Derwent Valley Heritage Way
Total distance covered; 58 miles (93kms)
5 days walking based in Matlock
Matlock and Matlock Bath, our base for the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, is located on the River Derwent, and the area immediately to the south has been designated as the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire and prospered as centre for the textile industry. Richard Arkwright's Cromford Mill, one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution, lies just outside the town. Matlock's second hey-day came in the Victorian era when the thermal springs which surface in the area made Matlock Bath a centre for the hydrotherapy industry and an inland tourist resort. From Matlock Bath there is a cable car to the Heights of Abraham.
Matlock and Matlock Bath offers all the services you would expect from a small rural town, including a range of inns and restaurants serving food in the evenings. It has a number of shops where one can purchase the makings of a packed lunch.
The daily meeting point in Matlock Bath is the car park of the Peak District Mining Museum. There is long stay car park on the other side of the road.
Accommodation; There is a variety of accommodation in Matlock, including hotels, guesthouses, and self-catering cottages. Details can be found on the following websites:
- www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/plan-your-trip/accommodation
- www.visitpeakdistrict.com/accommodation/matlock
- www.caravanclub.co.uk
- www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/
Alternatively, an accommodation guide can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre which is operated by the Peak Mining Museum in Matlock Bath, whose contact details are as follows:
Matlock Bath Tourist Information Centre, Peak District Mining Museum, The Pavilion, South Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, DE4 3NR
Telephone: 01629 583834
E.Mail: mail@peakmines.co.uk
Website: www.peakmines.co.uk
How to reach Matlock by public transport: There are railway stations in both Matlock and Matlock Bath. Services from London St Pancras require a change in Derby.
General information on Matlock, the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounding district, can be found on the following websites:
Holiday Options 2023
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Ladybower Reservoir to Baslow 13 miles (21kms)
Day 2: Baslow to Matlock Bath 12 miles (19kms)
Day 3: Matlock Bath to Belper 11 miles (18kms)
Day 4: Belper to Derby 10 miles (16kms)
Day 5: Derby to Derwent Mouth (Shardlow) 12 miles (19kms)
Currency Converter: All of our prices are in British pounds. To estimate the cost in another currency use the currency converter here.