The Lights of Abraham: a new light trail in Matlock Bath

Christmas lights won’t be the only lights sparkling in Matlock Bath over the festive period.

The Heights of Abraham’s new event for the winter season - The Lights of Abraham - is a stunning light trail which will allow visitors to experience the magic of this family-friendly attraction in a brand new and enchanting light.

It comes off the back of Matlock Bath’s ever-popular Illuminations, which saw sold out events across multiple weekends, culminating in a grand finale at the end of October.

The Lights of Abraham event extends the usual opening season at the Heights and takes place from Friday November 22 until Monday December 30 (excluding December 24-26) and welcomes visitors of all ages to experience the Heights magnificently illuminated by evening.

Magical evenings await (Image: Heights of Abraham) The light trail begins on the approach to the cable car base station itself, a festoon-lit riverside walk from the town of Matlock Bath, before alighting your gondola cable car and flying high through moonlit skies to reach the summit of another world.

As you ascend, see the myriad lights in the town and colourful riverside approach all twinkling below.

Upon arrival at the summit, join the lights trail which will lead through illuminated gardens, across boardwalks and woodland pathways – an illuminous adventure during which some interesting characters and magical scenes will unfold along the way. The trail will take approximately one hour, with extra time for refreshments.

Look out for the woodland night creatures, sparkling fairy gatherings and the enchanted rainbow forest to bring awe and wonder to a dark winter’s night.

Matlock Bath is no stranger to stunning light displays (Image: Heights of Abraham) To add even more enjoyment to the seasonal atmosphere there are delectable treats and toasty warm drinks to sustain adventurers, including hot chocolate, freshly-made mince pies, novelty cakes and festive biscuits – children and adults alike can enjoy connecting around glowing firepits, toasting marshmallows under a starry sky.

Visitors are welcome to browse at their leisure and the Masson Pavilion exhibition will be open along with Gift Shop and Vista bar, and the café will be open for refreshments.

The Lights of Abraham will be a wonderful way in which to round off a spectacular year of celebrations, during which the Heights has marked two milestone anniversaries – its Ruby anniversary of the introduction of the cable cars, and its Golden anniversary since the attraction was first taken over by the Pugh family in 1974.

This double anniversary year will be an especially memorable one in The Heights’ 237-year long history, as it has been entertaining visitors to the Peak District since 1787.

‘We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors to see the Heights from a very new perspective during our exciting new winter season event, where visitors begin their magical ride to the top of the Heights, looking below onto the brightly lit Matlock Bath from their alpine-style cable car, before journeying on with this imaginative and enchanting lights experience,’ says Andrew Pugh, owner of Heights of Abraham.

Andrew, Georgie, Sophie, Rupert and Vanessa Pugh receive the Gold Award from VisitEngland (Image: VisitEngland) ‘Vanessa and I are so thrilled with a recent win at the VisitEngland Awards, where the Heights was awarded ‘Gold’, and what a befitting end to our milestone year to receive this accolade. We never dreamed back in 1974 we would be celebrating a Gold award to complete such a wonderful Golden anniversary year.

‘We are most grateful to our visitors and the dedicated support of our whole team here supporting this incredible journey which spans a half century.’

The Gold award is the highest possible recognition of outstanding visitor experience awarded in England this year, and was presented by VisitEngland, the country’s official tourist board, to the Heights following a mystery visit by a judge earlier this season.

Other 2024 Gold winners included the Sandringham Estate and the Tower of London.

‘We decided that with a double anniversary year on the cards, it would be an ideal opportunity to extend the season this year, with a spectacular winter lights event,’ adds Rupert Pugh, development director of the Heights of Abraham.

Enchanting lights (Image: Heights of Abraham) ‘We recognise this is not just a benefit to our business, and a benefit to our teams too, giving them the extra employment on the lead up to Christmas, but also impacts on other tourism businesses in the area, giving hospitality and accommodation providers more opportunity host incoming visitors.

‘It also brings our anniversary celebrations to a fitting finale; and with the recent Gold Award from VisitEngland, it has become even more of a reason to close this year’s season in spectacular style!’

The Lights of Abraham take place 4.30pm until 9pm, with last entry at 8pm. Visitors are allocated a 15-minute time slot for entry and can stay until closing time.

For more details, visit heightsofabraham.com.