It is a tributary of the River Dove (which also flows through the Peak District, forming the boundary between Derbyshire and Staffordshire).

The Manifold Valley Visitor Centre is housed in Hulme End Station, which also has a model of the railway.

[6] [This paragraph needs citation(s)]The limestone cliffs that fringe the valley contain several rock-climbing areas, and named rock features, including Thor's Cave (grid reference SK098549) and Beeston Tor (grid reference SK105540), which overlooks the confluence with the River Hamps.

The discovery of Stone Age implements in some of the caves imply that minerals were mined around the Manifold valley thousands of years ago.

Nowadays there is little trace of the industry that made many people (mainly the Duke of Devonshire who at one time owned the Ecton mines) very rich.