Thorpe Cloud

Thorpe Cloud

Thorpe Cloud from Dovedale, with stepping stones
Elevation 287 m (942 ft)
Prominence 79 m (259 ft)
Location
Thorpe Cloud

Location of Thorpe Cloud in Derbyshire

Location Derbyshire, England
Range Peak District
OS grid SK151510
Coordinates 53°03′22″N 1°46′34″W / 53.05604°N 1.77616°WCoordinates: 53°03′22″N 1°46′34″W / 53.05604°N 1.77616°W
Topo map OS Landranger 119

Thorpe Cloud is an isolated limestone hill (a reef knoll) lying between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam at the southern end of Dovedale. It is a popular hill amongst the many day-trippers who visit the area, and provides a fine viewpoint north up the dale and south across the Midland plain.

Like much of the dale, including Bunster Hill on the opposite bank, it is in the ownership of the National Trust, and is part of their South Peak Estate. These Dovedale properties were acquired by the Trust in 1934.

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.[1]

Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale were used as locations in the 2010 film of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe. Thorpe Cloud can be clearly made out in several scenes towards the end of the film.

Thorpe Cloud also has a rifle range which local and national shooting clubs use.[2]

References

  1. ↑ The Mysterious Double Sunset, especially pages 101 and 113 and photographs 22 (i) and (ii), Jeff Kent, ISBN 0-9529152-5-1, Witan Books, 2001.
  2. ↑ "Peak Rifle and Pistol Club". Retrieved 17 December 2014.