Thor's Cave, Natural cave in Manifold Valley, Staffordshire, England
Description
Thor's Cave is a limestone cavern in the Manifold Valley, Staffordshire, England, with a wide entrance arch that opens roughly 80 meters (260 feet) above the valley floor. The opening measures around 7.5 meters (25 feet) across and 10 meters (33 feet) tall, forming a natural frame for the landscape beyond.
History
Excavations between 1864 and 1935 revealed human remains, stone tools, pottery, and bronze items spanning from the Paleolithic through Roman periods. The finds show that people used the cave as a shelter across thousands of years.
Culture
The name connects the cave to old Germanic words, though the exact source remains uncertain. Local walkers often pause at the entrance to photograph the valley spread below.
Practical
A stepped path leads up from the Manifold Way to the cave, with the climb taking around ten minutes. Parking is available in the nearby village of Wetton, from where visitors can reach the trail.
Did you know?
The walls inside hold eleven climbing routes of different difficulty levels, including a sport climbing line called Thormen's Moth. Climbers regularly come here to test the limestone rock.
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