UKC

Evening all

I am coming up to the Peak District with the Mrs this weekend, she is not a climber.

With the weather forecast the way it is, other than sitting in cafe's or the pub all day, can anyone suggest things we can do (keep it clean please) that won't involve us getting soaked.

Thanks

In reply to funkyvin1:

Explore some of the commercial caves in the Castleton area perhaps. You go down one of them in a boat propelled by a man running his feet along the roof.

Al

In reply to funkyvin1:

Guess it depends on what you like doing, but speedwell cavern is worth a visit, other show caves are available! I also quite like the mining museum in matlock k bath , good if you are bringing kids as well. Matlock has a victorian Christmas weekend but not sure if that is this weekend but worth a visit if it is and you are in the area. Then for the evenings I would choose a pub with an open fire, home cooked food and a good selection of malt whiskey.

In reply to climber34neil:
There's the tram museum near Cromford and the cable car in Matlock. Chatsworth House is worth a visit.

Al

In reply to GridNorth:


You mean the pubs?

In reply to GridNorth:

Oh yeah, at Crich

In reply to funkyvin1:

Plague Museum at Eyam.

In reply to GridNorth:

+1 for heights of Abraham at matlock bath, much better value than speedwell caverns as you get the cable car, grounds and 2 commercial caves. Also Matlock bath is a decent enough wee spot to kill time, and they may have the illuminations up by now

In reply to funkyvin1:

If you go down the caves, make sure you wrap up warm! Speedwell, with the boat, has a fan in it to blow out the radon gas. It's ok going in, but coming out has surprisingly cold wind chill.

Look up the National Trust properies there - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out

In reply to GridNorth:

Just a personal opinion, but Haddon Hall is much nicer than Chatsworth. You'll also remember seeing it in loads of historical TV drams!

In reply to funkyvin1:

Caudwell's Mill may be worth a look if you're passing that way (it's just up the road from Chatsworth): http://www.caudwellsmill.co.uk/
If Mrs funkyvin likes baking they have a little shop selling lots of really nice flour.

In reply to funkyvin1:

You could easily spend a day in Haddon or Chatsworth with the advantage The Peacock in Rowsley is close.

Matlock Bath has a seaside resort feel (tacky but fun) and there's lots to do. Heights of Abraham is expensive and rather limited unless you are under 10. If you get the chance The Barley Mow in Bonsall is a hidden gem of a pub, just up the road. Crich Tram Museum is excellent.

Of the Castleton caves, Blue John is the most interesting, Peak cavern the most impressive and Speedwell the most unusual (the boat). With a bit of organisation and a sense of adventure you could get a key to Holme Bank chert mine (Bakewell).

If you need a walk in the rain, walk along the river from Cressbrook to Litton Mill (sheltered but muddy) then up onto the old railway where you can walk back though the tunnels, which will be dry (3 mile round). Monsal head pub is decent.

In reply to funkyvin1:

Just a heads up, Heights of Abraham (Cablecars) and Tramway Museum both good but also both closed for Winter!