The Derbyshire Seaside

Sunday before last we spent a great couple of hours in Matlock Bath pottering around.  It being the last weekend before the kids go back to school and a glorious, unexpectedly hot, clear blue sky day, it was heaving.  Despite being well embedded inland, Matlock Bath has the feel of Blackpool. Brighton, Torquay, Porthmadog, Barmouth or any other Seaside town.
       
A favourite with bikers, families, couples and "Wombles" (an endearing term for elderly tourists I've heard used) it has tourist attractions, open in the
summer months only, and some establishments open
all year round.  
                                                                             The pavement parking spaces were lined with gleaming bikes and the pavement café's and chippies full with bikers et al contentedly munching.

There's some great sweet shops, ice cream of course, souvenirs both tacky and tasteful too.  The festival, holiday atmosphere was enhanced by the unexpected sight of Morris Dancers, who gamely allowed a tourist to join in before shooing him off

Away from the hustle and bustle is the Heights of Abraham, a short but winding and steep drive an equally winding and steep walk up.  The effort is worth it as you can stop whenever you like on foot to admire the stunning views.

So many houses built up the hillsides, major feats of engineering building on such slopes.  One gardener we chatted to on the way down was cutting back the shrubs and trees in her perilously sloping garden.  She has taken many a tumble and "dreams of living somewhere flat like Lincolnshire" at times.


On the way up, you pass the sounds of those enjoying the rides in Gulliver's Kingdom.
http://www.gulliversfun.co.uk/matlock-bath

We also saw this wonderful sculpture of an elephant just below Waterloo Road, something you would not see from a car at all.

We arrived to the entrance of the Heights of Abraham but did not go in this time.  On previous visits we have enjoyed tours through the mines, the spectacular vista and the cable car ride down.

http://www.heightsofabraham.com/

     
We walked down on the steeper paths, taking our time over the cobble stones which must be lethal in winter

My other half spent some time enjoying himself on the various gaming machines in one of the family friendly games stores, whilst I had a good potter around and did a bit of shopping before meeting up and heading home.
http://www.visitmatlockbath.co.uk/