This beautiful limestone crag is based in Manifold Valley in Staffordshire, about 1 mile to the West-West-South of Wetton.

Car park ( Google Map coordinates -53°05’08.1″N 1°51’07.7″W ) is free and fairly quiet, but the spaces are very much limited so bare that in mind if the forecast is looking nice and sunny.  You can also park up in Grindon or Wetton and the walk to the cave in about 1.5 miles or less. 

The walk along the river Manifold in itself is very short and chilled, with no artificial noise pollution, just natural calls of surrounding animals that inhabits the area.

After crossing the bridge continue following the path for about 100 metres and than follow the sharp right turning up (left if you are walking from Wetton). On a dry day you might be able to take shortcuts but if it’s raining pretty much all the time, you’re most likely to be slipping all over and it can get quiet steep walking up off rout.

Thor’s Cave past goes back as far as Palaeolithic period where it was used as shelter, with early hunting tools, pots and bronze items found inside cave indicating it was used more during Iron and Roman era. It is also believed to be a burial site at some point, with human and animal remains found at the spot. I have looked roughly for marks on the wall or some remains from the past but I think everything by now have been removed, so no creepy skeletons unfortunately.

Inside, the cave takes many shapes and forms, with some pretty tough trad and sports climbing routs going up inside the cave and at the top of the roof itself. Check out UKC link for more crag ruts climbing info.

Below are the views from the top of the crag. For me, it was a very windy day out with storm Dennis amongst the UK. Also the roads to and from the car park were a bit tight so that’s something to bare in mind if travelling in a van.

I’m so glad me and my friend Joe have made the final call to check out the Cave despite the not so pleasant weather forecast. Looking forward to going back there again, but next time it will be with a climbing party and a picnic 🙂