Manifold Valley - Peak District Walk
Thursday 10th May 2007
The 100th walk for the website, which had been planned for last week but the weather (and snooker) delayed it. Although the forecast had been for showers I was fortunate enough to not see any, although it was an effort to hold the camera still on the top of Ecton Hill. Despite the recent rain the ground remains quite hard and dry which certainly makes the climb up Ecton Hill easier. As the fields are full of cows with calves I took advantage of the concessionary path to Thor's Cave and avoided walking through one field of cows. Although the path isn't marked on the map it is quite clearly signed from Wetton and gives easy access to the cave.
Start: Hulme End car park (SK 1034 5930)
Route: Hulme End car park - Manifold Way - Ecton Hill (TP) - Wetton Hill - Wetton - Thor's Cave - Wetton Mill - Ecton Bridge - Manifold Way - Hulme End car park
Distance: 8.75 miles Ascent: 543 metres Time Taken: 4 hrs
Weather: Warm with sunny spells but a strong wind when on the top of the hills.
Pub Visited: None Ale Drunk: None
Heading up Ecton Hill.
The Manifold Valley from the path up Ecton Hill.
Looking towards Longnor and the hills at the head of the River Dove.
Looking towards Longnor and the hills at the head of the River Dove.
The summit of Ecton Hill.
Looking south-west across the Manifold Valley from the top of Ecton Hill.
Sugarloaf.
Wetton Hill, the route takes you by the wall, between the two summits.
Heading towards Thor's Cave.
The entrance to Thor's Cave.
The view along the Manifold Valley from Thor's Cave.
One of the many bluebells I passed as I descended from Thor's Cave, through the wood, to the bottom of the valley.
Thor's Cave from the Manifold Way.
Manifold Way.
Nan Tor Caves above Wetton Mill.
Wetton Mill.
River Manifold.
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