Made it to the Peak District for my 6th hill. We met our friend Dan, so there were 4 of us today, myself, Rachael, Bethan and Dan. Oh, and Monty! When I had first told Dan about my plans to climb 40 hills she had been a little unsure. She had asked my brother to recommend a 'gentle' hill, and he suggested Thorpe Cloud. Apparantly he described it as an easy hill with a good tea shop at the end! Half way up the steep slopes of the hill, Dan was mentally preparing an abusive text to him...!Thorpe Cloud sits at the entrance to Dovedale. As you walk up alongside the river approaching the stepping stones, it rises steeply above you to your right. When we arrived today we had to use the uneven ground of the right (South/East) bank of the river to access Dovedale because the river was high, and flooding over the stepping stones. You could actually manage to get across if you wore decent walking boots or wellies, but even then you risked getting your feet wet!
At the stepping stones you leave the river and climb straight up the hill. You quickly gain height, and think you have done well until the ground levels off a bit and you see the rest of the slope before you. The first picture here is from that point with Bethan leading the way, as usual! It's a sharp pull up to the top, but doesn't take too long. Thorpe Cloud isn't all that high (287m) but does rise dramatically up from river level, and you certainly feel you've climbed a decent hill and worked hard for the views. Talking of which, you do get a good vista at the top, looking South the land looks flat and full of fields, while North looks straight up into Dovedale valley, which is beautiful.
At the stepping stones you leave the river and climb straight up the hill. You quickly gain height, and think you have done well until the ground levels off a bit and you see the rest of the slope before you. The first picture here is from that point with Bethan leading the way, as usual! It's a sharp pull up to the top, but doesn't take too long. Thorpe Cloud isn't all that high (287m) but does rise dramatically up from river level, and you certainly feel you've climbed a decent hill and worked hard for the views. Talking of which, you do get a good vista at the top, looking South the land looks flat and full of fields, while North looks straight up into Dovedale valley, which is beautiful. We ate our lunch at the summit, quite quickly because we soon got cold It was a good walking day and we avoided any showers, but it was chilly in the wind, especially when the sun went in. We weren't really complaining though, any hill walk in November where you get some sun and no rain has got to be a bonus!
Getting down was interesting. Rach is in dire need of some decent walking boots, and her walking shoes today were not really up to the task in hand. Somehow she managed to remain upright, but only just! All I could hear from behind me as I was pulled down the hill by Monty was Rach slipping and sliding down. We made our way back to the stepping stones that cross the River Dove, and Bethan and I walked across as far as we could. I managed to get all the way across, but I'm sure Bethan's boots would have been full of water if she'd tried. We managed a short walk up the valley alongside the river before the thought of finding that tea shop drove us back to the car.
Getting down was interesting. Rach is in dire need of some decent walking boots, and her walking shoes today were not really up to the task in hand. Somehow she managed to remain upright, but only just! All I could hear from behind me as I was pulled down the hill by Monty was Rach slipping and sliding down. We made our way back to the stepping stones that cross the River Dove, and Bethan and I walked across as far as we could. I managed to get all the way across, but I'm sure Bethan's boots would have been full of water if she'd tried. We managed a short walk up the valley alongside the river before the thought of finding that tea shop drove us back to the car.Ilam Hall has a National trust shop and tea-room. After the chill wind it was great to get warm indoors. Tea and cake were very much in order, and we enjoyed a leisurly hour or so there. The Hall is in a great spot, with views over it's church to the entrance to Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud. The village of Ilam is also very picturesque, with dainty cottages lining the street. All in all, it was a great day out. We all felt invigorated by being out and about, and I'm looking forward to hill number 7!
