A family friendly walk to Thor's Cave in the Peak District

This short ramble will appeal to children of all ages. Imagine the ground beneath your feet in land-locked Derbyshire, high up in the northern hemisphere, once a tropical reef lying under the warm shallow waters south of the equator.

Hard as it is to believe, the evidence lies under your feet as you tread on the many fossilised sea creatures embedded in the limestone steps leading to the gigantic Thor’s Cave just over the border of Derbyshire in Staffordshire.

Inside the cavernous Thor’s Cave, excavations discovered the bones of the exotic prehistoric animals that roamed this part of the Peak District in geologically more recent but still prehistoric times.

This is a route that will appeal to the imagination of children, and with the promise of cake back in the village, it’s an adventurous ramble kids and adults alike will love.

Entrance to Wetton village (Image: Helen Moat) 1. Starting from Wetton Car Park (free), turn right along Carr Lane, then right again along Well End Lane. At its end, turn left onto Leek Road.

The path to Wetton Hill (Image: Helen Moat) 2. Follow the second fingerpost on the left, signposted for Thor’s Cave, down through a field. Ahead, you’ll get a first glimpse of Wetton Hill with the yawning mouth of Thor’s Cave. It’s a magnificent sight along with the bump of hills above the Manifold Valley. The grassy path and meadow give way to woodland and a muddy path embedded with rough stone.

Crinoids in the steps to Thor's Cave (Image: Helen Moat) 3. Look out for a clear path on your left. It leads up to Thor’s Cave. The stone steps along the way are riddled with fossilised crinoid stems and the odd brachiopod – a reminder this area once lay under a warm ocean. The path dips and rises through woodland before climbing steeply up to the cave. It’s an impressive vision with its gaping entrance and cathedral-like space. The steep entrance into the cave requires some scrambling, the limestone polished from much footfall. Take special care with little ones.

Inside, it’s an atmospheric space –even more so when you know this cave contained the bones of giant deer, bears and even mammoths, excavated by archaeologists. It’s enough to fill children with wonder and delight. Recent excavations have also revealed the remains of humans who used the cave for shelter from the Bronze Age through to Roman Times and more recently by Anglo-Saxons.

The cave continues to draw modern Homo sapiens; it’s a popular destination with ramblers, day-trippers and holidaymakers. Emerging outside again into the light, take in the far-reaching views up the Manifold Valley before continuing your circular walk.

Crinoids in the steps to Thor's Cave (Image: Helen Moat) 4. Retrace your steps for a short distance, this time taking the broad path veering up and right. Steps lead to Wetton Hill. The views are even more spectacular from its top – but be aware there’s a vertical wall containing the cave that drops straight from the edge. Hold on tight to little ones.

5. Retrace your steps downhill to the wicket gate on your right. Go through and follow the well-trodden path as it dips and rises through fields. It meets a track squeezed between two dry-stone walls. This emerges again at Leek Road.

6. This time, continue straight on through the village. Wetton Village Hall on the right – aka the Old School Tea Room – offers light lunches, cakes and cream teas. If you want something a little stronger than tea, or a hearty meal after climbing all those steps, continue to Royal Oak Road and the Royal Oak, an old-fashioned pub with outside seating.

7. Leaving the pub, continue downhill on Royal Oak Road to the junction of Carr Lane. Turn right here. The road takes you back to the village car park and a superbly fun two-mile walk.

COMPASS POINTS

DISTANCE: 2 miles.

GRID REFERENCE: SK108 553.

MAP: OS Explorer White Peak OL24.

DIFFICULTY: easy with some stepped ascents and descents. The scramble into the cave requires sure-footedness.

REFRESHMENTS: The Royal Oak and Old School Tearoom in Wetton.