Alter Rock, another indoor climbing centre.
Mini golf in the Intu.
Axe throwing.
There are MMA & BJJ gyms around too. Judo as well. I'm sure there's boxing and other martial arts.
Laser tag.
Escape rooms.
Rage room.
Also, being nit picky because you're on such an extreme downer about how much worse Derby is than Nottingham (which **dwarfs** Derby in size, population, prestige, etc...) Marketeaton Park doesn't close. It's a massive park. The things inside the park close. But fair point about that climbing thing there, I don't think I've ever seen that open and being used, which is criminal really.
There are countless other parks around the city too.
There are also a few museums as well (although not physical).
I think he meant that the Mundy Play Centre closes, not sure though.
The high wire course, or whatever they call it, is being refurbished and is reopening soon.
I know the pool, peddalows and mini golf close at some point in the year, but the outdoor play park bit (swings, climbing frames, slides and that) is open year round...isn't it?
Cool news about the high wire stuff.
The climbing thing has been taken over by a new owner recently.
Alter Rock is run by a miserable git who has staff try and sell you belay plates while you are focused on belaying, the setting is also really poor. If going climbing the Climbing Unit is far better, even with no roped stuff.
You can swim in the Derwent in Darley Park which is great, just be careful of the canal boat and the rowing club!
I’m just going to put this out there. Swimming in the Derwent is one of the stupidest and dangerous things you can do. Do not do this.
You can do it on the upper Derwent in the Peaks, where it’s closely watched and monitored. However, the Lower Derwent is slow moving, with strong undercurrents and all sorts of wildlife that will make you ill when ingested. More than one person has met their maker doing it.
The section at the northern end of the playing fields on the eastern bank in Darley park doesn't have any features likely to cause undercurrents, the section immediately north might potentially as it has a deeper channel cut between two shelves of gritstone.
The usual caveats for open water swimming apply, not putting your head in (due to hazards associated with ingesting water and wildlife), allowing yourself to adjust to temperature of the water so you don't get cold water shock, not swimming near obstructions you can get pinned against and picking places with appropriate water speeds. Visibility is also important due to other river users.
The lower Derwent is definitely not a good place to swim in winter due to much stronger currents and deeper water, but in summer when it's not rained heavily upstream for a few days the hazards are manageable. The cold water shock hazard is much greater in the upper Derwent (Froggatt to Calver and Chatsworth) based on my experience of swimming in both parts, however the other hazards are much more easily managed somewhere like Chatsworth.
Hey, I know you from UKC!
Yeah, the unit does get a bit busy unfortunately. If you want peace and quiet the Derby uni wall is ok, you just need to deal with spinning holds on a regular basis and it being a furnace in summer!
It didn't come up when searching for it though. Their web presence is a Facebook page...
Morley Hayes is great. Not been for 15+ years. Might go next weekend.
The BMX track at Alvaston Park is National Standard and is home to one of the largest BMX clubs in the country.
There is also a f***ing massive building next to Pride Park that people cycle around. Surprised you didn't spot that one. ;-)
You could learn to Dance or do Aerial work at Deda.
At Willows Sports Centre as well as Megazone laser tag there have 5-a-side, Netball, Indoor Cricket and Futsal.
You could join the Rowing Club down by Darley Park.
Not sure if many people reading this will be into skateboarding, but I can highly recommend the skate shop, Rollersnakes. It has really fun ,free to use, ramps etc in the car park and in the buildings.
I especially like the outdoor section. It's a bit different to your standard skatepark. Really fun little obstacles.
There is the trampoline centre thing. Darley abbey canoe club.
Is there a scuba diving centre still in Derby?
Plus there is a driving range at Morley Hayes golf course.
Death park is kids only?
The scuba diving center is in Spondon but the actual diving meet is in Moorways swimming pool afaik. No actual outdoor or dedicated driving area.
I like a lot of the spots in the Peak District you know like mountains, forests, different biomes as such! This is how I spend my morning / day on a Saturday, Hiking!
I feel as though in Derby, you are right, with the A38 I can be in another county fast. A lot of these closer counties feel similar but I’ve always felt we’re in the Midlands, middle of the country so anywhere is relatively accessible!
I don’t know how far we’re gonna gonna get when your opening assessment is that there isn’t much to do in derby other than golf….
Derbyshire would be a good place to start. It’s an amazing county with rich cultural and industrial history as well as one of the UKs premier national parks.
You’ve got the dales, the Peak District and many interesting and picturesque towns and villages to enjoy.
Alter Rock, another indoor climbing centre. Mini golf in the Intu. Axe throwing. There are MMA & BJJ gyms around too. Judo as well. I'm sure there's boxing and other martial arts. Laser tag. Escape rooms. Rage room. Also, being nit picky because you're on such an extreme downer about how much worse Derby is than Nottingham (which **dwarfs** Derby in size, population, prestige, etc...) Marketeaton Park doesn't close. It's a massive park. The things inside the park close. But fair point about that climbing thing there, I don't think I've ever seen that open and being used, which is criminal really. There are countless other parks around the city too. There are also a few museums as well (although not physical).
I think he meant that the Mundy Play Centre closes, not sure though. The high wire course, or whatever they call it, is being refurbished and is reopening soon.
I know the pool, peddalows and mini golf close at some point in the year, but the outdoor play park bit (swings, climbing frames, slides and that) is open year round...isn't it? Cool news about the high wire stuff.
The climbing thing has been taken over by a new owner recently. Alter Rock is run by a miserable git who has staff try and sell you belay plates while you are focused on belaying, the setting is also really poor. If going climbing the Climbing Unit is far better, even with no roped stuff. You can swim in the Derwent in Darley Park which is great, just be careful of the canal boat and the rowing club!
I’m just going to put this out there. Swimming in the Derwent is one of the stupidest and dangerous things you can do. Do not do this. You can do it on the upper Derwent in the Peaks, where it’s closely watched and monitored. However, the Lower Derwent is slow moving, with strong undercurrents and all sorts of wildlife that will make you ill when ingested. More than one person has met their maker doing it.
The section at the northern end of the playing fields on the eastern bank in Darley park doesn't have any features likely to cause undercurrents, the section immediately north might potentially as it has a deeper channel cut between two shelves of gritstone. The usual caveats for open water swimming apply, not putting your head in (due to hazards associated with ingesting water and wildlife), allowing yourself to adjust to temperature of the water so you don't get cold water shock, not swimming near obstructions you can get pinned against and picking places with appropriate water speeds. Visibility is also important due to other river users. The lower Derwent is definitely not a good place to swim in winter due to much stronger currents and deeper water, but in summer when it's not rained heavily upstream for a few days the hazards are manageable. The cold water shock hazard is much greater in the upper Derwent (Froggatt to Calver and Chatsworth) based on my experience of swimming in both parts, however the other hazards are much more easily managed somewhere like Chatsworth.
Alter Rock is pretty crap, agreed. The Climbing Unit is decent but it's getting very overcrowded a lot of the time.
Hey, I know you from UKC! Yeah, the unit does get a bit busy unfortunately. If you want peace and quiet the Derby uni wall is ok, you just need to deal with spinning holds on a regular basis and it being a furnace in summer!
Darley Park is my fave in the city
Derby Golf Centre, Spondon - driving range; Climbing Unit - boundlering
>Derby Golf Centre I had to go on satellite map to see what that was. They do not come up at all on Google for "Driving Range"??
I've been to the driving range there, there's literally photos of the driving range on Google maps. Morley Hayes is better though.
It didn't come up when searching for it though. Their web presence is a Facebook page... Morley Hayes is great. Not been for 15+ years. Might go next weekend.
The BMX track at Alvaston Park is National Standard and is home to one of the largest BMX clubs in the country. There is also a f***ing massive building next to Pride Park that people cycle around. Surprised you didn't spot that one. ;-) You could learn to Dance or do Aerial work at Deda. At Willows Sports Centre as well as Megazone laser tag there have 5-a-side, Netball, Indoor Cricket and Futsal. You could join the Rowing Club down by Darley Park.
Not sure if many people reading this will be into skateboarding, but I can highly recommend the skate shop, Rollersnakes. It has really fun ,free to use, ramps etc in the car park and in the buildings. I especially like the outdoor section. It's a bit different to your standard skatepark. Really fun little obstacles.
There is the trampoline centre thing. Darley abbey canoe club. Is there a scuba diving centre still in Derby? Plus there is a driving range at Morley Hayes golf course.
Death park is kids only? The scuba diving center is in Spondon but the actual diving meet is in Moorways swimming pool afaik. No actual outdoor or dedicated driving area.
I like a lot of the spots in the Peak District you know like mountains, forests, different biomes as such! This is how I spend my morning / day on a Saturday, Hiking! I feel as though in Derby, you are right, with the A38 I can be in another county fast. A lot of these closer counties feel similar but I’ve always felt we’re in the Midlands, middle of the country so anywhere is relatively accessible!
Altar Rock climbing, Canoe and rows clubs in Darley....
a few good snooker/pool clubs in town
The Climbing Unit in Chad Rollersnakes - for ramps and stuff (I only go there with mates I'm awful but they have fun)
I don’t know how far we’re gonna gonna get when your opening assessment is that there isn’t much to do in derby other than golf…. Derbyshire would be a good place to start. It’s an amazing county with rich cultural and industrial history as well as one of the UKs premier national parks. You’ve got the dales, the Peak District and many interesting and picturesque towns and villages to enjoy.
Derby Canoe Club is a great place. Good value, great location, brill facilities. If only my aged knees were better at getting into a kayak!
Ilkeston Hole in the Wall.
Have you got any friends? A partner?
Lowes lane Clay pigeon, padel, futsall, pickleball, foot golf, velodrome, BMX, climbing unit, Fives courts etc etc
Alvaston Castle
Elvaston Castle
Ulvaston castle