Matlock Bath from Heights of Abraham - geograph

The Heights of Abraham is a tourist attraction in

Matlock Bath Matlock Bath is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England. It lies in the Peak District, south of Matlock on the main A6 road, and approximately halfway between Buxton and Derby. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was ...

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...

, England. It consists of a hilltop park on top of Masson Hill, accessed from the village by either the Heights of Abraham cable car or a steep zig-zag path. The heights are named after a supposed resemblance to the

Plains of Abraham The Plains of Abraham (french: Plaines d'Abraham) is a historic area within the Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, anada. It was established on 17 March 1908. The land is the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place ...

, also known as the Heights of Abraham, in

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, Canada, where

James Wolfe James Wolfe (2 January 1727 – 13 September 1759) was a British Army officer known for his training reforms and, as a Major-general (United Kingdom), major general, remembered chiefly for his victory in 1759 over the Kingdom of France, French ...

died in battle. Amongst the attractions in the park, which has been open since

Victorian times In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardi ...

, are

cavern A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

and

mine Mine, mines, miners or mining may refer to: Extraction or digging * Miner, a person engaged in mining or digging *Mining, extraction of mineral resources from the ground through a mine Grammar *Mine, a first-person English possessive pronoun ...

tours. There are also views of the dramatic scenery of the valley of the River Derwent. The cable car was opened in 1984 to provide easier access. The Heights of Abraham are listed as grade II* in the

register of historic parks and gardens of special historic interest in England The Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England provides a listing and classification system for historic parks and gardens similar to that used for listed buildings. The register is managed by Historic England ...

Attractions

There are two caves at the Heights of Abraham, the

Great Masson Cavern Great Masson Cavern is one of two caves at the Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England. The other is Great Rutland Cavern. Great Masson Cavern is notable for its lack of stalactites and stalagmites, as the cave is coated in a cla ...

and the

Great Rutland Cavern Great Rutland Cavern is one of two caves at the Heights of Abraham, Matlock, Derbyshire, England. The other is Great Masson Cavern Great Masson Cavern is one of two caves at the Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England. The other i ...

, both previously mined for Lead ore and Fluorspar. It is thought that lead mining in this area began in Roman times and reached its peak in the 1700s. As deposits began to dwindle, and cheaper lead was imported in the 1800s, the miners found a far more lucrative use for the caves as tourist attractions; in the process of excavation a large network of caverns and passageways were created which wealthy visitors would now pay to see. There are regular guided tours to retrace the miner's footsteps with a nearby exhibition of photography, fossils and an information film, explaining the cave's history. The Victoria Prospect Tower was built in 1844 to celebrate the reign of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

. From the top of the tower, and from the adjacent

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...

, there are panoramic views of the valley of the River Derwent, the

spa town A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. H ...

and the nearby

Riber Castle Riber Castle is a 19th-century Grade II listed country house in the hamlet of Riber on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. It is built of gritstone from a local quarry which was pulled up the hill by a series of pulleys. History Known loca ...

and

Willersley Castle Willersley Castle is a late 18th-century country mansion above the River Derwent at Cromford, Derbyshire, outside Peak District National Park. The castle has been a Grade II* listed building since April 2000. Standing in of grounds, the Clas ...

. A more modern viewing platform is Tinker's Shaft, which provides valley views as well as a vertical view into the Great Masson Cavern. A view from a different perspective can be obtained from the cable car, as it ascends and descends across the valley to a terminal on the far bank of the river. The site is home to the Vista restaurant/bar, the terrace cafe and an ice-cream parlour. There is also a shop specialising in the sale of rock- and mineral-themed items.

Access

Access to the Heights of Abraham is either on foot, via a steep footpath from Matlock Bath, or by the cable car. The lower station of the cable car is located on the opposite bank of the River Derwent to the Heights of Abraham and the town of Matlock Bath, with the cabins crossing the river at the lower end of their journey. A footbridge provides access from the town to the lower station, which is also a short walk away from

Matlock Bath railway station Matlock Bath railway station is a Grade II listed railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway. It is located in the village of Matlock Bath in Derbyshire, England. The station is unmanned by rail staff and is loc ...

. The site is privately run, and an admission charge is levied on foot visitors and included in the cable car fare. The admission charge covers admission to all the attractions and cave tours. The site is open every day from late March to early November, and on various other days. Opening times are 10:00 to 16.30, and later during holidays.

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control Parks and open spaces in Derbyshire Tourist attractions in Derbyshire Tourist attractions of the Peak District Grade II* listed parks and gardens in Derbyshire