Thor's Cave – Concession Path to Thor's Cave loop from Waterhouses

Hiking trails & Routes

West Midlands Region

Staffordshire

Staffordshire Moorlands

Waterhouses

Thor's Cave – Concession Path to Thor's Cave loop from Waterhouses

Hard

5.0

(5)

hikers

Thor's Cave – Concession Path to Thor's Cave loop from Waterhouses

05:18

19.6km

260m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 748 m for 164 m

Customers only

After 1.19 km for 164 m

Customers only

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.05 km

Brown End Quarry

Nature Reserve

1.87 km

View of the Peak District Hills

Highlight • Viewpoint

2.32 km

View of the Countryside in Peak District National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

5.66 km

Old Soles Wood

Highlight • Natural

The woodland is marked as a wood on available maps from 1775 and is named as 'Old Soles Wood' on maps of the area from 1837 (Yates 1775; Ordnance Survey 1837). It is possible that parts of the woodland was managed to produce poles for charcoal burning or other small-scale industry.

Charcoal burning is known to have been an important industry in the medieval and post medieval periods. Archaeological evidence for the production of charcoal is often ephemeral. However, we know charcoal burning took place in this region as early as the medieval period. In the 16th to 18th centuries there was a large increase in production following an increased demand for charcoal for slag smelting hearths, copper refining and iron smelting. Charcoal was usually acquired from the nearest possible source as the pieces of charcoal would break up over larger distances.

Tip by

8.40 km

View of Thor's Cave and the Manifold Valley

Highlight • River

Lovely views down to the River Manifold and Manifold Valley.

Tip by

8.79 km

Thor's Cave

Highlight • Cave

The views alone are worth the trek up, especially those past the cave and up at the cloud. You'll need a buddy to help you scramble the last section into the cave entrance if you're attempting it on a rainy/snowy day - it gets very slippery.

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