Wetton, Manifold Valley and Thor's Cave

Wetton, Manifold Valley and Thor's Cave is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Leek, Staffordshire, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options.

Length4.6 miElevation gain1,128 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (14)

Getting There

The walk starts from the small village of Wetton which lies in the Staffordshire Peak District. The village has an inn, a church, and consists of a collection of farmhouses, cottages and a few larger houses. The walk takes you over sections of farmland, down dry dales then along the Manifold Valley Trail where the route passes Thor's Cave, from where you have magnificent views back down the valley. Thor's Cave, high above the River Manifold, has a 60ft entrance and looks quite spectacular. It is one of many caves in the area from which ancient bones and artefacts have been found. The walk is quite challenging with many climbs and descents throughout, some of which are steep and can be slippery. You will need to negotiate several types of stiles (including squeeze, wall and fence) and several gates. Some farmland is crossed so please take care with dogs as these fields may contain livestock. The footpath up to Thor's Cave has many flights of steep wooden steps, and this path could be slippery after wet weather. Public toilets are located at the start of the walk and also at Wetton Mill where you can also obtain refreshments if required (check opening times). The correct map is Explorer OL24 The Peak District White Peak Area.

Start to Right Turn

With your back to the car park, turn left along Carr Lane. On reaching the T-junction turn left again. Walk past the pub on your left and continue gently uphill (take care as there is no pavement). On reaching the post box on the left (and just before the road bends left), cross the road and turn right.

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Wetton tea room

Rest point toilet etc

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Right Turn to Squeeze Stile

Follow this lane as it bends left. At a sign for Back of Ecton, ignore a wall stile on the right, instead just continue on up the lane. Pass through a gate opening, walking forward through a disused quarry area, to cross a wall squeeze stile on the right.

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Squeeze Stile to Fence Stile

Veer slightly right up over a grassy bank. At the top you will have a broken wall on the left and great views down the valley. Continue forward to cross a further gated squeeze stile, follow the path over the next field to cross a fence stile.

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Fence Stile to Wooden Boardwalk

Continue over the next field, crossing a further fence stile. With a wall on the left, continue down the field. On reaching the end of the wall follow the grassy path down the centre of the next field, heading diagonally right. Pass the end of a line of trees and a stream on the left, bearing slightly right to cross the stream via a wooden boardwalk (this area is boggy after wet weather).

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Wooden Boardwalk to Road

Bear right again to cross a fence stile and continue uphill to go through a small wooden gate into a copse of trees. Turn right along the waymarked path until you reach the minor road. (This area is muddy after wet weather).

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Road to Left Turn

Turn left (uphill) along the road, taking care as there is no pavement. Follow the road as it bends sharp right. Continue uphill and then on down until the road starts to bend right towards a farm. On this bend go through a small wooden gate on the left.

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Left Turn to National Trust Sign

Keeping a wall on the right, follow the path going through a further wooden gate, and continue down the dale. Soon the path narrows and a wire fence will be on the left. On reaching the end of this, turn left, cross a wall stile on the right. Pass a National Trust Sign for Dale Farm to then cross a fence stile on the left.

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National Trust Sign to Dale Farm

Follow the path as it winds down the tree-lined dale, taking care as it is fairly steep and has rocky sections underfoot. On reaching the bottom, continue forward in the direction indicated on a waymarker post (ignoring a track off on the right) until you reach a gate into the yard of Dale Farm.

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Dale Farm to Manifold Trail

Cross the farmyard, passing barns on the right, to continue along the farm track until you reach the river. Wetton Mill is located on the left, and there are toilets and a small cafe available here. It is now owned by the National Trust but once ground corn for the local community. It closed down as a mill in the mid 19th century. Cross the stone river bridge and turn left along the road signed for Wetton and Alstonefield. Continue along the valley road crossing a further two bridges (taking care as there are no pavements). As the road bends left, go through a gate on the right crossing the river again. This is now the Manifold Valley Trail (please be aware that cyclists use this trail and can sometimes be travelling at speed).

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Manifold Trail to Information Plaque

Follow this valley trail for just under half a mile. Thor's cave soon comes into view. On reaching an information plaque about the cave, turn left.

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Information Plaque to Thor's Cave

Cross over the narrow footbridge (in dry weather the river here disappears underground and doesn't reappear for some miles further down the valley). Follow the stepped path steeply uphill and, on reaching a waymarker, turn right signed for Thor's Cave and continue up the steep stepped path. On reaching the top, if you wish you can turn right to explore the cave and take in the far reaching views, but to continue the walk turn left.

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Thor's Cave to Wall Stile

Follow the path as it bends right and go up a few steps to go through a gate. Cross the next field, you will soon have a wall on the right. Follow this as you go over a broken wall, through a gap, continue over the next field and then cross a wall stile onto a grassy lane.

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Wall Stile to End

Turn left to follow this walled lane (crossing a further wall stile) and, on reaching the end of the lane, you will meet with the road. Turn right and after a short distance turn right again, signed for the car park. Follow this quiet road and, on reaching a T-junction, turn left. After a short distance you will reach the car park and the end of the walk.

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Take the A515 out of Ashbourne. After about 8 miles take a left turn, signposted Alstonefield. Continue on this road,through Alstonefield, and then follow the single track road signed for Wetton. The small village car park (signed with a blue P) is on Carr Lane. The approximate post code for Wetton village is DE6 2AF.

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (34)

Photos (259)

Recordings (33)

Completed (90)

Gabby Nelson

February 28, 2021

HikingGreat!MuddyRockyScramble

Very very muddy near the cave, would definitely need walking boots. Very nice views.

Greg Balch

December 12, 2020

Hiking

pretty good... made a few changes to the route as wanted to climb the peaks a tad more

View Greg's Recording

Rebecca Cowen

November 28, 2020

WalkingMuddy

Good mixture of terrain, very muddy! great views as expected.

Katie Saxelby

November 22, 2020

Hiking

Great trail. We were at the carpark for 9am and just grabbed the last spot so we did the walk backwards and it was already fairly busy at the cave. VERY muddy and slippy but all part of the fun. After following the river it takes you on a obviously 'less travelled' (but still very clear) route because we didnt see another person until we got back to near Wetton and it got busy again.

View Katie's Recording