
Matlock Bath and High Tor Circular
Derbyshire
This short but sharp circular climbs out of the Victorian spa village of Matlock Bath and up to the dramatic clifftop of High Tor, where the ground falls away almost 100 metres straight down to the River Derwent. It is a dog friendly walk that rewards a steady effort with one of Derbyshire's great viewpoints, and can be linked with Giddy Edge and the Heights of Abraham on the opposite side of the valley for a bigger day.
Dogs must stay on lead along Giddy Edge and around the summit of High Tor because of genuine, unfenced cliff drops, with off-lead freedom possible again on the wooded descent once away from the edges. The climb is steep and relentless in places, with stone steps, roots and some rocky ground. Matlock Bath's parade is packed with cafes, fish and chip shops and the dog friendly Fishpond and Temple pubs, and there is a pay and display car park at Matlock Bath station.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.3 km (3.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Duration
- 2 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, River, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Cafes, fish and chip shops and dog friendly pubs along the Matlock Bath parade; toilets near the station.
- Parking
- Pay and display at Matlock Bath station car park and the Olde Englishe car park; around £5 for four hours, full on weekends.
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