Matlock

I was disappointed that the International Day of Dance has been cancelled in Bakewell this year. I've been to every one of them and it's a lovely event. Fingers crossed for next year.

If cheap and cheerful but very good value is what you are looking for there is a Premier Inn just out side Matlock.
My friend and I are going for two nights at the end of July GW.
We shall visit Bakewell for a nostalgic stroll round the market and hope to have a meal at Stone’s, a very upmarket restaurant.

The Pond in Matlock Bath gets my vote; live entertainment and good food!

Apologies Chewbacca and Izabella
Yes, that was uncalled for

I highly recommend the Dog and Partridge near Ashbourne.
It's a bit eccentric and splits opinion, but I love it, and I think that you might Jane (it's dog friendly)

what do you mean FannyCornforth? Izabella was just adding to the information about the area, surely?

Does anyone know if the illumination and illuminated boats will go ahead this year?

I think I'm going to book a B&B or something and come up with my youngest. I'd forgotten about it until this thread. Is there still a nice fabric shop by the car park?

I do hope that this isn't turning into yet another 'argument thread'

Riber castle (formerly Riber Zoo)( has NOT been turned into apartments. It has just been left.

Bikers bring much needed income (along with other trippers) to Matlock Bath. There is also an organised drop off zone where they donate sleeping bags etc for the homeless.

Matlock itself has an award winning and very popular park

www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/parks-a-open-spaces/hall-leys-park-matlock

Almost. I moved to mid Cornwall 7 years ago after 60 years in Derbyshire. So it’s a 25 min drive now to the coast.

Fond memories of Matlock Bath. I used to bus it there most Saturday nights with a friend. The pavilion had great dances/discos there in the 1960s. I was reading about it last night. In its hey day there were 18 train a day bringing tourists in.

What is sad is that the next stop (Matlock) became the last stop. It used to go all the way to Buxton but Beeching shut the line.

You're welcome muse
Are you near to the sea now?
Like most of us Midlanders, I do hanker for the sea.

Thanks FannyCornforth. I’ve taught in both towns but prefer Matlock because of it’s history.

muse ah, I see, you are referring to the Matlock / Matlock Bath thing. I do apologise.
I did mention upthread that Matlock was the town; and that Matlock Bath was 'the seaside bit', but that got lost, and I started using the word 'Matlock' to cover both areas.
Sorry! I get what you mean now!

What do you mean muse - there is nothing that Matlock is famous for, 'no illuminations, no bikes' ? I don't understand.

And it was during the 18th century that Matlock became famous and popular, as I said upthread.

Chewbacca - when I said that the bikers were a nuisance, I meant that it's difficult to walk around as it's too busy (I have mobility problems).
They do tend to 'take over' a bit, but you're right, the bikes are interesting.

Yes, Riber 'zoo' has closed, it was about 15 years ago.

I lived in Matlock for nearly 50 years. Born there.

It grew in popularity in the victorian period as a spa resort. The county council offices building at the top of Bank Road was the main spa hotel back then. A tram took visitors from the train station up Bank Road to the hotel. I lived close to what was the old tram station. At one time there were about 20 hydros, most of which were own by John Smedley. He built the mock Riber Castle as his home. In my late teens I remember walking up the hill to the castle, to the zoo, which was for mainly British wildlife. The owners did breed lynx MayBee70.

The history of Matlock and other spa towns (Buxton) is a long standing passion of mine. However, Matlock Bath is another town further down the A6 and , yes, that’s the town with the illuminations , Gulliver’s Kingdom, cable cars and the bikes. I used to hear the bikes roaring up the A6 from Matlock Bath into Matlock Chewbacca.

There is nothing that Matlock is famous for these days. No illuminations. No bikes.

History lesson over - sorry. ??

the bikers are a bit of a nuisance.

No way! The bikers are the best bit about Matlock! Fabulous machines to stand and admire.

JPB123 Riber Castle closed its zoo years ago - 20 years or more? They had an enclosure with meerkats that were in a terrible state, so I'm glad that no longer exists.

One of the best times to visit Matlock is when the Steam Punk meets up there. Just get a seat at a roadside coffee bar, sit down and watch them go past! They're amazing!

The American Western place nearby was one of the first theme parks I believe.

No zoo now! Riber castle,is a folly .It did house the zoo but has been turned into apartments.

FannyCornforth

timetogo2016

Sorry but this sounds iffy to me.

Why on earth do you say that?

I think timetogo has missed this is in a meet section...but you all may have missed the young man who was trying to extract money from our bank accounts the other day it was deleted quite swiftly!

I can't ever remember a zoo but I've just googled and there is a park farm?

I remember taking ours to Gulliver's on the hill for a Halloween thing what on earth were we thinking

Is the zoo still there? I seem to remember it consisting mainly of Lynx.

MayBee70

Matlock is the nearest to a seaside town that a non seaside town could ever be. How it manages that is beyond me. Did a great walk many years ago starting from Matlock and taking in Bakewell and Chatsworth but I very much doubt that I could walk that far these days. Do they still have the illuminations?

we used to take the older children when they were little (and to the illuminations) and we always said it was like being at the seaside without the sea!

I am genuinely interested in meeting new friends in Matlock,starting with walking and chatting or meeting for coffee

timetogo2016

Sorry but this sounds iffy to me.

Why on earth do you say that?

Sorry but this sounds iffy to me.