Thor’s Cave walk is a brilliant walk for everyone to do and if are looking to do a short route this 3.5-mile walk is perfect. Our Thor’s Cave short walk begins from Wetton, Staffordshire and has plenty of highlights for a shorter route. At the beginning, you have views of Beeston Tor, and then the main highlight walking up to the entrance of Thor’s Cave and exploring inside it! It’s a fun walk for both adults and children.
From Wetton, you begin along the road and soon head down fields towards the valley with spectacular views as you walk downhill. Beeston Tor is the first highlight, a huge limestone rock. Go across the River Manifold, then it’s a lovely and flat walk down the Manifold Valley. Be sure to look up to your right to see the first glimpse of Thor’s Cave above the trees.
Go over the bridge and up the path through the woods including numerous steps to the entrance to Thor’s Cave. Enjoy the views down to the valley or go inside to explore, or do both! From here, it’s a short walk across a muddy path then a track to reach the road to Wetton village.
Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk at Wetton, route information, a map, a GPX file, plus a detailed step-by-step guide of the walk.
Have you explored any other caves in the Peak District? Let me know in the comments.
Thor’s Cave Short Walk from Wetton
Walk information + GPX
Walk type: Short circular walk
Distance: 3.5 miles/5.5 km
Walk time: 1.5-2.5 hours
Total ascent: 225 m/738 ft
Highest point: 302 m/990 ft
Walk highlights: Beeston Tor, Manifold Valley and Thor’s Cave.
Trigs: 0
Ethels: 0
Stiles – Yes – 4 (+ 2 narrow stone gaps)
Thor’s Cave short walk map
© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460
Click for online mapThor's Cave patch
Thor's Cave is a brilliant place to explore in the White Peaks area and now you can celebrate with your own patch.
Our patch captures the view looking out from Thor's Cave to the Manifold Valley. Order your right here:
visit shop
Charity Patches
Walk start point
Start grid reference: SK 10899 55140
Car parking address: Wetton car park, Carr Lane, Wetton, Ashbourne, DE6 2AF
This a small free car park, there’s a second part out of shot, but it’s only big enough for 20+ cars. However, during peak times there is a second overflow car park, simply follow the signs for free parking through Wetton village.
As Wetton is a small village, please factor into your plans if travelling at peak times you may need an alternative walk if the car parks are busy. View our other walk locations here.
Public transport
Nearest train station: Stoke-on-Trent train station (20 mile/32 km)
Unfortunately, there are no bus services to the start point in Wetton.
Facilities on the walk
There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Wetton (open from 10 am).
In the village of Wetton, there’s a lovely vintage tea room. Open Friday’s 10- 3 pm, all day Saturday and Sunday. Or you can pop to The Royal Oak pub which serves food too.
Other useful information
Thor’s Cave can be a busy place to visit, especially during weekends and holidays. If you can visit mid-week you’ll have a quieter experience and might even have the cave to yourself!
Getting in (and out) the cave – the entrance can be slippy, especially when wet, take your time and make sure you have the right footwear to avoid injuries.
And finally, Thor’s Cave has a few areas to explore towards the back so it’s worth taking a headtorch, like this Petzl one, to safely move around the cave so you have your hands free.
The final section of this route can be muddy (and slippy), during wetter months. Make sure you’ve got good footwear and also clothes you don’t mind getting muddy. Gaiters are pretty good for this route to save your trousers/leggings from getting covered in mud splashes!
Peak District weather
Check the weather for your walk location and hills. We’d recommend that you check a few resources and for hill walks look at the weather conditions in the valley and on the hilltop as they can greatly vary.
- BBC Weather for Wetton, Staffordshire
- Met Office weather for Manifold Valley
- Met Office weather and/or MWIS (Mountain weather information service) for the Peak District
Ordnance Survey map
The map required for this walk is the Ordnance Survey OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). Check prices here with Ordnance Survey or Amazon. If you’re hiking in all weather the Active OS maps are good to have as they are laminated so better on rainy days.
View both Peak District map options here.
And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.
For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App.
Want to learn more map skills? Check out our Guided Walks with map reading skills here.
Read later – Save the walk to Pinterest
Thor’s Cave short walk route
Stage 1 – Wetton car park to Beeston Tor
Distance: 1.4 miles/2.3 km
Grid reference SK 10917 55170
From Wetton car park, turn right and walk up the road, past the toilet block. The road turns right but you need to walk straight on. After about 800 m, the road bends round to the left and shortly after you’ll see a gap in the wall and a wooden gate (see below).
Follow the yellow arrow sign, heading downhill to the road, where there’s a stone stile to climb over. Turn right, over the cattle grid and immediately after there’s a narrow stone gap in the wall on the left, next to a (locked) wooden gate. There’s a national trust sign for Beeston Tor and a welcome to the Manifold Valley.
Walk downhill towards another narrow gap in the stone wall then down a narrow track which brings you out at Beeston Tor on your left. Turn right down a rough path towards a wooden gate, with another national trust Beeston Tor sign.
Stage 2 – Beeston Tor to Thor’s Cave
Distance: 1.2 mile/1.9 km
Grid reference SK 10547 54045
Go through the gate then down steps and across the river bed, (there are stepping stones but most of the time the river bed is dry). Follow the path up the other side and through a wooden gate. Turn right down the track. Then follow the track as it bears right through a small wooden gate (next to a larger metal one).
Walk along the track, past a campsite and along the track until you reach a wooden stile. Go over here to pick up the Manifold Way trail. Keep walking along until you reach a metal gate, go through and keep walking along the trail.
On your right, you’ll see a limestone rock formation and as you get closer you’ll see the entrance to Thor’s Cave. Take the next footpath on the right, where there’s an information point for Thor’s Cave. Cross the bridge, then head uphill on the footpath. After 200 m, the path turns sharply right and continues uphill via steps through the trees.
Eventually, you’ll reach the final few steps up to the entrance of Thor’s Cave.
Stage 3 – Thor’s Cave to Wetton
Distance: 0.8 miles/1.3 km
Grid reference SK 09872 54965
From the cave entrance, you can see beautiful views of the Manifold Valley. And of course, you can go inside to explore. The entrance to the cave is very polished from numerous visitors so be careful in wet weather. Once inside if you have a head torch you can go to the back of the cave.
After you’ve done exploring, leave the cave the same way. Turn right, and instead of heading down the steps follow the single muddy track that goes uphill to a gate.
Go through here and across the field to a stone stile over the wall, where you’ll see a signpost for Wetton. Turn left and walk up the track, there’s another stone stile about halfway up, next to a gate.
Walk up the track until it comes out on the road. Walk up the road for a few metres, you’ll see the village sign for Wetton. Then turn right down the road, follow to the end, turn left and you’re back at the car park.
Do you have any questions about this walk? Ask me in the comments below.
Other options for this walk
Fancy a longer route? Why not try this longer walk that explores Thor’s Cave and the other side of the Manifold Valley, near Wetton Hill.
More short walks in the Peak District
Love shorter walks in the Peak District? You might like these walks.
- Milldale Short Walk (Dovedale + Ilam Rock) | 3-Mile Route
- Bamford Edge BEST Short Walk in the Peak District | 2-Mile Route
- Higher Shelf Stones Short Walk (+ Bleaklow Plane Crash Site) | 4-Mile Route
Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here
Save me to your Hiking boards on Pinterest
*Peak District Walks participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliate programmes. If you purchase through these, Peak District Walks earn from the qualifying links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read more here.
Peak District Walks is a FREE online resource. Are you enjoying the walks? You can say thank you and buy me a coffee here. Thank you very much 🙂
Peak District charity patches
Read about the charity here.
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Charity Patches
Need more help planning your Peak District trip?
Join our Peak District walks Facebook page, follow us on Instagram and Twitter for inspiration.
More information on the Peak District, including transport options, where to stay, best Peak District pubs + other useful resources.
Check out the 7 YHAs in the Peak District and find the best walks direct from your accommodation.
Find out what maps you will need for your trip here.
Top tips - Read our useful guides on hiking tips here.
Guided Walks with an introduction to map reading (see dates here).
Visit our hiking recommendations page, (footwear, clothes + kit).
Or get in touch and I will help as best I can :).
Please note 'Peak District Walks' accepts no liability for any injuries or accidents resulting from walking our routes. We always recommend you wear appropriate footwear to avoid injuries and to take a paper map and compass on your walks. Read more here.
Pingback: Thor's Cave Walk + Manifold Valley From Wetton | 5-Mile Route - Peak District Walks