Deleted member 12539
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We wild camped last night on the car park in Cromford Wharf, near Cromford Mills marked on the POIs .
The car park is situated right next to the canal end/start, and walking distance for Matlock. We set Sat Nav to get us to the car park and when we got there my wife went and got the parking ticket whilst I put the kettle on (nop's).
She came back and informed me board says £3 for all day, 9am to 8pm, and we put the ticket on the dash. It wasn't until I went to read the board to check about 'overnighting' that I noticed a 2 ton limit was set for the car park, but thought 'oh well' paid my ticket now so we are staying.
I have been to Matlock Bath many times on the motorbike but not usually to explore the countryside. This time with wife and 12 yr old and our cycles we decided we would tackle the High Peak Trail which is indicated as being 17.5 miles in length, which I considered 'doable' for the three of us. Our intention was to cycle about halfway, turn round and cycle back, or about Parsley Hay distance. We had missed the big clues in the names, HIGH PEAK and MIDDLETON TOP .
The first part of the cycle was next to the canal and nice and flat, then once we got to High Peak Junction the trail took a right turn up a 1 in 9 hill ! What followed was a series of uphill struggles trying to encourage our 12 yr old that there was a flat bit just round the corner. This worked for the first two hills and eventually we sat down for our packed lunch just outside the village of Longcliffe and as the weather was closing in decide to head back down the hills to Cromford Wharf.
We had a walk into and around Matlock bath and back later that evening with tired legs for dinner in the 'van.
It was a marvelous evening, very quiet once the cars had left the car park, and I heard and saw one train in the distance later in the evening. We tucked ourselves into a corner and was not bothered at all. After breakfast the following morning we noticed an official vehicle checking the ticket machine at about 1130hrs, and due to rain we left for home shortly after.
'van behaved itself too, I had disconnected the solar panel in an effort to try to reduce the voltage it seems to be kicking out (will reconnect tomorrow), and the fridge seemed to be working on 12v even though the 12v light was not lit (another check to do tomorrow).
Altogether a great place to stop over, not sure about the 2 ton limit, but would chance it again.
The car park is situated right next to the canal end/start, and walking distance for Matlock. We set Sat Nav to get us to the car park and when we got there my wife went and got the parking ticket whilst I put the kettle on (nop's).
She came back and informed me board says £3 for all day, 9am to 8pm, and we put the ticket on the dash. It wasn't until I went to read the board to check about 'overnighting' that I noticed a 2 ton limit was set for the car park, but thought 'oh well' paid my ticket now so we are staying.
I have been to Matlock Bath many times on the motorbike but not usually to explore the countryside. This time with wife and 12 yr old and our cycles we decided we would tackle the High Peak Trail which is indicated as being 17.5 miles in length, which I considered 'doable' for the three of us. Our intention was to cycle about halfway, turn round and cycle back, or about Parsley Hay distance. We had missed the big clues in the names, HIGH PEAK and MIDDLETON TOP .
The first part of the cycle was next to the canal and nice and flat, then once we got to High Peak Junction the trail took a right turn up a 1 in 9 hill ! What followed was a series of uphill struggles trying to encourage our 12 yr old that there was a flat bit just round the corner. This worked for the first two hills and eventually we sat down for our packed lunch just outside the village of Longcliffe and as the weather was closing in decide to head back down the hills to Cromford Wharf.
We had a walk into and around Matlock bath and back later that evening with tired legs for dinner in the 'van.
It was a marvelous evening, very quiet once the cars had left the car park, and I heard and saw one train in the distance later in the evening. We tucked ourselves into a corner and was not bothered at all. After breakfast the following morning we noticed an official vehicle checking the ticket machine at about 1130hrs, and due to rain we left for home shortly after.
'van behaved itself too, I had disconnected the solar panel in an effort to try to reduce the voltage it seems to be kicking out (will reconnect tomorrow), and the fridge seemed to be working on 12v even though the 12v light was not lit (another check to do tomorrow).
Altogether a great place to stop over, not sure about the 2 ton limit, but would chance it again.
