Begin with an exciting cable car ride to the summit of Masson Hill. Take your students underground on guided tours of historic caverns. Let them loose on the adventure playgrounds, learn more in the exhibitions and discover the historic buildings across the estate. With sheltered picnic areas, indoor spaces and plenty of viewpoints, the Heights makes a great destination for a trip. Trips can be linked to many subjects across the curriculum, with Geography and History as two main focuses. Teachers choose this trip as it is well organised and memorable for their students, providing an experience they may not otherwise be able to access.
What activities are available during educational visits?
Guided cavern tours in two different show caverns:
The Great Masson Cavern tour is a 35-40 minute tour in a large historic natural cavern turned lead mine. Follow the expert guide underground, enjoy the immersive sound and light show, and discover the geological secrets of the Derbyshire hills.
The Great Rutland Cavern tour is a 25 minute 'Victorian style' tour in a smaller cavern. Find out why the caverns were so popular with Victorian tourists, and how the lead miners worked down underground in the 1500s.
Cable Car Rides - take the cable car up to the summit and back down at the end of your visit, enjoy the spectacular views over the Derwent Valley.
Exhibitions - discover more of the history of the Heights through exhibitions. The Long View details the history of the local area and how the Heights came to be. In the Film Theatre, discover how the cable cars were built. Our new exhibition Womble Mania tells the story of The Wombles from 1964 to the present day.
Adventure Play - let the children release some extra energy across two exciting adventure playgrounds, equipped with giant slides, climbing frames, basket swings and more.
The Great Masson Cavern tour is a 35-40 minute tour in a large historic natural cavern turned lead mine. Follow the expert guide underground, enjoy the immersive sound and light show, and discover the geological secrets of the Derbyshire hills.
The Great Rutland Cavern tour is a 25 minute 'Victorian style' tour in a smaller cavern. Find out why the caverns were so popular with Victorian tourists, and how the lead miners worked down underground in the 1500s.
Cable Car Rides - take the cable car up to the summit and back down at the end of your visit, enjoy the spectacular views over the Derwent Valley.
Exhibitions - discover more of the history of the Heights through exhibitions. The Long View details the history of the local area and how the Heights came to be. In the Film Theatre, discover how the cable cars were built. Our new exhibition Womble Mania tells the story of The Wombles from 1964 to the present day.
Adventure Play - let the children release some extra energy across two exciting adventure playgrounds, equipped with giant slides, climbing frames, basket swings and more.
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Geology
Rocks Mining and Quarrying Geological Processes Fossils Plate Tectonics
Discover one of the Geological wonders of Derbyshire - the Great Masson Cavern. The cavern is a natural cavern formed 350 million years ago. It was then mined by lead miners in the 1500s. Evidence of fossils from the carboniferous period remain in the cavern, along with calcite, iron oxide and zinc, all embedded in the natural limestone surrounds.
Victorian
>Physical Geography
>Human Geography
>Local History
>Design Technology
>Georgian
>Outdoor Learning
>What size groups do we cater for?
5 - 200
On-site classroom facilities?
The Woodland Corner is an outdoor classroom space that can seat up to 40 pupils. It doubles up as a sheltered picnic area that can be reserved on request.
Is there first aid on site?
There are first aid trained members of staff across the estate.
Groups with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
The cable cars and most of the estate are accessible for those with mobility disabilities, unfortunately the cavern tours are not due to the amount of steps underground. There is a film alternative of the cavern tour.
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Anything else?
Trips vary from 2 hours to a full day. Itineraries can be arranged on request, and you will have a dedicated schools manager to assist with your planning.
Who are Heights of Abraham?
The Heights of Abraham first opened in 1787 as a pleasure ground and gardens for Georgian tourists, and has been welcoming visitors ever since. In 1984, the cable car was built to make access to the estate a lot easier. Now the 60-acre estate is a beautiful destination with gardens, heritage buildings, cavern tours, exhibitions, playgrounds, viewpoints, a cafe and restaurant and so much more.
Matlock Bath Derbyshire DE4 3NT
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