Why all those two-wheeled tourists flock to tiny town
DEEP in the Derwent Valley, often described as a seaside town without the sea, Matlock Bath is credited with being one of the country’s finest tourist destinations.
Now, however, it is synonymous with a specific type of tourism and attracts many visitors on two wheels.
Originally built in the early 18th Century, Matlock Bath has been attracting flocks of bikers for decades. Every Sunday in the summer more than 3,000 visit the small, picturesque town.
The area has attractions for those not on two wheels, including the likes of the Matlock Bath Aquarium, Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park and the Heights of Abraham cable cars.
But what keeps bringing the “bikies” back every year?
Popular motorcycle routes such as Snake Pass and the UK’s most dangerous road, the Cat and Fiddle, provide great views on the way in and out of the town.
The free motorbike parking also makes the destination desirable for those dressed in leather. However, in the past, the council has tried to change this. In 2016, a 50p charge for bike parking was rejected due to protests made by over 8,000 bikers.
With motorbike themed cafés and shops populating the promenade, it is clear that there is a strong biker influence over Matlock Bath.
Jon Keeling, 56, co-owner of Racefit,
a local motorcycle parts engineering company, remembers visiting Matlock Bath as a child on a pedal bike and seeing “the cool guys on the big bikes”.
He believes the “holiday vibe” that Matlock Bath provides, plus the “social and tribal” aspect of being a biker, plays a big part in the consistent popularity with “people from all
over the place – Manchester, Buxton, they all know the area as a meeting place”.
The local economy also benefits from all the bikers, with Mr Keeling
saying how people “get out on a Sunday for a drink and to get a bite out”.
Earlier last year, the council had to ask people to stay away from Matlock Bath due to the impossible task of social distancing with the number of visitors the village was getting.
Mr Keeling also mentioned the “historical importance of the place” with its Victorian-era buildings, plus the beautiful countryside surrounding it.
Although he was very positive about the area, Mr Keeling spoke about how the town could do with some improvements.
Though not a problem for bikes, the “ridiculous traffic to get through the town” was an issue that required some improvement, along with potentially a “car-park somewhere, with electric charging stations, as parking is a nightmare”.
With all this in mind, Mr Keeling still believes the “coastal town feel” combined with the “cool things to do” make Matlock Bath one of the best biker hotspots in the country.
With secret gems of the industrial revolution combined with scenic countryside tranquillity, the reasons for bikers to keep coming back to Matlock Bath are clear to see.