Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 168 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Peak District National Park
Rising at the head of Dovedale, one of the most cherished locations in the English countryside, Thorpe Cloud is a gorgeous hill. Hikes to Thorpe Cloud’s conical summit provide you with sumptuous views down to the river’s famous stepping stones and across to the neighbouring hills and valleys.
This part of the Peak District is dominated by karst features, with deep gorges, awesome formations and majestic caves. Thorpe Cloud itself is a limestone reef knoll, having formed from calcareous material on an ancient seabed. Its unmistakable limestone skeleton occasionally bursts through its verdant grassy skin; it is a lovely display of brilliant green interspersed with pale crag.
Walking routes to Thorpe Cloud are quick and steep, a perfect workout for the dog or the kids before the excitement of the stepping stones and an adventure into Dovedale’s ravines. The going is fairly straightforward, up rough, rocky steps which give way to a clear path and the summit ridge.
As you ascend, invigorating views start to materialise. The neighbouring reef knoll of Bunster Hill is seen across the dale to the west, whilst Ilam Hall looks grand on the banks of the beautiful River Manifold. The main attraction is undoubtedly the gorgeous River Dove bending sharply and slicing through the land. Once you’ve drunk in those views, just make sure the kids take care when descending that rocky staircase.
The quaint market town of Ashborne is a splendid base for the region and boasts many amenities for outdoor enthusiasts. The villages of Thorpe and Ilam are even closer to the action but the chances of gaining accommodation are slimmer due to their size.
Location: Thorpe, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom
Thorpe Cloud rises proudly from Dovedale and affords breathtaking views over the River Dove, Bunster Hill, Ilam and beyond. It has a distinctive conical shape and is a popular summit for hikers in the area. That said, it can get extremely busy up here so choose your moment to climb it.
June 24, 2022
At the time of writing, the National Trust has erected signs informing people that the summit is closed due to erosion and the risk of falling rocks. There is no date set for when the path to the summit may reopen (hopefully soon). The path around the hill is still open and affords spectacular views itself.
June 24, 2022
A short but steep climb to the summit is rewarded with beautiful 360 degree views of the surrounding areas.
In 1997, the writer Jeff Kent discovered that a double sunset could be seen against Thorpe Cloud from the top of nearby Lin Dale and, two years later, the phenomenon was first captured on film by the photographer Chris Doherty. The occurrence is visible in good weather on and around the summer solstice and perhaps beyond, when the sun sets on the summit of the hill, partially reappears from its steep northern slope and sets for a second and final time shortly afterwards. The precise event and its location are described in Kent's book The Mysterious Double Sunset
June 4, 2022
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