Accessibility

Specific information for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility:

By its very nature, the Heights of Abraham is a steep, high hillside estate first opened to the public in 1787 when little thought was given to wheelchair users and accessibility.

Please read our accessibility statement before you visit. The Heights of Abraham Accessibility Statement 2023

Please be aware- There is a very steep slope up to the ticket office and cable car base station. Unfortunately our team are unable to assist you making the ascent at the current time. 

We make every effort to ensure that as many areas as possible are accessible to all visitors, but please be aware that due to the natural gradient of the site and natural formation of the caverns, certain areas of the estate are inaccessible to wheelchairs and people with mobility issues or of limited vision.

If you are deaf or partially deaf and wish to go on a guided cavern tour, we recommend you shine a torch on the person you've visited with who can sign the tour for you. If this is not possible we are able to provide you a written guide of the cavern to read while our tour guide gives the same presentation to the rest of the tour group. Please ask the cavern guide if this is something you'd like to do.

If you are visually impaired we do not recommend you go into the caverns due to the uneven nature of the underground floors and ceilings. There is a short video of the Masson Cavern tour playing in the Masson Pavilion, that gives information on lead mining, geology and social history, which you are welcome to enjoy. 

Our self-guided audio tour is played through your mobile phone. There is also the option of reading the transcript under each tour if you are hard of hearing. 

Dogs are welcome on the cable cars, outdoor cafe terrace and throughout the landscaped grounds, as long as they are kept on a lead. Water bowls provided. Unfortunately. for safety reasons dogs are not allowed in the indoor food catering areas and underground caverns. For more information about where you can take your dog at the Heights, please click here. 

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed into the exhibition buildings as long as they are kept on their leads.

All car parking is provided by the Derbyshire Dales District Council. The nearest is the railway station car park in Matlock Bath which is a 400m riverside walk from the Cable Car Base Station. 

Once at the summit there is limited access, due to the very steep natural terrain at the Heights; however, there is wheelchair access to all buildings with the exception of the Victoria Prospect Tower. 

The natural formation of the caverns is such that they are unfortunately not suitable for people with walking difficulties, wheelchairs or the visually impaired; however, there is access to watch a film show in the Masson Pavilion which shows you what life was like for the miners all those years ago, and takes you on a visual and audio tour of the cave. It is just what your friends underground will experience, but they have to climb 175 steps! There is also a hearing loop here too.

Due to the nature of the terrain, pathways down to the Great Rutland Cavern are very steep and are not suitable for wheelchairs or people with walking difficulties.

If you do not have a mobility disability but have hearing disabilities please advise your guide who will supply a written safety briefing and script of the tours. Scripts of the Cavern Tours are available in large and regular print on request.

The West Lodge pedestrian entrance to the Heights is currently closed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Although the West Lodge pedestrian entrance is situated at the bottom of the estate, it is still at the top of a very steep hill and is therefore not suitable for people with impaired mobility.

Unfortunately in the interest of health and safety we cannot permit visitors to bring vehicles onto the estate. The small roads on the estate are difficult to navigate and are unsuitable for normal cars.

Please note we are an equal opportunities employer and any future product development will always take into consideration the needs of the disabled.

We highly recommend collapsing all pushchairs or similar prior to entering either of the stations so that you are ready to board the cable car. If you are unable to collapse your items or are struggling, please speak with the cable car team who will be happy to help with further instruction. 

Please note, the cable cars do not stop in the station unless the safety of the customer is at risk. The cable cars slow down considerably for you to board safely. 

You cannot take pushchairs into the caverns due to the steps and bumpy terrain. There are safe sheltered areas for you to store your pushchair as you go underground. Please ask a cavern guide for advice.