Interesting things around Thorpe Cloud

Thorpe Cloud is one of the interesting and rugged hills around Dovedale in Derbyshire.  We are in limestone country and like many of the hills (almost mountains) of the peak district, they are covered in grass.  At 942ft or 287m, Thorpe clouds summit is a small challenge.  You need to be moderately fit to walk up the ridge.

This presents no problem to the local sheep who live on the hill.  They are often seen at the summit, but stay on the slopes when the tourists are about.  Derbyshire hill sheep are tough and placid.

Dovedale is a wildlife paradise and we saw this Small Copper butterfly whilst on Thorpe Cloud.  The species can be found across Northern Europe and just into China, but it is not so common in the UK.  We also saw Dippers by the river, a Kestrel hunting above the slopes and Buzzard over the peaks.

At the base of the eastern side of Thorpe Cloud is a small marshy drainage brook which was full of these wetland flowers.  This is a species that I have not encountered before and I would love to know what they are.