As a treat for both the help she gave me over the past academic year and for her return to Nottingham for the new one, I took a university friend to Bakewell for the day. Said friend is a fellow mature student (significantly older) and half of her course is English, as is half of mine. In addition to having a pleasant walk up there, we had lunch - fish and chips, in fact - as then paid a short visit to Matlock Bath on the way back.
When classes start back next week, we're in a meeting together on Wednesday and in a class together on Friday.
Showing posts with label Matlock Bath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matlock Bath. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 September 2017
Sunday, 3 September 2017
Matlock Bath and Matlock 2017
My best friend and I spent the day in Matlock Bath this afternoon. As she will be heading off to university later this month, I treated her to a trip up there as a gift before she leaves. As per my recent visits to the Peak District, we travelled via Red Arrow to Derby and then the Sixes 6.1 to Matlock Bath.
Once in Matlock Bath we climbed the mountain, via its footpaths, that faces the Heights of Abraham. We did not visit the Heights of Abraham itself because the cable car ride up was too expensive for us; however, the view of the Heights from the opposite side was just as worthy. We walked along the mountaintop paths and exited in the town of Matlock itself before walking back to Matlock Bath.
We had a fantastic day out in the Peak District and I wish my friend the best for her upcoming journey through university.
Once in Matlock Bath we climbed the mountain, via its footpaths, that faces the Heights of Abraham. We did not visit the Heights of Abraham itself because the cable car ride up was too expensive for us; however, the view of the Heights from the opposite side was just as worthy. We walked along the mountaintop paths and exited in the town of Matlock itself before walking back to Matlock Bath.
We had a fantastic day out in the Peak District and I wish my friend the best for her upcoming journey through university.
Saturday, 2 July 2016
Bakewell
Today, I rode, from Derby bus station after a ride on Indigo, the Sixes 6.1 to Bakewell, a town in Derbyshire. Here is a picture overlooking the town:
My visit to Bakewell was short, as it was carnival day and the town was packed; not only that but the bus route was blocked after I arrived. For a while I was concerned that I wouldn't have been able to have returned to my bus interchange in Derby; fortunately, the Sixes 6.1 returned and I was able to leave Bakewell. I will visit there again on another day, when I won't be worrying about carnivals.
The Sixes 6.1 is a fun bus route because not only did it feature plenty of beautiful scenery, it also travelled through Matlock and Matlock Bath, the latter of which I visited in 2012 and 2013.
The Sixes 6.1 is a fun bus route because not only did it feature plenty of beautiful scenery, it also travelled through Matlock and Matlock Bath, the latter of which I visited in 2012 and 2013.
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Matlock 2013 pictures
On the 23rd of August, my aunt, uncle, a cousin and I visited Matlock Bath in Derbyshire. Matlock Bath/the Heights of Abraham was the second of two places that I had requested we visit during my first week in Nottingham, with the first being Chiquito, a Mexican restaurant.
When we arrived in Matlock Bath (well, after managing to find a parking space), we went to When the Clock Strikes 3 for lunch. When the Clock Strikes 3 classifies itself as a "Traditional English Tea Shop", serving foods such as sandwiches, cakes, rarebit and "English breakfast". I chose the "English breakfast" because it's not a meal that I had eaten until then.
The easiest and most common way to reach the Heights of Abraham is to ride the cable cars up; however, according to one of the attendants at the cable car ticket stand, it is possible to walk up to the Heights, although it is more difficult than it used to be.
My uncle did not accompany me, my aunt and cousin up to the Heights; he opted to explore Matlock Bath, because, as he said, he's already been up to the Heights over five times before.
A view towards the town of Matlock. The Heights of Abraham and its access points are located in Matlock Bath, the village to Matlock's south, but the whole vicinity is collectively and colloquially known as "Matlock".
This is the Victoria Prospect Tower, which was completed in 1844. It has had two purposes in its time: the tower provided work for the local unemployed while it was under construction and after completion has served to supplement the already-excellent views atop the Heights of Abraham.
To reach the top of the Victoria Prospect Tower, one must climb a narrow-stepped spiral staircase. The priority is for people coming down, as my aunt, cousin and I had to return to the bottom at least twice when we were ascending to allow everyone at the top to return to the bottom.
A view of the Matlock/Matlock Bath countryside from the top of Victoria Prospect Tower.
Before heading back to the ground, I ensured I took at least one picture of the tower's wall while looking down from its top. I was about 40 feet above the ground, as stated in the next photo.
The information sign for the Victoria Prospect Tower. I am still surprised that the tower is only 40ft high...when you're climbing those narrow stairs and reach the top it feels as though it is much higher!
This is a view looking down towards Matlock Bath, taken from near to the gift shop. It's the last picture I took on this trip to the Heights of Abraham.
My uncle re-joined us after we had exited the Heights of Abraham. He was enjoying an ice cream and said that there are a few other places to check out in Matlock Bath besides the Heights of Abraham; should we visit again, I looking forward to seeing them.
My uncle did not accompany me, my aunt and cousin up to the Heights; he opted to explore Matlock Bath, because, as he said, he's already been up to the Heights over five times before.
My uncle re-joined us after we had exited the Heights of Abraham. He was enjoying an ice cream and said that there are a few other places to check out in Matlock Bath besides the Heights of Abraham; should we visit again, I looking forward to seeing them.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Matlock 2013
My aunt, uncle, a cousin and I went to Matlock Bath in Derbyshire today and again visited the Heights of Abraham. We went there at my request, and as with every other day so far this week, I have pictures that I will post later.
Monday, 20 August 2012
More about Matlock
The last complete day of the trip to Nottingham took place on the 11th of August; for that day we visited the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire (I incorrectly referred to the place as Matlock in the initial post about the day; Matlock Bath is a village south of Matlock). The people in the group consisted of my aunt and uncle, two younger cousins, an older cousin, a friend of my older cousin (whom we picked up on the way), my brother, and me.
Upon arrival in Matlock Bath we were in the mood for a light meal. We went to a place called Pancake Cafe, and my uncle and I ordered omelettes while everyone else had either pancakes or crepes; the pancakes and crepes could all be considered "light", but the cheese and onion omelettes that my uncle and I ordered were huge. Neither of us were able to finish our meals and were full for the rest of the afternoon.
The Heights of Abraham is only accessible via a cable car; there was a time when it could be reached via stairs, but this this route is now overgrown and fallen into disrepair. While I would have appreciated a walk up to the park it was good to experience a ride in a cable car. Once at the top we took the tour through the Great Masson Cavern - a former fluorspar mine and one of the two caves located at the Heights of Abraham; my favourite part of these caves were the rock formations that appeared to resemble animals, such as the "rhino" and the "lioness".
After a walk around the park we then visited the fossil shop (actually, it was more like a gift shop), followed by the canteen; my uncle and I were the only people in the group who didn't eat anything, as we were still too full from the omelettes, despite the walks. I did, however, eat an ice cream cone with nearly everyone else when we passed the ice cream stand half an hour later. Four of us then went to the Great Rutland Cavern, the other cave system at the Heights of Abraham; this tour was much shorter than the first one, and at the end it contained a presentation about how the miners went about their work.
The other members of our group had travelled the cable back down to Matlock Bath and had gone to The Midland, a local pub. We joined them and had a drink before heading back to the car park. I swapped vehicles on the way back, opting to travel with my uncle, my older cousin and his friend for the journey back to Nottingham.
I only took a few pictures while at the Heights of Abraham and most contain family members; here are three that are suitable:
Taken from the Heights of Abraham, this is a view of Matlock with Riber Castle visible on the mountain to the right. As I mentioned in a recent post, Derbyshire truly has some of the United Kingdom's most beautiful landscape.
Another view of Matlock in the distance, taken from our cable car as it descended back to Matlock Bath.
A shot of another cable car while it and ours were descending.
For dinner that night my uncle, aunt, brother, and one of my younger cousins went to the Red Hot World Buffet, a buffet restaurant with a multicultural food selection. My older cousin, his friend, and my other younger cousin from Nottingham did not come with us as they already had plans for the evening. We returned to my grandparents' house after the meal.
The journey to the Heights of Abraham was a grand way to spend the full last day of the trip. It gave us the chance to see more of the United Kingdom, make a new friend, and most of all enjoy ourselves with family. While I did experience a feeling of "oh no, it's over" when I said goodbye to my aunt, I comforted myself in the knowledge that the visit had been a week well spent, with new memories and an overall great time for everyone.
Upon arrival in Matlock Bath we were in the mood for a light meal. We went to a place called Pancake Cafe, and my uncle and I ordered omelettes while everyone else had either pancakes or crepes; the pancakes and crepes could all be considered "light", but the cheese and onion omelettes that my uncle and I ordered were huge. Neither of us were able to finish our meals and were full for the rest of the afternoon.
The Heights of Abraham is only accessible via a cable car; there was a time when it could be reached via stairs, but this this route is now overgrown and fallen into disrepair. While I would have appreciated a walk up to the park it was good to experience a ride in a cable car. Once at the top we took the tour through the Great Masson Cavern - a former fluorspar mine and one of the two caves located at the Heights of Abraham; my favourite part of these caves were the rock formations that appeared to resemble animals, such as the "rhino" and the "lioness".
After a walk around the park we then visited the fossil shop (actually, it was more like a gift shop), followed by the canteen; my uncle and I were the only people in the group who didn't eat anything, as we were still too full from the omelettes, despite the walks. I did, however, eat an ice cream cone with nearly everyone else when we passed the ice cream stand half an hour later. Four of us then went to the Great Rutland Cavern, the other cave system at the Heights of Abraham; this tour was much shorter than the first one, and at the end it contained a presentation about how the miners went about their work.
The other members of our group had travelled the cable back down to Matlock Bath and had gone to The Midland, a local pub. We joined them and had a drink before heading back to the car park. I swapped vehicles on the way back, opting to travel with my uncle, my older cousin and his friend for the journey back to Nottingham.
I only took a few pictures while at the Heights of Abraham and most contain family members; here are three that are suitable:
For dinner that night my uncle, aunt, brother, and one of my younger cousins went to the Red Hot World Buffet, a buffet restaurant with a multicultural food selection. My older cousin, his friend, and my other younger cousin from Nottingham did not come with us as they already had plans for the evening. We returned to my grandparents' house after the meal.
The journey to the Heights of Abraham was a grand way to spend the full last day of the trip. It gave us the chance to see more of the United Kingdom, make a new friend, and most of all enjoy ourselves with family. While I did experience a feeling of "oh no, it's over" when I said goodbye to my aunt, I comforted myself in the knowledge that the visit had been a week well spent, with new memories and an overall great time for everyone.
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