Thor's Rock

Hidden within the woodland of Thurstaston Common is a mysterious red sandstone landmark known as Thor’s Rock.

The rock has been the subject of much mystery and fascination for many generations, reached by following winding footpaths through the gorse and birch woodland on the common. The rock is around 30 feet in height and can be accessed via a series of eroded channels and gullies. The softness of the sandstone is revealed by the numerous visitors who have carved their names into the soft red rock.

Many colorful legends surround the origins of the rock. Some state that Thor struck it with his hammer. Others say that Thor’s Rock was a place of Viking worship. The stone is most likely a natural formation called a tor, formed as a result of quarrying and the natural weathering of the immediate area.

While mysteries surrounding the rock still remain, what is true is that Vikings did land and settle on the Wirral during the 9th-century, with many local place names derived from Viking origins. Thurstaston means “village of a man called Thorsteinn” from Old Norse.