The Heights of Abraham is a heritage park in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. It’s been welcoming visitors for hundreds of years since the boom in tourists coming to sample the clean air and Spa-like facilities in the town. One of the most exciting parts of your visit is the cable car ride which takes place before you even get to the 60 acre estate. The views as you rise up the hill are lovely and the large windows all around the cars make the most of it. We particularly enjoyed looking down on the the river below!
Once you arrive at the park itself, the facilities are good and there’s lots to see and do. The viewing areas are a big part of it as that’s what made this place a destination for visitors all those years ago. There are a number of buildings dotted around the park and some of them contain further attractions which are all included in your admission price. You can climb the Victorian Prospect Tower for more superb views, there’s an exhibition about clothing through the years and an interactive exhibition about the park’s history, with a film theatre above. The building that you’re bound to set foot in at some point on your visit is the two storey café/restaurant (pictured below). It’s been designed to maximise the views and there are outdoor dining areas on each level.
The highlight of our visit to the Heights Of Abraham which the kids all loved, was the chance to go underground on two different guided cavern tours. Again, these are included in the admission price. The lower cavern is smaller and your tour will take about 20 minutes. During this time, you’ll learn about the history of what was mined here and how the cavern was used as a ‘show cavern’ for visitors. The larger cavern tour into the Masson Cavern, is higher up and was really brought to life by our fascinating guide. He explained the history of the series of caverns we visited and how the tunnel between them was carved too. Be warned that this tour has over 150 steps and only a handful of them go downwards!
Away from the caverns, there’s the willow sculpture trail and play areas for kids. The biggest is the huge adventure play area which has two very long slides but there’s a further area near the Punch and Judy show which the kids loved too. What we loved about this estate was this it’s like nowhere else we’ve ever been. It’s been a destination for visitors for centuries and yet it’s still as relevant today as it ever was. Whilst people today are very different, we all still love a great view and this place hasn’t lost sight of that. Whenever you’re at the Heights of Abraham, you’re never far from a viewing area. For instance, don’t be put off from climbing up to the top of ‘Tinker’s Shaft’ as the view of Riber Castle, Matlock and surrounding areas is stunning.
The Heights of Abraham is open every day from March to November, typically from 10am to 5.30pm. There are also special hours for winter events like the ‘Lights of Abraham’ when the attraction opens in the evening. Adult admission is £26 when bought in advance and a family ticket is available at £77 (2024 prices)
HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM LOCATION
Address: The Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3NT
Phone: +44 1629 582 365
Email: office@heightsofabraham.com
The Heights of Abraham attraction is located in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Parking is available in the council-run car park at the railway station. The cable station is a short walk away.
MORE ON THE HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM
Heights of Abraham – Official website
Heights of Abraham – Wikipedia
Hotels near Matlock Bath – Booking.com
Travel Guide for Derby & Derbyshire – From our sister-site Free-City-Guides.com