‘As amazing as your pictures may be, they will never fully do justice to the views from Thor’s Cave’
readers know that there is an ancient cave dating back centuries with incredible views that you can drive to easily from Leek.
The Peak District is known for its charming villages, stunning waterfalls and scenic walks. It’s also home to a number of caves - perhaps the most striking being Thor’s Cave.
I previously visited with my boyfriend for a day trip, after seeing lots of beautiful photos of the cave posted on social media. The site is steeped in history and has had thousands visit through the decades, but in more recent years, it’s definitely become an ‘Instaworthy location.’
The cave is a natural cavern in a limestone crag in the Manifold Valley, just outside the village of Wetton and you can reach the cave via the Manifold Way. It’s clearly signposted and we followed the crowd before we spotted the 10m-high entrance to the cave rising above the trees.
Before visiting, I did a bit of research into the site and evidence suggests human occupation of Thor’s Cave during the latter Stone Age, from around 11,000 years ago. Past excavations have found stone tools, pottery, amber beads and bronze items.
En route to the cave, we came across an information board which told us a bit more. It reads: “The rocks are limestone, formed from layers of dead marine animals between 280 to 360 million years go. During this time, the area where Thor’s Cave now stands was south of the equator and was submerged under a warm, shallow sea.
“The hillside would have been a reef, similar to those found in tropical seas. Many of the caves in this area have been used by humans and animals for shelter.
“Bones of a giant red deer and bears have been found in the area, and Thor’s Cave itself was the site of a Bronze Age burial. Some artefacts are on display in nearby museums.”
There was also once a train station at Thor’s Cave, popular with tourists and it has also been used by rock climbers since the 1950s.
On a sunny day in the Peaks, we headed up to the cave - you can’t really miss it - with groups of families and couples like us leading the way. It was about a 20-minute walk for us from a nearby car park and as we approached the entrance of the cave, it was a steep step up to get inside.
Visitors can explore the deep and ancient cave, but in parts it can be slippery. I found it okay wearing a pair of hiking boots, but I can imagine it may be a bit more tricky navigating inside in damp weather or if you’re wearing inappropriate footwear with not a lot of grip - so best to be careful. Inside it was busy with people heading to the back of the cave to catch a great shot of the impressive views framed by the cave’s entrance. We went during a weekend - but it’s definitely worth heading there in the week as it will obviously be much quieter.
The views from the cave were really something else. As amazing as your pictures may be, they will never fully do it justice as the scale of the site is massive and simply breath-taking when you see it for the first time.
We found a spot out the way and just sat inside for a bit, watching families climb around and take photos while we gazed out at the beautiful surrounding valley. The Manifold Way is wheelchair and pram-friendly, although access to the cave itself is limited. There is a free car park at Milldale, just under three miles away, and limited free parking available on Carr Lane, Wetton, for a shorter walk.
Heading outside the cave, we were also able to walk up through the paths to actually stand on top of it. Here, you can see wider views of the green hills miles around and these are definitely worth snapping on your camera too.
Around the cave, there’s plenty to walk around and see. And if the weather is decent enough, it’s a great place to bring a packed lunch and enjoy the warm weather, just like we did.
Through the shady woodland at the beginning to out into the countryside and around Thor’s Cave, we also spotted a cow or two on our travels. Instead of heading straight back to the car, we decided to stop off for a drink before we headed home.
And nothing is better then finding a traditional country pub. We took the pathway that brought us into the village of Wetton, around a 20 minute walk from Thor’s Cave.
It’s hear that we found the Royal Oak, a fantastic pub that dates back to the mid 1700s. If you’re looking for a quick place to stop off, or fancy treating yourself to a heart lunch after the massive walk, I’d definitely recommend it.
Surrounded by beautiful cottages and farmland, it was lovely to just walk around the area for afterwards. If you fancy a day trip away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, a visit to Thor’s Cave and Wetton is definitely worth it.
An ancient natural wonder is just a shotrt drive away from Leek, writes