High Tor is a lofty limestone crag which towers over Matlock Bath, Derbyshire

High Tor is a lofty limestone crag which towers over Matlock Bath which used to be privately owned but now belongs to the local authority. This means that entrance is free, whereas at one time a fee had to be paid by visitors, including the climbers who scaled the sheer face of the crag to get there!

The view from the summit area of the tor is very impressive, all the more so because the cliff edge is totally unfenced and even those with a head for heights are likely to find the drop unnerving. There is an excellent view of Matlock Bath and the Heights of Abraham on the opposite hill. For those with strong nerves a narrow walkway called 'Giddy Ledge' winds around a section of the cliff and even though this is not the highest buttress of the tor, the situation is impressive.

Behind the tor summit are Fern and Roman caves, deep clefts in the rock which are not natural caves but lead veins which have been worked to a depth of up to 10 metres and a width of between one and two metres. These workings are undateable but are probably among the oldest in the area and may even be Roman in origin. The caves are fanced off and quite dangerous to enter.

At the south (railway station) end of the tor grounds there is the terminus for the cable car to the Heights of Abraham, the lazy way to ascend the hill on the opposite bank. This operates in summer months only.

The park can be approached on foot from the railway station, or from the road to Starkholmes, but the best approach is to start from the Artists' Corner carpark on the A6, cross the bridge which is 100 metres upstream and enjoy the spectacular walk up the edge of the cliff above the River Derwent to the tor.