At the Heights of Abraham – the hilltop park in Derbyshire – the excitement begins before you’ve even set foot on the summit of Masson Hill. Start your journey near the village Matlock Bath, roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Birmingham (two hours by train), where you’ll find the famous (it even has its own Wikipedia page) cable cars soaring over the Derwent Valley.
Rising 169 metres upwards, for 1/3 of a mile, you’re treated to magnificent 360-degree views of the Derbyshire Dales as you make your way up. There’s nothing else quite like it in the Midlands, but the excitement doesn’t stop at the top. Between illuminated caverns and children’s playgrounds to breathtaking walks and a vista restaurant, you’ll never want to journey back down.
What is there to do at the Heights of Abraham?
Named after the Plains of Abraham in Canada – with which they share a resemblance – the Heights of Abraham has been a popular tourist attraction since the Victorian era. Its main pull has long been the guided cavern tours, the Masson Cavern and Rutland Cavern, which were formed over 350 million years ago and were mined more recently.
The Masson Cavern is illuminated with a rainbow of lights, while the Rutland Cavern is used to teach what life was like for a 17th-century lead mining family. Elsewhere you’ll find the Victoria Prospect Tower, built in 1844, which sits 1000ft above sea level and offers an unbeatable 360-degree view. Plus, an interactive exhibition, a film theatre and a vista restaurant.
Just follow the winding paths (originally built for Georgian tourists) and discover endless curiosities in this 60-acre estate – from intricate willow sculptures to metallic cows. Plus, kids can enjoy two adventure playgrounds at the Heights of Abraham, with ropes, swings and giant slides.
What should I know before visiting?
Heights of Abraham is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday throughout March, then daily from March 22 to November 3, 2024 – from 10.00am until 4.30pm or later. If you’re driving, the closest car park is the train station car park in Matlock Bath, so we recommend jumping on the train anyway.
You can claim 20% off your cable car tickets – which gives you access to the whole of the Heights of Abraham – when you travel by bus or rail too. Plus, there are hourly trains, Monday to Saturday, to Matlock Bath from Derby. An adult ticket starts at £25, £17.50 for children, while under-5’s go free. To get your tickets head here.