Matlock Bath occupies a spectacular position in a narrow gorge carved by the River Derwent, its steep wooded hillsides earning it the nickname "Little Switzerland." Victorian visitors came to take the thermal waters, and the town retains a pleasantly old-fashioned atmosphere with amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, and illuminated gardens. Cable cars climb to the Heights of Abraham with its show caves and hilltop views. The Derbyshire Dales offer excellent walking, cycling, and rock climbing in dramatic limestone scenery.