A few weeks ago when we had a trip down to Dovedale, and on the way back we came through Matlock and noticed how many antique 'type' shops there were, and as we were looking for a china cabinet we said that we should head back down this way at some point in the near future; and today was that day.
We had expected it to be busy out and about due to the Easter holidays, so headed down the M1 with some trepidation. However, when driving through Matlock we noticed that the schools were still full of kids, so assume that in Derbyshire the holidays start a week later; "pleased we were young Luke"
After missing the sign for the car-park that we had planned to use as our launchpad for the day, we did a u-turn (to the dismay of the car behind who had to wait until the road cleared) and headed over to the one next to the train station; £4.70 for the day so not bad. Our walk initially took us into a couple of shops but we didn't see anything that we were looking for, so onwards down the road to Matlock Bath we went.
The road follows the Derwent River as it meanders it's way eventually joining the River Trent, and high above the valley on the towering cliffs there are always climbers to watch as they very slowly work their route up the sheer rock face; it gives you a point of interest as you bridge the gap between the more chic Matlock and the more 'touristy' Matlock Bath, which appears to have more fish & chip shops than many a coastal resort.
That said, there are some lovely views around the area and a good spattering of classic houses adorning the steep valley side. Some very well kept, some looking like I need to make a visit with my new jet-wash :-) Of course there's the obligatory single amusement arcade which just emphasises the 'seaside' feel that you get when you visit. I might be being a little unfair though, there are some lovely gardens to while away a few hours, and when open there are quite a few interesting attractions to entertain folks of all ages. One thing we couldn't find though was somewhere to have lunch.
In the end we decided to head back up the valley to Matlock and find somewhere there to dine, and found a lovely little eatery at the back of Matlock Antiques & Collectables, not surprisingly named the Riverside Tea-Rooms. Most cafes along this stretch of the Derwent have some reference to the water in their name! The place will never win a prize from style, but the food was lovely and the portions very generous; so no complaints from either of us.
So, we'd spent a good few hours in the area, and walked just under 4.5 miles whilst we'd been out and about so it had been a good last day out before we head off to Iceland next week. Ok, we didn't return with any furniture, but a good day with good company is always a successful day.
We had expected it to be busy out and about due to the Easter holidays, so headed down the M1 with some trepidation. However, when driving through Matlock we noticed that the schools were still full of kids, so assume that in Derbyshire the holidays start a week later; "pleased we were young Luke"
After missing the sign for the car-park that we had planned to use as our launchpad for the day, we did a u-turn (to the dismay of the car behind who had to wait until the road cleared) and headed over to the one next to the train station; £4.70 for the day so not bad. Our walk initially took us into a couple of shops but we didn't see anything that we were looking for, so onwards down the road to Matlock Bath we went.
The road follows the Derwent River as it meanders it's way eventually joining the River Trent, and high above the valley on the towering cliffs there are always climbers to watch as they very slowly work their route up the sheer rock face; it gives you a point of interest as you bridge the gap between the more chic Matlock and the more 'touristy' Matlock Bath, which appears to have more fish & chip shops than many a coastal resort.
That said, there are some lovely views around the area and a good spattering of classic houses adorning the steep valley side. Some very well kept, some looking like I need to make a visit with my new jet-wash :-) Of course there's the obligatory single amusement arcade which just emphasises the 'seaside' feel that you get when you visit. I might be being a little unfair though, there are some lovely gardens to while away a few hours, and when open there are quite a few interesting attractions to entertain folks of all ages. One thing we couldn't find though was somewhere to have lunch.
So, we'd spent a good few hours in the area, and walked just under 4.5 miles whilst we'd been out and about so it had been a good last day out before we head off to Iceland next week. Ok, we didn't return with any furniture, but a good day with good company is always a successful day.
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