View site as:

Thorpe, Peak District - The Dog and Partridge Circular Walk

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 1 hour 03 minutes

Length 3.3km / 2.1mi

Route developer: Christine Whittaker

Route checker: Andrew Donovan

Start location Thorpe Car park
Route Summary A short walk around Thorpe, passing some of the village's most interesting features: Thorpe Cloud, Thorpe Church, and both the Tissington Trail and the Limestone Way. A few hills, but mostly grassy fields, and one or two quiet country lanes.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

By Car: Thorpe Village is a short distance off the A515, but as you enter the village do not follow the directions to the car park on the left, instead turn right towards the Dog and Partridge and the car park is immediately on your right. It is free to park here.

Public Transport: Bus No 101 (Ashbourne/Thorpe) stops at the Dog and Partridge, and has a regular service throughout the day.  Mon-Sat only. The journey from Ashbourne to Thorpe takes 15 minutes. http://www.derbysbus.info

Description

(A)  The car park at the start of this walk has a small grassy picnic area and a useful National Park Information board illustrating a number of walking routes in the area.

[1] From the car park turn right and walk up to the Dog and Partridge.  Cross the road and follow the road to the right (Wintercroft Lane) down to the Peveril of the Peak Hotel.  Just inside the entrance to the hotel, before the stone pillars, is a narrow gate in the stone wall on your right.  This is the Limestone Way.

[2] Take this path, which crosses 2 fields diagonally, and go over the style at the end (be careful - if there is a red flag near the path, this means that shooting is in progress and you must not wander too far from the path). Turn left and follow the stone wall around the back of the hotel, stay on the path as it bears slightly to the right. In the distance you will be able to see Thorpe Cloud.  When you reach a wide track crossing your path, turn left on the track back towards the village.

(B) The distinctively conical limestone hill, which is 305 m high, is called Thorpe Cloud - SK415351.  It is thought that the word cloud derives from 'clud' which is old English for a large rock or hill, whilst the word Thorpe means 'a farm or hamlet in Danish'. http://www.derbyshireuk.net/thorpe.html

From this point you could continue straight ahead on the Open Access land and scramble up Thorpe Cloud.  There is a path taking you to the left of the rocky point at the top.  Then either come back down on the same path or continue across the top and down the other side, then at the bottom go through the gateway and turn right to get back.

The limestone can be very slippery when wet, and although many children do climb Thorpe Cloud, it is not safe (especially when descending). 

[3] Cross the road at the junction and go straight ahead. Keep ahead on Dimire Lane to the end, where you come to the gates to Thorpe Church.  Go through the gates into the church yard and out through either gate at the opposite side.  Join the path that goes around the back of the church and then take the signed path (just behind the church) on the left, down the hill. Almost immediately you join the Limestone Way again.  Keep straight ahead and continue to a footbridge which takes you onto a road.

(C) St Leonards Church has a square Norman tower and possesses an interesting 11th century font and other attractive features.

(D) Limestone Way is a 50 mile long distance footpath between Castleton in the north of Derbyshire and Rocester in the south, over the border in Staffordshire.

[4] Turn right and go up the road (ignoring the 2 footpath signs on your right).  Continue up the road enjoying the views (particularly to your left) as you reach the top.  At the junction at the end cross over the road and go through a gate onto way marked footpath.  Go straight ahead, through the next gate and across another field to a gate that takes you onto the Tissington Trail.  Go straight across the Trail (lookout for cyclists) and down a path opposite and then through a gate.

[5] Keep straight ahead down through the trees and cross a footbridge over a stream.  Go up the hill for a very short distance, but turn left as soon as you see a footpath sign in the hedge on your left.  Go through the gate in the hedge, and then diagonally left to a gate and over a footbridge.  Continue ahead up the bank, which takes you under the Tissington Trail, and straight on up the path.  Turn right when you come to the lane. This leads to Narrow Lane and back to the car park.

(E) Tissington Trail is on the disused track of the old North-Western railway which ran between Buxton and Ashbourne. It is used by cyclists and walkers.

POI information No details available.
Notes

Maps: OS Explorer OL 24 (1.25 000)

Eating/Drinking/SleepingA number of Hotels and B & B's, pubs and tea rooms in the area. 

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • The Dog and Partridge
    The Dog and Partridge
    By - Christine Whittaker
  • Thorpe Cloud
    Thorpe Cloud
    By - Christine Whittaker
  • St Leonards Church
    St Leonards Church
    By - Christine Whittaker
This route has been viewed 31 times

Reviews

Be the first person to review this route!