Peak District
Thorpe Cloud
287M
942FT
About Thorpe Cloud
Guarding the southern entrance to Dovedale, this symmetrical limestone reef knoll offers a steep but brief ascent. Its distinctive conical shape makes it one of the White Peak’s most recognisable landmarks. The summit provides a bird's-eye view of the famous stepping stones and the craggy flanks of neighbouring Bunster Hill.
Key Statistics
Rank
443rd Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
The Peak District
Prominence
?
79m
Nearest Town
Tissington
Geology
You are climbing an ancient fossilized reef mound. This steep hill is built from layers of solid limestone that once formed on the seafloor.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK151509
Latitude
53.0548°N
Longitude
1.7747°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Cloud' is derived from the Old English word clud, meaning a mass of rock or a hill, while 'Thorpe' is an Old Norse term for an outlying farmstead or settlement.
- •The hill is a geological reef knoll, formed approximately 350 million years ago when this part of the Peak District was submerged under a warm, shallow tropical sea.
- •Its dramatic profile has attracted several film productions; the slopes featured in Ridley Scott’s 2010 film Robin Hood and the 2006 BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre.
- •Due to its extreme popularity, the primary ascent paths have suffered significant erosion; walkers are encouraged to follow the managed zig-zag routes to protect the rare limestone grassland species that thrive here.
- •Despite its modest height, the polished limestone on the upper slopes ensures that those attempting the climb in smooth-soled shoes often make a much faster, less dignified return to the valley floor than intended.