Our weekend accommodation in Staffordshire, deep in the Manifold Valley, was a National Trust cottage called Darfar.  The National Trust hamlet of Wetton Mill consists of two holiday cottages, a farmhouse and a privately owned tea room.

Beautiful setting of Wetton Mill

Wetton Mill Cottages

Wetton Mill Tea Shop

After a stormy night Sunday morning began to brighten up and a walk up and down the valley was in order. First we headed down river for about a mile along the former track of the Leek and Manifold Light Railway (1904-1934) to Thor’s Cave 250 feet up from the valley bottom.

Manifold River almost flooded

Manifold River and Wetton Mill Bridge

Thor’s Cave information board

Thor’s Cave

Approaching Thor’s Cave

The Cave (but I didn’t go inside)

The View from the mouth of Thor’s Cave

After a quick lunch at the tea room we headed up the valley and through the Swainsley Tunnel. An attempt to find a suitable track over the tunnel failed and we returned along the route we had originally taken. As dusk began to fall we arrived back at our cosy Darfar cottage.

Darfar

We had one would-be visitor