Peak District Breaks
action packed or relaxed
you decide!
Matlock Town 1 mile taking 2-3 hours - Matlock as we know it today, didn’t really exist when Victoria became queen in 1837. It was then astraggling collection of buildings around the churchand the green, with cottages on the bank linked bytracks across the valley. One man’s interest inhydropathy (water cures) led to Matlock becoming amajor Victorian tourist town. On his honeymoon John Smedley, a woollen underwear manufacturer, started using the warm Matlock mineral waters as a cure forvarious ailments he was suffering. He was soimpressed by their healing powers that he opened hisfirst establishment or “hydro” in 1853 on BankRoad, in what is now the County Buildings or Smedley’s Hydro. The “cure” grew rapidly and by1867 he was treating more than 2,000 people everyyear. With the new railway line and station open,tourism grew and so did the number and size of thehydros - by 1898 there were more than 30. A cabletramway, based on the San Francisco model, was built to carry people up steep Bank Road to the hydropathy establishments. By the turn of the 20th century Matlock was one of the most fashionable resorts in England.
From the Tourist Information Centre walk up Bank Road, just after the Methodist Church the road widens, this was to enable the trams to pass, detour into the County Council car park return to Bank Road and then left along Smedley Street West and right into steep Wellington Street as far as Rockside Steps where you can sit and enjoy the views. Along this route you will see:
1. The Town Hall (Derbyshire Dales Council Offices).This was the Bridge Hall hydropathic establishment which was taken over by the town council in 1894.
2. Derbyshire County Council Offices. This was Smedley’s Hydro (2) of the 1850s; the most famous and largest hydro of all with it grand façade,formal gardens, orchestra and entertainment andenormous capacity. By the 1860s there were over 200 staff and 2,000 patients a year. In World War II when the buildings were used by the military, Dirk Bogarde was stationed here for a time as atrainee airman.At the west end of the building are:
3. The Winter Gardens. This enormous glass structure (3) was added in 1901 to allow patients to be in sunlight in the colder months. Many famous people came here to take the cure and drink tea in this wonderful building.
4. The Hydro Extension. Smedley’s Hydro was extended to allow more patients to be treated and roofed walk ways built to allow them access to the main building.
5. Malvern House. Formerly a hydro at bottom of Smith Road. Now a private home but in 1890 said to be able to cater for 20-30 guests and had a“great china bath” for the patients to take the waters. It was eventually purchased by Smedley’s and used as staff accommodation. Go up Rockside Steps to sit and rest on the bench half way up. The view is magnificent and you will realise just how far you have climbed! The roofs of Smedley’s Hydro with the ornate tower can be seeand on the hillside to your left is Riber Castle, built by John Smedley in 1862 and his home until he died in 1874. The route up takes you up onto Cavendish Road (the highest part of the walk you will be pleased to know!), turn right along the rear of Rockside Hall and then down a small alleyway with steps down, almost opposite Farm Lane. Turn right when you reach Wellington Street and walk down hill a short distance to get the best views of:
6. Rockside Hall, Built in 1863 it was considered second only to Smedley’s and one of the best hotels in England! The building is certainly impressive with its twin pagoda-like towers and crag-like situation; the views must have been stunning and much enjoyed when it became a student residence before converting to flats. Just below is the old tramway depot. Double Decker trams ran up and down Bank Road and Rutland Street from Crown Square to this point. The trams were hauled up and lowered down by a cable laid in the road. The two trams were connected and the cable ran around a great winding wheel at the depot.The more passengers going down the better as their weight counter balanced the tram being pulled up and less power was needed in the winding house. Thus the fare was 2 old pennies up and 1 old penny down! Retrace your steps to the bottom of the alleyway you descended from Cavendish Road and cross the road to another small alleyway opposite to:
7. Wellfield House. Not easy to see behind its highwalls and now a private residence. This was one of the smaller hydros started up by ex-Smedley employees. The cottage opposite, dated 1667, is one of the earliest buildings in Matlock and a former ‘lockup’. Continue down the alleyway, with iron rallings on your right.
8. As you descend the hill, to your right is a line of buildings set back from the road although not soeasy to see due to new houses. This was the Matlock House Hydro opened in 1863 with 54 rooms.
Matlock - Oaker - Darley Bridge 5 mile taking 3 hours - From the Robert Young Florist at Crown Square, go over the bridge and then turn right immediately, do not go over the pedestrian crossing. Take the pavement leading down to the riverside footpath. Follow the path alongside the river, passing under the road and railway bridges and a factory until you reach pleasant openfields.
Continue ahead when you reach a junction with a farmtrack and a metal farm gate on your right. Go over a stile where the path is rejoined with the riverbank. You will see a fork in the unsurfaced path here. You need to go left- diagonally across the field to reach a stile and a fingerpost. Go over the stile and turn right to follow the lane keeping on the right hand side of the road. Take care - watch out for traffic. In about 150 yards you need to turn right into Aston Lane. On you left you’ll see a stile by a fingerpost. Go over the stile and head up the field, bearing right. There is no obvious path across the field but when you reach the trees (and a thicket of hawthorns) you should be able to pick out the path which leads up through the wood to some steps and a stile.
Go over the stile and turn right. Bear left and immediately head up the bank through the gorse. At the top (by a waymark post) turn right and walk along the top of the ridge. At the next waymark post continue straight ahead, passing though more hawthorn and make for the large tree on top of the hill. There are some great views along here.Walk along the permissive path to the Triangulation Point before descending steeply in the direction of a church, passing an old bath to reach a gate which leads on to a tarmac lane. Turn left and then immediately right and walk down the hill. Take the next road on the right (Flint Lane).
Pass the Cross Green Cottages and, just after the road bends to the right you should bear left, just past Bromley Croft. Continue along this lane which becomes an unsurfaced farm track. Turn left at a waymarked stile with a fingerpost and follow the path down, keeping the field edge to your left. Go over the next stile and stone culvert and cross the field, bearing right, to go past the corner end of the bordering hedgerow and trees opposite. Ignore the stile near there, just continue diagonally across to reach the stile in the far corner of the field. Go over this stile and turn left for Darley Bridge.
Turn right over the bridge using the pavement on the left hand side. Just over the bridge, re-cross the road to Flatts Farm on your right. (You’ll see the pub ‘Square &Compass’-just a bit further along the road to the left if you want to stop for some refreshments.) Go through the first stone stile and follow the waymarked path straight ahead -running alongside the wall with farm buildings to your right. Keep the stone wall to your left, crossing several stiles. At the fourth stile, head diagonally across the field and go over a wooden stile. Ignore a path that runs off to the left, continue ahead, keeping the field edge and stream to your left. Go over another stile, through the bushes and trees and then cross the stream via a narrow footbridge (take care here, as it may be slippery andwatch out for encroaching branches). Turn right and continue until you reach the riverbank.
Continue ahead keeping the railway embankment to your left. After passing through a stone squeeze stile, keep left (do notfollow the riverbank). Cross over another couple of stiles and the riverbank comes back into view from your right. Follow the riverbank for a short distance and go over a stile in a metal fence, after which bear left, leaving the riverbank to walk alongside the railway embankment again. Ignore the overpass and underpass on the railway - continue ahead following the field edge.When you reach a concrete ladder stile on the left- go over it and cross the railway Caution - watch out for trains.
Go over the next stile, turn right and go through some overgrown scrubland. You will then reach the busy main A6. Cross over at the pedestrian refuge and turn right.Walk down the road until you reach the Matlock sign and a bus stop. Turn left through the metal gate by the bus shelter. Go right and follow the paved path up the hill leading between Arc Leisure Matlock and the houses of The Dimple. Continue following the path across the end of a cul-de-sac by a recycling point. Keep straight ahead along the path, crossing over the next road. The path here is called Sheriff Lane. You will eventually reach a road called Hurds Hollow where you need to turn right. Walk downhill to Matlock Storage and take a left here. Walk up to the school and turn left on to Sycamore Road. Turn left at the top where you will be back at your accomodation.
Matlock to Pic Tor 1.5 mile taking 1 hour - From the Robert Young Florist at Crown Square follow Dale Road over Matlock Bridge and round to the left. Dale Road (the main A6 through the town) is home to antique shops, souvenir and gift shops and several pubs, bars and cafes. Turn first left into Olde Englishe Road. You then go through a ‘Sensory Garden’ (a small flower garden for the blind). Cross the footbridge over the Derwent into Hall Leys Park. Notice the signs on the bridge showing the level of the floods some years ago. Turn right and follow the tree lined footpath. You’ll see a boating lake on your left and a miniature railway on your right. Walk along the path through the park.
As you leave the park continue straight ahead onto a road called Knowleston Place. Follow the path that runs alongside the river. Look for a sign post that directs you to the right, over a small bridge into Pic Tor Park. Follow the path that runs between the cliffs and the river, which is known as The Promenade. Just before you reach a railway bridge, turn left by a waymark post and join the path upto Pic Tor.
The path zigzags steadily uphill to the summit and the war memorial.There are great views; Riber Castle, Masson Hill, HighTor and Matlock Dale can all be admired from here. From here take the concrete path which leads down through the graveyard to the Parish Church of St Giles. When you reach the church, take the path to the right to exit via the church gate. Turn left and take the first left down a steep narrow lane called Stoney Way. At the bottom turn left to rejoin Knowleston Place, then follow the path straight back through Hall Leys Park to return to Crown Square.
Matlock - High Tor - Giddy Edge - Lovers Walk 2.5 mile taking 1.5 hours - From the Robert Young Florist at Crown Square. Cross the road and walk straight ahead along the tree lined path in Hall Leys park. You’ll pass a footbridge over the River Derwent on your right. Note the sign showing the level of the floods in past years. Continue through the park, passing the boating lake and miniature railway.
As you leave the park continue straight ahead onto aroad called Knowleston Place. Look for a sign post that directs you to the right, over a small bridge into Pic Tor Park. Follow the path that runs between the cliffs and the river, which is known as The Promenade.
Follow this path along side the river until you go under the railway bridge and then keep left to leave the river bank. When you reach two bridges - one on your right going over the river and one on your left going under railway, turn left and go under the bridge and follow the path up hill. Just before you reach the first house on the right, turn sharp right and go through the gateway into the High Tor grounds.
Follow the path that runs steadily uphill, taking time to admire the views from the vantage points en route. Take note of safety notices - keep to the path and supervise children at all times.From the first cliff-top viewpoint (there are some picnic tables at this point and railings at the cliff edge) you can see down into the Derwent Gorge, across to Masson Hilland, looking east, up to Riber Castle. Go along the path, which bears left and continues up hill. Eventually you’ll see the cliff face of High Tor ahead as you reach some open meadow. You will pass some picnic tables, there are more great views from here too.
Continue up until you reach a grotto with a seat on your right. Turn right here and follow the steps up towards the summit. Extreme care must be taken near these cliff edges. High Tor, at 300 feet is one of the highest inland cliffs in England. If you are feeling very adventurous, are sure footed and have a head for heights you have a choice here. You can continue via the risky route along ‘Giddy Edge’- definitely not for the feint hearted, although there are handrails for safety. For the ‘GiddyEdge’ route follow the path that forks to the right. For the main path (which is less scary) bear left; this continues along the summit, passing a radio mast. Eitherway, eventually the two paths rejoin and you then head downhill along a stepped way marked path in a series of zigzags through delightful woodland. On your route -remember to keep to the footpath and at any junction, always choose the path heading downhill.
You’ll come down-to-earth by the cable car station. These cable cars link to the Heights of Abraham across the valley and were opened in 1984 as the first Alpine style cable car in Great Britain. Follow the path round the station then walk down the road towards the railway bridge. Take the path to the left just before the bridge (it is signed to Matlock Bath Railway Station). Continue alongside the railway line until you reach the railway station. Here you should cross the tracks at the designated crossing place to the station building (note how it bears a striking resemblanceto a Swiss railway station).You can finish your walk here if you wish. Catch a train back to Matlock - or catch a bus from the main road, see map. The buses run more frequently than the trains. Tel 0871 200 22 33for further information.To continue your walk go diagonally left across the car park, heading for the ‘coaches only’ bay. Along the perimeter you’ll see two semi circular walls. At the gap you’ll find a sign -‘Footpath to LoversWalk’. Follow the gravel path that bears right uphill and enters some woodland. Turn left and follow the stepped path continuing uphill to the summit view point.
From here you can see Matlock Bath below and Gulliver’s Kingdom (Theme Park) across the valley opposite. A post and rail fence on the left guides you along the path,which soon levels out. When a fence ahead bars the route you should turn right and follow the stepped path down the cliffs. Always keep to the downward path if there’s a choice and keep to the footpath at all times. At the riverbank, turn right. Cross the footbridge over the Derwent and turn right to walk through the gardens. Leave through the gates and go on ahead through a gap in the wall and bear left past some public toilets. Turn right across the front of the Grand Pavilion which houses the Peak District Mining Museum and the Tourist Information Point. The bus stop to return to Matlock is on the opposite side of the road.
