippers too, making the area the ultimate tourist destination.

How to get to Matlock and Matlock Bath

By Car: Matlock and Matlock Bath are located approximately 9 miles (14 km) south-west of Chesterfield. They are located close to bigger cities such as Derby (19 miles), Sheffield (20 miles) and Nottingham (29 miles). Depending on your plans for the day you can park in either Matlock or Matlock Bath.

There are plenty of car parks in the area to choose from, but for reference I marked the one we parked at in Matlock on the map below. The majority of these car parks are pay and display ones. The one we stopped at cost £6 for the day. 

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Matlock.

Top Tip – Even though there are many options for parking, watch out for long or short stay parking options. If you’re planning on exploring all day then I recommend parking at a long stay car park. 

By Public Transport: Luckily, public transport options to reach Matlock and Matlock Bath are excellent. If you’re from the area, you can arrive by bus. There are bus services to places such as Bakewell, Wirksworth and Derby. 

You can also arrive to Matlock and Matlock Bath by train. Hourly services run to destinations such as Newark Castle, Derby and Nottingham. If you’re coming from further afield, I suggest you travel to one of these destinations first. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares. 

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

Matlock and Matlock Bath Sightseeing Trail

Length of the Route

The great thing about Matlock and Matlock Bath isn’t just the fact that you can see and do a lot. It has an excellent walking trail option for those who love the outdoors as much as I do. You can easily see everything along a 10 km (6-7 miles) ‘sightseeing trail’.

Depending on your speed and how long you are spending at each feature or stopping for lunch, this route could take at least 5 hours to complete. 

We started from a car park in Matlock and headed straight up to Pic Tor before heading towards High Tor. After descending High Tor we walked along Starkholmes Road/Willersley Lane for a while before taking Mill Road to Cromford Mill. After a short stopover at Cromford Mill we took the footpath that heads towards Matlock Bath. There’s plenty to do in Matlock Bath so we spent a little longer here exploring the place and stopping for some chips and gravy. From here there’s a footpath that takes you all the way to Matlock through the Heights of Abraham, before returning to your starting point.

Since many attractions were closed for the winter season plus additional places had limited visitor capacities due to restrictions, it was easy to complete this trail. However, I highly recommend spending a little longer in the area if you can truly explore it.

Level of Difficulty

The ‘sightseeing trail’ that we did is an easy to moderate route but you can complete it with a basic level of fitness. The paths are generally relatively easy to find and follow. However, you’ll be walking uphill and downhill constantly. After rain the paths can get very muddy and slippery too. Therefore, I recommend wearing the right footwear like trainers or boots. You’ll also have to cross and/or walk along the road and cross some fields. 

Facilities Within Matlock and Matlock Bath

You’ll be spoilt by the number of facilities along this route. Since both Matlock and Matlock Bath are very touristy towns you’ll find everything you need along the way. 

There are plenty of public toilets, picnic spots, restaurants, takeaways and other retail options like supermarkets and clothes shops.

After descending into Matlock Bath we were immediately hit by the well known smell of fish & chips. We couldn’t resist the inviting smell so grabbed some chips and gravy from one of the chippies. I bet you won’t be able to resist the great mixture of smells along the high street either.

What to Wear and Bring With You?

You are in the north of England so weather conditions can change quickly. If you just walk around Matlock and Matlock Bath you can even wear a dress if you wish. However if you decide to do the ‘sightseeing trail’, I highly recommend wearing proper walking shoes and more appropriate clothing. 

Make sure to have some water with you if you’re doing the trail as you’ll be doing a lot of uphills. Have a few snacks with you, but there are plenty of opportunities to grab something to eat or drink so don’t forget your wallet/cards.

Also make sure to bring your facemask with you which you’ll need to use at indoor places. (It’s not mandatory, but I also prefer to wear my face cover in busy town centres!)

6 Things To Do in Matlock and Matlock Bath

There is plenty to do in the area, but I’ve collected 6 things you shouldn’t miss out on when you’re in Matlock or Matlock Bath. Many of these attractions are also along the ‘sightseeing trail’ so you can potentially do them all in one day.

1. Climb Pic Tor in Matlock

If you enjoy panoramic views but you don’t fancy climbing for hours, then I highly recommend visiting Pic Tor. In order to reach the summit, you’ll have to walk through Hall Leys Park which is considered one of the leading parks in the UK. From there continue towards Knowleston Gardens. Cross the footbridge over the River Derwent and carry on walking along the river. There will be a sign pointing towards Pic Tor, just before you reach Boat House Bridge. The path runs through the woodland and will lead you to the War Memorial which provides you with panoramic views of Matlock and beyond. You’ll also see Riber Castle from the summit. From here, if you’re following our ‘sightseeing trail’ you can carry on towards High Tor.

2. Climb High Tor in Matlock

Without doubt one of the main things to do when visiting Matlock or Matlock Bath is to climb up to High Tor. High Tor is a limestone crag and at 300 feet (92 m) it’s one of the highest inland cliffs in England.

Since the cliff is full of minerals, mining took place here for centuries. Lead was mined here since Roman times. Therefore, it has many mines with Fern and the Roman Caves being the most well known ones. Due to health and safety concerns these have been closed to the public.

High Tor used to be owned by Peter Arkwright, the grandson of Sir Richard Arkwright who was founder of Cromford Mill, another attraction in the area. The number of visitors arriving to Matlock Bath grew significantly in the 18th and 19th century when the thermal waters were discovered. When the railway was introduced in 1849 day trippers started to appear too. Due to the pressure of growing tourism, High Tor was opened to the public.

When you reach the summit, you’ll be treated with some pretty amazing views of the area. You’ll be able to see Matlock and Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham which is another iconic feature in the area.

Giddy Ledge – The Scariest Footpath in Britain?

You have two options when descending from High Tor. There’s the ‘safe’ way and there’s the more adventurous way along the cliff ledge called ‘Giddy Ledge’. Obviously, we chose to walk along Giddy Ledge, which I’ve seen referred to as ‘Britain’s scariest footpath’.

For me personally it wasn’t scary at all, but I can definitely see why many people choose to take the safer path. You are 300 ft up on a sheer cliff edge after all and will be walking along a path that is sometimes only a few inches wide. There’s a metal handrail though to help you keep your balance.

Please Note! – Please don’t attempt to walk along Giddy Ledge if you have a fear of heights, without wearing the right footwear, or if the weather conditions aren’t great. Whilst it wasn’t scary for me, I wouldn’t have done it if the path looked wet or icy and the wind had been stronger. Better to be safe than sorry!

3. Discover the Heights of Abraham

Another must-see feature along the trail is the Heights of Abraham. It is a 60 acre woodland estate on top of Masson Hill offering panoramic views of Matlock Bath and beyond. It is listed as grade II in the register of historic parks and gardens of special historic interest. 

Originally the hill was a lead mining site until the 1700s. After mining activities had stopped the caverns became tourist attractions. You can now take a guided tour around the two show caverns called Great Masson and Rutland Cavern, watch some films about them and walk around the photography gallery.

You can also walk up to the top of The Victoria Prospect Tower which was built in 1844 providing 360 degree views of the Derbyshire Dales. 

Access to the Heights of Abraham is either on foot or by cable car. The cable car was opened in 1984 and it’s definitely a fun way to reach the hill.

Since the site is privately run, you’ll need to purchase tickets even if you decide to walk up to it on foot. The cable car fee includes the ride itself, the attractions and the cavern tours. Please note that the cable cars and the attractions are only open between March and November, and closed during the winter season.

4. Explore Matlock Bath

If you’re just passing by, I highly recommend at least to walk along Lovers’ Walk and grab a bite to eat. Lovers’ Walk was created around 1742 and many people think that the trail is the oldest surviving example of a public pleasure ground. The 3/4-mile route contains a series of footpaths running along the River Derwent all the way up to High Tor. Since the walk is connected to Derwent Gardens I highly recommend combining your walk with a visit to the garden. 

However, if you have a bit longer then there are a few more attractions to check out, depending on the kind of adventure you seek.

One of the coolest things Matlock Bath offers is the ‘Matlock Bath Illuminations’ event which has been taking place annually for over 120 years. It features the decorated and illuminated boats produced by the members of the Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders Association. The illuminations run every weekend between the months of September and October at Derwent Gardens. 

Many families come to enjoy Gulliver’s Kingdom which is a theme park founded by Ray Phillips in 1978. He created the park as a model village for his children and today it is aimed at children between the age of 3 and 13. The theme park is still owned by the family and now has a couple of sister theme parks in Warrington, Milton Keynes and Rotherham.

Visiting Matlock Bath Aquarium and Exhibitions is another fun activity you can do in Matlock Bath. In the beautiful Victorian building you can discover 50 species of fish, a collection of fossils and gemstones and the largest public display of Holograms in Europe.

5. Learn About the History of Cromford Mills

Located in Cromford, just over 1 mile (2 km) to the south of Matlock Bath is Cromford Mills. It was built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771 and it’s considered the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill.

Sir Richard Arkwright was developing the mill up until 1790. Later, in 1840, the water supply put a limitation on the textile production. As a result, the buildings within the mill complex were put to other uses such as cheese warehousing, laundry facilities and a brewery. Nearly 100 years later, in 1922, it was used as a colour works, producing colour pigments for paints and dyes. The buildings were in bad condition after the colour works stopped production. Even the Local Authorities believed that Cromford Mills had lost its historical significance.

However, new archeological research has been conducted since then which revealed the true value of Cromford Mills. As a result, the site is now listed as Grade I and is also part of  Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can take a tour around Cromford Mills to learn more about its history. Of course, due to restrictions, the tours aren’t running but you can keep up-to-date on the website. Luckily, we could still enter the outdoor part of the complex for free where we could look around, use the toilet facilities and grab a hot drink.

6. Stroll Along Cromford Canal

After exploring Cromford Mills, another great activity is to walk along Cromford Canal. It is designated as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve. The canal walk starts just across from Cromford Mills at Wheatcroft’s Wharf where you can grab some refreshments. 

The 5-mile (8 km) long path runs along Derwent Valley, between Ambergate and Cromford. It passes through High Peak Junction, the village of Whatstandwell and Leawood Pump House which was built in 1849 to supply water. 

You’ll also pass Shining Cliff Woods which is an ancient woodland with many unique features such as Betty Kenny’s ancient oak tree.

Our initial plan was to explore Shining Cliff Woods and walk through Cromford Canal, but we soon realised that it was a way too ambitious plan, especially considering the amount of daylight we had in December. Therefore, we decided to cut our walk short and only visit Cromford Mills before heading over to Matlock Bath.

Other Places to Visit in the Peak District

There are many amazing places and trails located in close proximity to Matlock and Matlock Bath. So, if you’d like to see more of the Peak District then make sure to check out some of my other blog posts that are less than an hours drive away from Matlock:

Chatsworth House and Gardens – Explore Britain’s favourite country house and thousands of acres of surrounding parkland. Click here to read it.

Bamford Edge and Ladybower Reservoir – A 7-mile circular trail with stunning views from the top of Bamford Edge looking towards Ladybower Reservoir and the Hope Valley. Click here to read it.

Dovedale Stepping Stones – A 6-mile circular route with beautiful views, stepping stones and the coolest limestone formations. Click here to read it.

Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill – A 10 km circular route with a good mixture of trails, fields and ridges with some magnificent views of the surrounding area and beyond. Click here to read it.

Macclesfield Forest –  A 10 km circular route filled with unique features from dense pine forestation to an abandoned farmhouse, and even a miniature Matterhorn. Click here to read it.

Monsal Dale and Wye Valley Walk – A 10 km circular route in Monsal Dale and the Wye Valley along the River Wye and Deep Dale, stopping at Monsal Head and Ashford-in-the-Water. Click here to read it.

Padley Gorge Walk – A magical walk in the Peak District which will make you feel like you’re walking through an enchanted forest. Click here to read it.

Three Shires Head Walk – A picturesque waterfall, located at the meeting point of three counties in the north of England: Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Click here to read it.

Final Thoughts on Matlock and Matlock Bath

Although not everything was operating during the winter months, Matlock Bath still managed to steal my heart. Since I personally prefer visiting places during the off season, I probably enjoyed my visit even more than I would’ve in the heights of summer. There are just so many interesting and unique things to do there, that I’m not surprised that this place becomes a tourist paradise in summer.

Since we could only do so much in one day, we’re already planning our return trip in early spring when more attractions will reopen again, so stay tuned for a second part to this blog post.

Have you ever been to Matlock and Matlock Bath before? If so, which season did you visit in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.