Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see

Castles

United Kingdom
England
East Midlands
Derbyshire
Derbyshire Dales
Matlock Town

View of Riber Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

View of Riber Castle

Recommended by 76 hikers out of 79

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Best Hikes to View of Riber Castle

    4.4

    (49)

    173

    hikers

    1. Riber Castle, Cromford & Matlock Bath loop from Matlock

    15.2km

    04:26

    390m

    390m

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Moderate

    Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Hard

    Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Moderate

    Tips

    June 29, 2022

    Riber Castle is one of the Peak’s famous follies having been built by a local industrialist to reside in at one time. It stands high above Matlock and is a 19th century grade 2 listed country house situated in the hamlet of Riber. It is 853 feet above sea level, high above the Derwent Valley, and it comprises of 90 feet high towers and over 145 feet of battlement walls. The drive up to it is not for the faint hearted! Its black silhouette on the hill can be seen for miles around and until recently, it sadly fell into disrepair.

    Riber was constructed in 1862-1868 by a man famed for the good care he took of his workers, John Smedley. He was a Victorian mill owner and philanthropist. This was the second impressive structure developed by this local entrepreneur, responsible for building the impressive Hydro on Matlock Bank, four stories high, 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. It has beautiful gardens stretching down the hillside and offered a world-famous water cure all until it closed in the 1950s. Today the building is the headquarters of Derbyshire County Council.

      February 7, 2021

      Riber Castle is a 19th-century Grade II listed country house in the hamlet of Riber on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. Known locally as "Smedley's Folly" because of the difficulty of getting water to the hill summit, it was built by the industrialist John Smedley in 1862 as his private home.

        September 4, 2024

        Work is currently underway to build luxury apartments in the castle grounds and further homes through the conversion of outbuildings and the gatehouse.

          In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

          Sign up for free

          Details

          Informations

          Elevation 200 m

          Weather

          Powered by AerisWeather

          Today

          Wednesday 26 November

          6°C

          4°C

          20 %

          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

          Most visited during

          January

          February

          March

          April

          May

          June

          July

          August

          September

          October

          November

          December

          Loading

          Location: Matlock Town, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom

          Other Popular Places to Check Out

          Lumsdale Valley Mill Ruins and Waterfall

          Explore
          RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
          Download the app
          Follow Us on Socials

          © komoot GmbH

          Privacy Policy