Matlock Bath - Scenic Village & Cliffs

Essential Intel

Illuminations take place in September and October, so investigating may be trickier then.

The river further on is not protected by boundary fencing, so keep children away from the edge. Be alert for busy road sections and river edges, and use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road at points on the route.

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Matlock Bath's scenic village and cliffs, with Detectives sent by Chief Inspector Gert Yer to investigate whether local swimming attendant Duncan Under's death in the River Derwent is linked to a swimming race between the Matlock Bathers and Mersey Maids.

The investigation covers 1.4 miles and should take around 1.5+ hours to complete. You'll start at Matlock Bath Railway Station, work through the village, follow the River Derwent, cross Jubilee Bridge and continue along the main road before looping back towards the start.

This Trail is wheelchair accessible and pushchair accessible. The route goes around the village and along the River Derwent, but it can get muddy at times. There are steep sections from the station car park down the hill and later a slight hill up the main road.

Keep Mini Detectives close around road crossings, busier road sections and the unfenced river edge.

Getting There

By car: Start the case at Matlock Bath Railway Station (DE4 3NS). Station Yard Car Park is the recommended option, with ample parking next to the station.

By public transport: Matlock Bath Railway Station is the start point, so make your way there to begin the investigation.

Need the Loo?

Toilets can be found in the Memorial Gardens near Clue 02, making this a handy early comfort stop before the evidence trail leads you further along the route.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome on this dog friendly trail 🐾

The route includes village sections, riverside walking, muddy ground at times, road crossings and an unfenced river edge, so keep canine colleagues close around traffic and water.

Food & Drink Stops

Solving a riverside mystery is hungry work. There are plenty of places to eat in the area, with the best spots before Clue 05 and after Clue 15.

There is also a lovely picnic opportunity along the riverside section if your squad prefers to bring its own provisions.

Want to Make a Day of It?

River Derwent

The investigation follows the River Derwent, a 66-mile river whose name means 'A Valley Thick with Oaks' in Celtic. It powered the cotton mills of the Industrial Revolution, and the 617 Dambusters Squadron used the river for target practise - plenty of extra evidence for curious Detectives to mull over as they walk.

Memorial Gardens

Near the start of the investigation, the Memorial Gardens make a useful early pause as well as a clue-hunting spot. Toilets are found here, and the route sends you looking around the gardens for the next evidence point.

The Grand Pavilion

Opposite the route stands the Grand Pavilion, known locally as 'The PAV'. It was a theatre, music and entertainment venue from 1910 until the late 2000s, then a nightclub. It closed in 2010 and was sold for £1 in 2012 to a charity aiming to restore it; a Heritage Lottery Fund grant was declined.

Optional extras: Heights of Abraham and Gulliver's Kingdom

When the case is closed, you may like to check out the Heights of Abraham cable car ride and/or Gulliver's Kingdom theme park before heading home.