MANIFOLD VALLEY

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Thors Cave and Manifold Valley : Caves at Wetton Mill : Swainsley Bridge

On the left is a view from Wetton across the Manifold Valley. On the more detailed image, the spire of Butterton Church may be seen on the skyline. The view in the middle is of the caves at Wetton Mill, one of many caves in the valley. On the right is the river at Swainsley Bridge

This part of the Peak District attracts many walkers. One useful feature of the Manifold Valley is the track of the old narrow guage railway. This used to run from Hulme End to Waterhouses, and was important in taking milk from the farms to be sold in London. The track is now tarmacked over, and very popular with cyclists.

The caves at Wetton Mill are one of the landmarks on this route, as is the tunnel at Swainsley. The old road between Wetton Mill and Swainsley makes a more interesting alternative to the railway track.

One remarkable feature of the Manifold is that the river flows underground between Wetton Mill and Ilam. For much of the year, this section of the river bed is dry. The river rises again in the grounds of Ilam Hall, now a National trust property, and used as a Youth Hostel. At one point, a local spring and the main riser of the river are just a few yards (metres) apart. Given suitable weather conditions, the difference can be seen as the spring water is clear while the river water may be muddy.

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First draft September 2000