Manifold Light Railway Track in the Hamps Valley.

Only 3 of us again this week as Geoff is still in Scotland We ventured into east Staffordshire and parked on the old track just on the outskirts of Waterhouses. This is called The Manifold Track, the disused Leek and Manifold Light Railway through the Manifold and Hamps Valleys from Waterhouses up to Hulme End over 8 miles away.
The first section of the walk is through the Hamps Valley and crosses the River Hamps no less than 10 times before we get to the Manifold Valley. I say the river because as you can see from the photos its bone dry. The River Hamps flows into the River Manifold just before Weags Bridge and this is also bone dry.

Dry river bed of the River Hamps

Another shot of the River Hamps

Welcome Tea rooms

Rob steaming ahead

Footpath up to Old Soles Wood

Lovely view of Beeston Tor, there are several caves in the area. St Bertram's Cave at the lower end of Beeston Tor was excavated in the 1920's and 30's, showing the site to have been occupied from iron age to relatively recent times. Saxon coins and jewellery were found here. 

Weags Bridge is a C19 Grade: II listed building

This is the other side of Thor's Cave

Rob in the middle of what should be the River Manifold

One of the numerous caves in the area,

Different coloured rocks in the river bed,

Rob found an old cap and thought Ike might like it.

Thor's cave gapes darkly from an outcrop of grey limestone almost 300 feet above the river bed. Past exploration of Thor's cave have found evidence of occupation from the iron and bronze ages and finds have included the bones of three species of bear, bison, cave lion and rhinocerous.

Breakfast time 

Lots of this plant around

Ike & Rob with Thor's Cave in the background.

Bluebells

Lovely carpet of Wood Anemone

Daffs are still in bloom

Another shot of the dry river bed

This is a concrete fence post covered in moss

Back to the car and off home

This was another cracking walk along the old track a total of 8 1/2 miles. Cant believe the river beds are dry after this winter, we just wonder where all the water has gone.
See you next week
Cheers