Matlock Bath - North Parade
w/e 26 August 2018
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Attractively set in the Derwent Valley between high
cliffs the area is often referred to as a little Switzerland
but with its popularity as a tourist attraction and its amusements,
Matlock Bath also has a reputation of being like a seaside resort
despite being nearly 100 miles away from the sea.
The combination of the scenery and the attractions can be enjoyed
with a short walk along North Parade.
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With buildings including amusement arcades, souvenir shops and
fast food outlets on the right and the River Derwent on the left
it is easy to see the similarity of a walk along a promenade
in any seaside resort.
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Rounding a bend in the river some of the rides at Gulliver's
Kingdom - a theme park designed especially for children between
the ages of two and thirteen - become visible high up in the
trees on the valley side.
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But closer to hand on North Parade is the Matlock Bath Aquarium
complete with additional displays including the only remaining
petrifying well in Matlock Bath and gemstone and hologram displays
among others as well as an amusement arcade.
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There's also usually a free display in the shape of motorbikes
as you can always expect to see a selection parked in Matlock
Bath as it is a popular meeting place for their riders. The passing
Rover car dating from the late 1940s in the picture was an unexpected
bonus though.
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A lot of ice cream will have been sold during this long hot summer
but I think most people would struggle to devour one the size
of these cones.
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At the far end of North Parade where it changes to South Parade
we crossed the road and returned down the other side passing
a few more more shops and where once again we could see buildings
perched high up the valley side.
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Most of this side of the road however is a pleasant walk by the
River Derwent. The Jubilee Bridge that we crossed in October
2017 when we followed The
Lovers' Walk is hidden by the trees in this picture.
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As we neared the end of North Parade again, the footpath splits
into two with the right hand path leading into the Memorial Gardens.
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The War Memorial is visible from both paths and there is more
about it and some of the other attractions in Matlock Bath in
the Sentimental
Journey No. 03 from September 2007.
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