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Thor’s cave is one of our favourite beauty spots in the Peak District for 2026. The dramatic wide cave entrance is situated on a hillside near Wetton. You can walk into the cave to enjoy a stunning view of the Manifold valley and surrounding hills through the wide cave entrance. The Thor’s cave walk is short enough for families with children of any age and affords some very beautiful views without expending too much energy. Some sections of the Thor’s cave walk have some challenging terrain and we recommend supervising kids carefully in the cave and surrounding area.
If you love a good cave you will be blown away by some of the caves in Yorkshire and The Peak District. We genuinely had no idea just how many amazing caves there are. One of them just looks other worldly! If you are searching up Thor’s caves, I’m guessing you love getting outdoors. If you are trying to get out on more family walks, we have put together all the best Peak District family walks here and a special guide on Peak District walks with toddlers.
How do you get to Thor’s cave?
The Thor’s cave walk is a short round walk starting in Wetton village. Thor’s cave is around 30 miles south west of Sheffield. By car the drive takes around 1 hour – 1.5 hours. Due to the location in the south of the Peak District Thor’s cave is difficult to access by public transport. From Sheffield you can take the X71 to Hulme End which is around 3 miles north of Wetton. From Hulme End you need to either walk or take a taxi to Thor’s cave. From Manchester you would need to take a train to Buxton and then take the 422 bus to Hulme End.
Is Thor’s cave open?
Yes! Thor’s cave is open all day every day and free to visit and explore at your leisure. You do not need to buy tickets or permits and there are no official tours or guides of the cave itself. Thor’s cave is not very deep; however we do recommend bringing a torch and good walking shoes with sufficient grip as you have to scramble up some rocks.
What should I bring for the Thor’s cave walk?
Depending how long you plan to visit we recommend bringing food and drinks. We also recommend bringing a torch (especially a head torch) if you plan to explore inside of Thor’s cave. Although this is not essential as there is still a reasonable amount of natural light in the cave it will be helpful and will allow you to appreciate the inside of the cave more fully. Wear appropriate footwear: Some sections of the walk involve muddy trails, rocks and uneven ground.
How long is Thor’s cave walk?
This short Thor’s cave walk is around 2km in length. This circular walk should take around 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. If you’re like us, you’ll probably want to spend at least the same amount of time enjoying Thor’s cave itself. You can adapt this route to do longer walks in the area.
Is Thor’s cave hard to climb?
No, Thor’s cave itself is not hard to climb. The cave entrance is located roughly halfway up the hill. From Wetton village there is little to no climbing to get to Thor’s cave. If you are hoping to climb the hill itself, this is fairly steep but it is not a long climb (this climb is shown in yellow on our route map). From the top of the hill you can get great views of the Grindon and Wetton area. We recommend being very cautious at the top of the hill as there are cliff edges. This would be a risky spot for families with young children and we also recommend caution in high winds.
Is the Thor’s cave walk suitable for families?
The Thor’s cave walk is suitable for families with children of any age however careful supervision is required especially if you have younger children. The terrain is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. If you have younger children who need carrying we recommend using a sling or carrier and be particularly careful along the following sections: on the hilltop above Thor’s cave. Along the section of trail that leads through the woods to Thor’s cave. Inside Thor’s cave itself.
Where do you park for the Thor’s cave walk?
We recommend parking in Wetton village, Ashbourne. There is not a car park in Wetton village. However, there is a lot of free street side parking in this beautiful village. If you have time take a stroll round the village and visit the local tea rooms. The best spot to park for Thor’s cave is on the road side on School Lane by the Old School Tea Room. GPS coordinates for parking in Wetton village: 53.09578, -1.83970
Thor’s cave walk: Route Guide
The Thor’s cave walk starts in Wetton village by the Old School Tea Room. Walk South West down School Lane out of Wetton village. Where School Lane bends left, turn right and follow Leek road round to the right. Look out for a turning on the left. You will see a sign directing you towards Thor’s cave. This leads down a path with walls on both sides. After around 500m look for a right turn. Go right across the fields. Keep following the trail. You will see a hill ahead of you and a small path to your right leads into the trees on the hillside. If you are hoping to climb to the top of the hill for some excellent views go straight ahead and follow the steep path around 100m up the hillside.
The top of the hill has some cliff drops and is not a safe place for families with young children. We also recommend taking care at the top of this hill in strong winds or foggy conditions. Alternatively you can take a right at the bottom of the hill and follow the small path into the woods. Be careful of the drop to your right along this section of path. The trail can also be muddy along this section. After around 50m the path reaches the entrance to Thor’s cave. Thor’s cave is up to your left and to your right you will see some steps that lead down into the woods. These steps lead to the next section of the walk.
Enjoy exploring Thor’s cave. To get into Thor’s cave you need to scramble up some rocks which can be a little tricky, especially in wet weather. Supervise children carefully and we recommend good footwear if you want to explore the cave. When you get to the top of the rocks, you will see some beautiful rock formations in the cave itself and you can explore the cavern. Although this is possible without a torch, we do recommend bringing a torch to help you explore the cave. When you have finished exploring inside Thor’s cave, climb carefully back down the rocks and continue the walk down the steps. At the bottom of this section of path you will reach a T-junction. Go right and follow the path through the woods. After around 300m the trail reaches some fields. Keep following the trail across the fields until you rejoin Leek road close to the start of the walk. Walk back up the road into Wetton village.
What else is there to do near Thor’s cave?
Thor’s cave is located in the south of the Peak District national park. If you walk up the River Manifold (at the bottom of the Valley) you can also visit Wetton mill nearby. Alternatively if you have time to explore the south of the Peak District you can also visit Chatsworth, Dove Dale, Lud’s church and The Roaches. If you want to experience a beautiful Peak District village don’t miss Bakewell.
If you love exploring caves, don’t miss our guide on how to find the real Robin Hood’s cave located on Stanage Edge near Hathersage.
