Thorpe Cloud Walk

The Thorpe Cloud Walk is a fun route near the southern tip of the Peak District that is popular with all levels of walkers and dog walkers due to the pleasant terrain and scenic views. For this reason, you might experience quite a bit of foot traffic while out on your walk, so make sure to arrive early enough to secure parking and enjoy the trail without throngs of other people. Additionally, if the parking area is full, try heading to the nearby Dovedale Car Park to tackle this walk from a different starting point.

When you think of the pristine English countryside, the images that you might conjure up will be similar to the scenery that can be found along the Thorpe Cloud Walk. Rolling green hills, winding rivers, and quaint villages will stretch out before you from the scenic viewpoint at the summit of this limestone hill. With such amazing views and an easy-to-traverse path, there is no reason to hold off planning your next walk around Thorpe Cloud.

Setting out from your parked vehicle, make your way back to Thorpe Road and cross over to the other side, following it to the right for 225ft to pick up the trail. From here, follow the path north for 408ft, where you will come to a gate. Pass through the gate and head to the right along the trail as it runs parallel to a fence for 0.3mi and passes by a farm on the right. Once you have reached the intersection in the trail, take the path to the left and pass straight through the next junction to climb up to the summit of Thorpe Cloud.

Once you have reached the top of the 942ft peak, take some time to explore the hilltop and enjoy the breathtaking views that sweep across the vibrant green countryside. To the north, you will be able to look out across the dale and the meandering waters of the River Dove, and to the south, your sightline will stretch across the Midland Plain. After taking in the views, continue along the trail that descends the backside of the hill and leads down to the edge of the river.

Towards the edge of the River Dove, there is a stretch of rocky terrain, so watch your step as you walk the last few feet towards the junction in the trail. Once you reach the junction, you will have the option of taking a short detour to the left that will bring you to the edge of the river, where you can explore the stepping stones that were created during the Victorian Era to allow tourists to cross the river. Don’t cross over the river. Instead, head right at the aforementioned junction and follow the trail as it turns to the southeast.

Here, walkers will make their way around the foot of Thorpe Cloud for 0.4mi until they arrive at a junction in the trail. Head straight through and continue on for 0.3mi to once again pass by the farm from before (now on your left) and reach the first gate along the trail. Turn left and head through the gate to make your way back to Thorpe Road and your parked car. From here, you can either head home or pop into The Old Dog pub in Thorpe Village to celebrate your completion of the Thorpe Cloud Walk.

Trail Highlights

Thorpe Cloud

Located along the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam, the Thorpe Cloud is an isolated limestone hill that provides a commanding view of the surrounding countryside, with a great sightline stretching north to south from the dale toward the Midland Plain.

Dovedale Stepping Stones

Spanning the River Dove in the shadow of Thorpe Cloud, these stepping stones were created during the Victorian Era as a means for the increasing number of tourists in the region to cross over the river. Try not to fall in as you hastily skip across the rushing water of the river!

Other amazing walks in Peak District National Park

Check out our guides to Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Stanage Edge, Dovedale, and Padley Gorge. Or see all of our Peak District walks on 10Adventures.