Matlock Bath

My personal challenge for this round of Miss Jenny Matlock's alphabe-Thursday is to post about a location within the borders of my own county of Derbyshire, UK, for each letter of the alphabet.


Look for the letter, to see where I am.

M is for Matlock Bath (Yes! Really!).

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Matlock Bath became noticed in Victorian times, when the spa water was discovered and 'well to do' Victorian ladies and gentlemen would come to 'take the waters'. Since that time, it has remained popular and a number of attractions exist within the village, to draw in the crowds.

On the north edge of the village are The Heights of Abraham, accessed by the ever popular cable car. A good head for heights is needed as the car rises and the land suddenly drops away to the river.

The village is built along the bottom of the steep sided River Derwent gorge. Here, there is white water to draw in the kayakers.

Unlike many places in the UK, Matlock Bath managed to hang onto its railway line; avoiding the Beeching Axe!

Trains stop here on their way north, from Derby to the neighbouring town of Matlock (and vice versa).

But rail is not the only means of arrival. The main A6 runs through the gorge and Matlock Bath is incredibly popular with bikers (as you can see!). This is a common sight here.

Being a touristy destination, Matlock Bath has a range of shops from Games Arcades to Cafes to the Ice Cream Parlour, to the craft and souvenir shops and this Equatorial Fair Trade clothing and craft shop; sister to the one in Ashbourne.

Of course, there has to be a chippy!

But the pub is currently undergoing restoration. 'Re-opening soon; sorry for any inconvenience!' Do you notice the rather unusual name?

The pub is right opposite the fishpond!

Walking round the fishpond, you arrive at the Peak District Mining Museum, which tells the story of all of the different types of rock and mineral which have been mined from this area through history.

(The Romans used to mine for lead on the hill above my uncle's farm!)

More peacefully, at the southern end of the village are the pleasant riverside gardens, with the Bowling Club (Crown Green, not Ten Pin)...

...places to relax and enjoy the scenery...

...and the village bandstand.

Across the far side of the river is a footpath and from here, you can enjoy the illuminations which light up the river every autumn.

And a final look back to see one of the steep side roads climbing away from the busy-ness of the main road into the somewhat quieter residences perched along the sides of the gorge.