OVERVIEW
Distance: 5 miles; 8 km
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 2 hours
Map: OL24 The Peak District
Route: View in Google Maps
GPX File: Download GPX file (desktop only) – What is a GPX file?
Thor’s Cave is a natural cavern. Its 10-metre arched entrance is easily visible from a distance and attracts many tourists each year. The origin of the name Thor’s Cave is unknown, but links with the Norse god Thor and a corruption of ‘tors’, meaning hills, have been suggested. Excavations in Thor’s Cave found human and animal remains, stone tools, pottery, amber beads, and bronze items. The caves are estimated to have contained the burial sites of at least seven people.
The cave is open for exploration. You can venture inside and look around Thor’s Cave. You will need a head torch for full visibility.
Route
View route in Google Maps
Elevation Profile
Car Park and Facilities
Thor’s Cave walk starts from Wetton Car Park on Carr Lane. Wetton Car Park is free and has toilets available. The car park is not established on Google Maps; however, you can see the exact location of Wetton Car Park on the satellite view.
The address of the car park is
Wetton Car Park
Wetton
Ashbourne
DE6 2AF
You will pass Wetton Mill Tea Rooms on the walking route. They serve food and drink, have toilets available and there is plenty of space to sit along the River Manifold to enjoy a break.
Start of Thor’s Cave Route
At the back of the Wetton Car Park, climb over the stile and cross the field.
Climb over the next stile.
Turn left onto the road.
Follow the road until you reach the split and signpost. Continue left, following the sign for “concession path to Thor’s Cave”.
Head right at the next split in the path. You can see the cliff of Thor’s Cave.
Continue through the wooden gate and turn right. The path leads to the entrance of Thor’s Cave.
After exploring Thor’s Cave, return the same way you came and head left down the steps.
Turn left when the stairs split in two.
Cross over the wooden bridge.
Continue right onto the concreted path.
After the bridge, cross over the stile into the field.
Turn left at the signpost for the public bridleway.
Keep right at the next wooden post.
Keep left, leading downhill towards the wooden gate.
The route passes Wetton Mill Tea Rooms, a great place for a rest stop on the River Manifold.
Turn right at the bridge at continue the walk.
Continue passed the farmhouses. There is a gate at the back leading to the grassed route.
This section is very steep and is the highest climbing area on the walk.
Climb over the stile and head right, though the hole in the stone wall.
After the stone wall, keep left.
Go through the gate and turn right onto the road.
Turn right.
Step down through the wooden gate and cross the small stone bridge.
Continue straight over the wooden stile.
Head towards the gate.
Pass through the stone gate and continue straight ahead.
The road leads back to Wetton.
Turn right onto School Lane.
You will reach your starting point on School Lane. Turn left through the stone wall.
Continue back to Wetton Car Park.
