Walk through Dove Dale and up Thorpe Cloud
17 people attending
13 places left
Join Ant and the OutdoorLads for a hike through the Dove Dale National Nature Reserve and up Thorpe Cloud.
The walk will start at Alstonefield, from where we'll make our way out of the village and down into Dove Dale. Once in Dove Dale, we'll ascend the eastern side of the dale and then descend to the foot of Thorpe Cloud. We'll then traverse Thorpe Cloud, before making our way through the centre of Dove Dale. To finish, we'll leave Dove Dale via Hall Dale, from where we can make our way to the nearby pub before heading back to the cars.
Points of interest on the route:
Dove Dale National Nature Reserve: Most famous for the spectacular limestone ravine and rock formations that run through its centre, the reserve is also home to many rare animal species such as dippers, dragonflies, herons and water voles.
St Peter's Church: Dating back to the 12th Century, the church in Alstonefield is one of the oldest in Staffordshire.
Dove Dale Stepping Stones: A row of stepping stones that fords the River Dove; we'll be crossing these, so be careful not to fall in.
Thorpe Cloud: A beautiful pyramidal hill at the southern end of Dove Dale; the ascent and descent of the hill is very steep, and the most challenging section of the walk. Once on top, there are panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Reynard's Caves: An set of caves and natural archway located in the centre of Dove Dale; these were formed over 10,000 years ago by glacial melt waters. We'll be able to explore the caves on our way back though the ravine.
Dogs are welcome, though will need to be on leads if we go through any fields with livestock. There are also several stiles they may need lifting over.
Once finished, we can go to the nearby pub.
Message the event leader if you've any questions.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
All photos taken by the leader and can be used for other ODL events.
What to bring
Water: bring plenty of water (~2 Litres)
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Footware: ideally designed for hiking, sturdy trail runners are OK too.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproofs: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Please bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water. As the weather may be cold, you may want to bring a flask with a hot drink or soup too. After the hike, there is a local pub where we can go for post walk refreshments.