Thorpe Cloud or bust! Our first ever official hike
Cold Toes and Clear Skies
Well hello 2026! There’s nothing like a bitter, blustery wind to shock you out of a post-holiday slump. Normally, I achieve this by trudging out to get me and my wife a coffee. However, Last Saturday, Henry (my son) and I headed to the Peak District for our very first official hike. The mission: The Dovedale Stepping Stones circular.
With this being our first hike we opted for a route that was a decent distance, but not too far, and one that had a good climb where we could get that little sense of achievement. We’re both at a point where we need to be more active and get out of our comfort zone. There is nothing more out of my comfort zone than getting up at 7am on a Saturday morning, that’s for sure.
On the way, the sky was that piercing, crisp blue you only get on freezing winter mornings. It looked idyllic from the car, but the moment we stepped out, the wind reminded us what we had signed ourselves up for.
The Pivot: When Ice Wins
We’d followed the route on AllTrails, but Winter had other ideas. The iconic Dovedale Stepping Stones were a bit icy. After a quick look, we decided that a freezing bath in the River Dove wasn't on the agenda for today.
We looked at a couple of other options and altered the route, turned around and headed back the way we came to get to the base of the hill so we could start the climb.
The Climb up Thorpe Cloud
Then came the "slog." Thorpe Cloud looks like a gentle hill from a distance, but the incline is punchy. Henry had to stop a couple of times to catch his breath—and honestly, I wasn’t arguing. It’s a steep, limestone scramble that really tests the calves if you haven't been out on the trails for a while or at all like us.
But then, we hit the summit.
That sense of accomplishment is why we decided to do this. Standing there, clearing away the holiday cobwebs with the wind howling around us, felt incredible. For our first ever hike, looking down at the valley below made every heavy step worth it.
- Distance: 3.1 miles
- Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Start/End: Narlows Lane Car Park
The Mighty Meter
Rating: Moderate The distance is short, but the steep ascent of Thorpe Cloud and the slippery winter conditions made this a proper workout.
Thorpe Cloud Facts
- It gets the “Cloud” part of its name from the Old English word “clud” which means "hill".
- Thorpe Cloud was used during the filming of the 2010 Russel Crowe film “Robin Hood”
- The stepping stones were first laid in 1890 as the area became more and more popular with Victorian tourists.
Final Verdict
We didn't cross the stones, but we conquered the hill. 10/10 for a first outing—even if Henry took a bit of convincing on the steep bits! As an added bonus we also got to tick off our first Ethel.
