The Manifold Valley
Soaked in history – the Manifold Valley is home to ancient myths and legends plus the famous and imposing Thor’s Cave – home to both Stone Age dwellers and wild animals, dating back to at least 50,000 years.
The river itself disappears near Wetton Mill and flows underground through a series of caves and subterranean passages to later re-appear 8 miles away in Ilam.
Ecton Hill with its famous copper topped church nearby – host to the worlds richest copper mine dating back over 300 years – there are tours of the mine available on certain days of the year.
The Manifold Trail snakes for 8.5 miles through the beautiful scenery of The Manifold & Hamps Valleys from Hulme End to Waterhouses – with car parks at both ends – the track was originally created in 1904 as a narrow gauge railway – The Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway – the plan was that it would be used by tourists and to carry some local freight – mostly provided by the creamery which operated at Ecton until 1933.
The track ran close to the river side in both the Manifold and Hamps valleys and would have provided a very scenic journey – however the railway lasted only 30 years, and the closure of the Ecton creamery was the final blow – too late to catch the heyday of the railways and too early to catch the modern nostalgia for steam railways
The track has been reopened as a cycle track with a Visitor Centre in the old station at Hulme End next to The Tea Junction – from Hulme End the track passes Ecton and then on to Wetton Mill – next passing beneath Thor’s Cave and round the curve beneath Beeston Tor – here it turns up the Hamps valley into a wooded section – then and uphill steadily to Waterhouses – a brilliant cycle ride or walk with stunning views.
Thor’s Cave