Excellent Weekend at Matlock Bath
Anne and I had an excellent weekend recently at Matlock Bath. It was what is known as a "fam" (familiarisation visit) organised by the Northern Branch of the Group Travel Organisers` Association (GTOA).
We stayed at the New Bath Hotel. Being a listed building, this had a traditional feel to it, in some ways a welcome contrast to today`s chains.
On the first afternoon, Friday, we paid a visit to the historic Masson Mills, just down the road approaching Cromford. One of the mills beside the River Derwent built by Richard Arkwright and now part of a World Heritage Site, this is now one of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill giant retail outlets.
After breakfast on the Saturday, we were taken to Crich Tramway Village, where there is a vast collection of historic trams, in various stages of repair, on display. And we had a ride on one of the trams.
From there we went to the Heights of Abraham, approached by the cable cars across the Derwent Gorge, and had a tour of one of the caves.
We also visited the Peak Village retail centre at Rowsley.
After an early dinner, we walked down to the river, to see the very popular Venetian Carnival, with illuminated boats, followed by a firework display.
On the Sunday morning, it was th branch AGM. While I was attending this, Anne went to a service at the pleasant parish church, and then we had a stroll around the little town, which we both love, before catching the train back to Leicester.
It was a very worthwhile weekend.
Posted by colin on Friday 10th December, 2010 at 4:36pm