A Taste of the
Peak District
Peak District, Derbyshire Cable cars at Matlock Bath, Heights of Abraham, self catering holiday cottage accommodation, hotels, tourist attractions, walking, climbing, mountain biking history, towns, villages, geology, mining, local information, Derbyshire businesses and much more …
The Heights of Abraham.
Cable cars, show caves, gardens and more at Matlock Bath.
People are always surprised how much there is to do here. In recent times, the Heights has become rightly famous for its landmark cable car system - the first of its kind in the whole of the British Isles, but there is lots more to your visit than a cable car ride, and for visitors who only have a day here, the Heights is one place where you can get a real flavour of the true Peak District. Set high on top of a limestone gorge, with the river Derwent at its feet, the estate is surrounded by some of the area’s most beautiful scenery.
Like most visitors you may be surprised to learn that the Heights is in fact the Peak District’s oldest tourist attraction, first opening as a Savage Garden in 1780 when visitors would make the climb from the valley floor on foot to witness some of the finest views across the surrounding area. The cable cars now mean visitors reach the top without such effort, but the reward is the same as the views remain truly breathtaking. Over two centuries later you are still able to wander around the estate with its criss-crossing paths and woodland trails and it is easy to understand why the area proved inspirational to the Romantic movement of the period.
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near Matlock Bath
It is not just above ground that you can explore. As long ago as Roman times
lead deposits may have been found in the area but it took another 1000 years
before lead mining was officially recorded on site. The mines remained active
for over 300 years and left behind a legacy of passageways and awe inspiring
caverns.
Today, thanks to all that hard work you can follow in the miners’ footsteps
down the passageways they created, leading you deep underground to the Heights’ famous
Show Caverns. From the glow of a single miner’s candle to the whole
cavern being awash with colour-changing lights, the Great Masson Cavern tour
is one of the talking points of a visit to this Hilltop Park.
After taking the cable car ride to the Summit visitors can experience the
unique blend of two spectacular underground caverns; from the light of a
single miner’s
candle in the Great Masson Cavern, to the whole chamber being awash with colour,
you can now experience firsthand the magnitude of this cavern as it has never
been seen before. Further down the hillside the Great Rutland Cavern tells the
story of a day in the life of a 17th century lead miner. 2010 was the 200th anniversary
of the Great Rutland Cavern being open to the public for the first time in 1810.
All this is included in the price of your cable car ticket … and there is
more!
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near Matlock Bath
Our Fossil Factory brings to life fun and interesting facts about rocks,
fossils and the formation of the Peak District. There is also a film presentation
showing
how the Heights’ own show caverns were formed, and the chance to get up close
to the fossilized remains of our giant Ichthyosaur, which was over 3 metres long
and alive at the same time as the Dinosaurs... not be missed!
The “Heath & Heaven” Exhibition is a patchwork of stunning aerial shots taken of the surrounding Peak District on a single summer’s
day by world-renowned photographer John Beatty, and accompanied with words and
poems by Si Homfrey.
Those of an inquisitive mind should make sure they visit our ‘Who Why What?’ story where, through the use of exhibitions and film, you will find answers to all your questions about the Heights of Abraham and the construction of the cable cars... you can even test your nerve on one of the cable car emergency vehicles!
… and there is still more included in the price of your cable car ticket!
Wander the woodland trails, climb the Victoria Prospect Tower, not forgetting
the Shops, Play Areas, Picnic Spots including the Amphitheatre built from natural
materials which blend into the hillside, Summit Bar and Terrace Café - all with
stunning views in acres of beautiful wooded landscape.
For full information, please visit the Heights of Abraham web site where you will find up to date information on events, opening hours and prices - http://www.heightsofabraham.com
Accommodation near Matlock Bath