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Accessibility

We love to welcome all visitors to the Heights, but due to the nature of the site not all areas are accessible. Please read the information below before planning your visit.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not recommend you bring a mobility scooter as they can be unstable on our steep terrain. 

A visit to the Heights of Abraham is an exciting day out, but may provide an unusual environment for you and your friends/family, especially when boarding the cable car. Here are our top tips for you to ensure you are prepared for your visit.

  1. The cable cars are on a continuous driven loop, of which, only stops for disabled customers or when there is a safety risk presented. The maximum size for wheelchairs and pushchairs is 105cm x 60cm.

  2. The cable cars significantly slow down when in the station to allow you to board safely.

  3. There is a small step up into, or down out of, the cable cars. We can place a ramp for those in a wheelchair. The cable car may sway slightly as you step on, but this is nothing to worry about.

  4. The cabin roofline is low, and requires visitors to use care when boarding and disembarking. Our stewards will also remind you to watch your head as you step in and out. 

  5. 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 pushchair, please speak with the cable car team who will be happy to help.

Access

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.

Hearing & Other Aids

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

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.

Car Parking

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. 

At the Summit

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. 

Natural Caverns

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.

Pedestrian Access

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.

Pushchairs and Larger Items

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. 

FREE CARER ADMISSION - Terms and conditions

Disabled guests pay the standard cable car ticket price and must book in advance using our times and tickets page. Accompanying carers (the prime care giver) will be admitted free on arrival and do not need to book in advance, however, you will need to show either your Carers ID card OR one of the following documents: DLA, PIP etc. in order to quality for free admission on arrival. If you are a carer to a disabled child under 5yrs, you will need to purchase a standard child ticket to qualify for the free carers admission. Free carers tickets are not valid in conjunction with any other discount offer or promotion. 

If you are concerned about any aspect of your visit to the Heights of Abraham, please get in touch and we will happily discuss your day with you. Please email office@heightsofabraham.com or phone 01629 582365.