When is it ever going to stop raining the clouds look very threatening, black and ready to burst. We couldn’t spend another day couped up in the motorhome we’ll go mad, so rain hail or shine we are cycling to Matlock Bath today. Paid our last £5.50 for All Day Parking packed the motorhome ready for Bakewell this afternoon.

Rain jackets on and we cycled to Matlock Bath to the Whistlewood Centre, Matlock Bath where we locked our bikes and walked to the Heights Of Abraham Cable Car Base Station where we took the cable car to the wooded hillside known as the “Heights” taking in the views below of the Derwent Valley, Matlock Bath, the River Derwent, the limestone cliffs of High Tor Park and in the distance Matlock. The distinctive white building you first see set amongst the trees was a residence known as Upper Tower now it is the Treetops Visitor Centre the focal point at the summit. Here you can meet, eat, drink and relax while you enjoy the views of the Derwent Valley through panoramic windows or from the terrace.

Lead mining played a key part in the development of the area and today we were going on a guided tour of the two show caverns the Masson where we were taken on a fascinating journey from the glow on floor lights to hear the cavern’s 300 million year history, enter a 30m high by 50m long cave by candle light like the miners who worked the mines to darkness then a chandelier of lights. Very interesting how the farmer Tinker found the cavern mined it of lead ore for 6 years till there was no more in the mid-17th century and then the miners who had no work turned to tourism taking the wealthy folk down Tinkers Shaft (air hole and entry point tinker found).

The rain set in and we got slightly drowned coming back from looking at Tinkers Shaft above ground and looking at the panoramic views of Derwent Valley across to the 300ft high spectacular High Tok and in the distance Matlock and Matlock Bath. Took shelter at the High Falls building by the pond where the miners sorted and prepared the lead ore, to the Long view where we saw the 230 year story about the estate and visited the upper floor Fossil Factory presentation interesting facts about rocks, fossils and the formation of the Peak District and is home to a giant Ichthyosaur fossil.

With the rain not easing and the steep path to the Rutland Cavern being wet and a little slippery, we decided to give it a miss seeing we know and have seen a day in the life of a 17th century lead or coal mining family as they worked underground.

Took a while for the rain to stop, the black clouds to pass and then there were patches of blue sky good reason for us to get back on our bikes to continue exploring Matlock Bath. Headed off on a winding path alongside the riverside through the ancient woodlands enjoying the beautiful scenery of what was meant to be the cascades (small waterfall in the river) only to find we had just cycled through Lover’s Lane. Didn’t see any lover’s strolling hand in hand only coloured lights in the trees.

Over the footbridge we strolled around the Derwent Gardens to look for the fascinating features that made the village such a famous spa, couldn’t find them only saw the fountains, ornamental pools that were feed by thermal springs and grottos built from the local tufa rock making this a delightful place to relax from the bustle of the promenade above. The kids loved the ponds and fountains plus there is a small amusement park with rides just above the gardens for the kids and on the river you can hire traditional wooden boats to row up and down the river.

With the sun being so warm we stopped for lunch on the promenade, so many fish and chip shops to choose from then it was a quick cycle back to the motorhome and off to Bakewell while the sun was out, thankfully it is a short drive of eight or so miles away

The rain cloud is following us as we drive through towns, the scenic countryside of the rolling hills of the Peak District National Park, woodlands, pines, sheep and cows grazing and of course the drystone walls.

Bakewell is another historical market town on the banks of the beautiful River Wye, with mellow stone buildings, medieval arched bridge and little courtyards with pleasant gardens and riverside walks. We have arrived on the last day of the Bakewell Royal Show and the town is a height of activity making it very busy for us to find a place to wild camp. With it being wet the last few days the Agricultural Centre is out of the question, too muddy plus the show is on, next bet was the old railway station over the bridge. Found a quiet spot near the station by the industrial area where another motorhome was parked.

Meandered round the tiny courtyards and streets to find a tearoom that made the famous Bakewell Pudding to sit down to a leisurely afternoon tea and watch the world go by. Sorry to say we don’t know what the people rave about as the tart was too sweet for us, thankfully the custard made it palatable for us.

Even the walk back to the motorhome didn’t ease our full stomachs, good reason to not cook dinner. Richard as usual made friends with the welsh couple in the other motorhome had a good chinwag before we all retired for the evening.