Right on the edge of the beautiful Peak District, there’s a magical place with scenic cable cars, historic caverns, adventure playgrounds, heritage exhibitions, woodland trails, and live entertainment. Nestled amongst the foliage of Matlock, Derbyshire, the Heights of Abraham will have you feeling like you’re somewhere dreamy in the Swiss Alps, when really, you’re less than two hours from Manchester.
With a royal tower in the park to take in the stunning panoramic views from the central Masson Hill, take in the Heights of Abraham in all is glory, whether it’s a solo date, couple’s retreat or with the whole family. There’s so much to the Heights of Abraham, so we’ve got the guide to help you out, whether you’re after a weekend away, or a swift day trip during your well-earned time off.
History of The Heights of Abraham
The Heights gets its name from a historic battle fought on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec in 1759 that led to a brief period of British supremacy in North America. Ever since Roman times, the land on Masson Hill has been used by miners hoping to earn a living by extracting lead from the hillside. Over hundreds of years, this activity created a unique landscape and habitat, which has since been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (an SSSI).
Heights of Abraham cable cars
Giving the Heights of Abraham its main comparison to the Swiss Alps, a flight in the iconic cable cars is just the beginning of your day out, but it is a highlight for many. Take your journey up to the summit in style and enjoy the magnificent 360º views of the Derbyshire Dales around you.
The cable itself is 1,136 metres long (or, around 2/3 of a mile) – but from the base station to the hill top, you only travel around 1/3 of a mile. The cable is 40.2mm in diameter, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it can hold up to 120 metric tonnes. From bottom to top, you travel 169 metres (or 554ft) upwards, but it’s not a straight up ride like a roller coaster – you pass over five towers that ease the gradient.
Take some stunning photos of the Derwent Valley and Masson Hill on your way up, and you’ll see why the Heights of Abraham is often referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’.
Historic caverns
Characteristic of many Peak District locations, the Heights of Abraham is littered with mysterious caverns that tell thousands of histories. There may only be two, but the Great Masson and Great Rutland caverns are mighty, and you can now explore them like never before.
After almost 18 months of planning and testing, a sensational new sound and light experience has been added to the list of attractions at the Heights of Abraham this year. Seism!c, is a new sound and light show that visitors encounter when taking a guided tour through the Great Masson Cavern as part of a day out at the Heights.
Traditionally, the geological formation of the caverns was explained by a cavern tour guide, but now, thanks to new technology and state-of-the-art projectors, a dramatic and memorable story of key moments in Earth’s history and the formation of the Masson Cavern are being told in a whole new light.
A completely different tour to the Great Masson, over at Great Rutland Cavern, step back in time with a Victorian guide as they take you underground for an authentic Victorian experience. Hear tales of miners past, mischievous spirits and stories of the underground world and find out why the caverns were so popular with tourists of the past.
Victoria Prospect Tower
Queen (then Princess) Victoria travelled by donkey to the top of the Heights in the early 1830s. A few years later, recently redundant lead miners were retained through the winter to build the prospect tower in her honour. You can now climb the spiral staircase of the Victoria Prospect Tower and take in the spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding Derbyshire Dales from the top.
Kids activities
Instagram post via @adventuresofabear
There are two adventure play areas for younger guests to enjoy: the Explorer’s Challenge is located at the summit and is a mini assault course, perfect for younger children; and the Woodland Adventure is situated slightly further down the estate and is filled with ropes and swings to get your children moving. Enjoy a family race on the famous giant slides – fun for all ages!
Are there any guided tours available at the Heights of Abraham?
As mentioned, there are guided tours of the caves in the Heights of Abraham, which you can book here. Otherwise, there are short walking tours available with the Victorians, for those wanting to find out more about the area of ‘Little Switzerland’ and its history, which you can book here.
There’s also a self-guided audio tour available on your smartphone – find out more here.
Can you stay overnight at the Heights of Abraham?
There are plenty of gorgeous spots to stay in and around the Heights of Abraham, whether you’re after a heritage stay or in a lodge. Take in all the sights and lovely surroundings over the course of a weekend, and take a look at some of the options available here.
How to get to The Heights of Abraham
From Manchester, the Heights of Abraham is just under a two-hour drive via A roads, straight through the gorgeous scenery of the Peak District.
The train will take you around 2.5 hours, and you can get to Matlock Bath train station from Manchester Piccadilly by changing once or twice – it’s then just a short walk to the Heights of Abraham.