Manifold Valley walk
Venture through the Peak District's Manifold Valley, taking in views of Thor’s Cave, the River Manifold, Dovedale and Ilam Park.
Plan ahead
Popular spots like Ilam Park, Manifold Valley and Dovedale get extremely busy with car parks filling up by 9am on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Please plan ahead and check our social media channels before you set out.
Total steps: 8
Total steps: 8
Start point
Wetton car park, Carr Lane, Wetton, Ashbourne DE6 2AF.
Step 1
From the centre of Wetton village, take the small road leading towards Wetton Mill and the Manifold Valley. A few yards out of the village, a farm track branches off left and is signed as a concessionary footpath to Thor's cave.
Step 2
Take the path and follow it down a small dale until it branches. Take the left branch, which contours around the hillside towards Thor’s Cave.
Step 3
From the cave, return the way you came to the fork in the path, but this time take the other branch down to the river and cross over the footbridge.
Step 4
Follow the old railway track (formerly the Leek and Manifold Light Railway from Waterhouses to Hulme End – now the Manifold Way) down the valley to Weag’s Bridge, then take the farm track that runs parallel to it on the riverside and head for Beeston Tor Farm.
Step 5
From the farm take the track up the hillside away from the river and continue until it turns into a grassy trail. Bear left up the trail to a small wood at the top of the hill. Go over the stile and continue on the path down to Throwley Hall Farm.
Step 6
Follow the small road past the farm towards Rushley. At Rushley the road bends to the left and just past this take the path across the fields to the footbridge. Cross the River Manifold into Ilam Park. From the bridge turn right onto the path that runs along Paradise Walk to Ilam Hall.
Step 7
Go around Castern Hall and just behind it take a track on the left. Follow this track around the hillside until, at the third field, it starts to climb away from the valley. Branch left towards the left-hand corner of the field and go through a gate to a path at the top edge of the cliff leading down to the Manifold. From here, return to point 6 and then follow the next set of directions.
Step 8
Cross the head of the dale where you will emerge onto the tiny road that links Weag’s Bridge with Alstonefield. Go over a stile on the far side of the road and follow the path that skirts Wetton Low to return to the village.
End point
Wetton car park, Carr Lane, Wetton, Ashbourne DE6 2AF.
Trail map
More near here
Ilam Park to Dovedale Stepping Stones trail
Explore the White Peak with a walk from Ilam Park to the stepping stones at Dovedale.
Ilam Park to Wetton circular walk
A scenic walk from Ilam Hall and Park that goes via the River Manifold and River Hamps, taking in stunning views of limestone rock formations on the way.
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