Shelf Moor Fell Race 2015

Time once again for the local Shelf Moor fell race to be organised by the Glossopdale Harriers. I'd volunteered again this year to help put out the flags on Saturday and then sweep the race route on Sunday. Both days had glorious weather and the views onto Bleaklow, Kinder and beyond with the blazing purple heather were fantastic. I hope the racers took a brief moment to glimpse the beauty on race day!

The Saturday Flagging Party:

Sunday's race day - not many pictures as I was too busy running at the back of the race:

And a final photo to show off the beautiful heather, taken on a guided run I lead about 10 days before the race:

Hot Runs

Saturday: myself and Tim headed over to Hathersage to recce part of the Long Tour of Bradwell. The weather was hot and humid, and away from the shade of trees it was sticky hot. Our route took us backwards on the race route from Leadmill Bridge to Toads Mouth, exploring the link from the Burbage Valley across the road and down towards Lawrence Field. We returned the same way (or at least returning on the actual race route as we'd taken a slight detour on the way up). Back at the car we still felt good so continued on the race route towards Bradwell for a short distance....then back to Hathersage for a late lunch+ice cream and browse in the gear shop. Total run 14.6km and 350m ascent.

Tim running across Lawrence Field

Looking towards Bole Hill

Sunday: solo early morning run for me from home. My route was from Old Glossop, Cock Hill, Glossop Low, over to the Pennine Way, up to Bleaklow Head. I'd contemplated heading to Bleaklow Stones-The Ridge-Hern Clough but dismissed that in favour of less tussocky running. I stuck to the Pennine Way until some point after the turning to Hern Stones then bashed across the tussocks to the B29 plane wreck and Higher Shelf Stones trig point. I decided to run along the Shelf Moor race route across to Dog Rock and home down via Lightside, but feeling good as I crossed Dowstone Clough I made a decision to head back to Glossop Low....and luckily came across a quad track that made for easy running across the heather. I picked up the Torside-Glossop Low trod and boards, and was soon heading down passed Cock Hill. A quick detour back to the trig point, then off via the quarry spoils and down to Old Glossop. The temperature today was pretty perfect, warm but a good breeze blowing and enough cloud cover to not be worried about sunburn. I saw and heard loads of curlews flying really close by, a stoat popped it's head up and called out, grouse, a lizard thing rushed off down a peat tunnel, and there were plenty of mountain hares around and one pheasant. Apart from the wildlife I didn't see anyone until dropping off Cock Hill....a perfect solo adventure.
Total run 17.1km and 625m ascent.

Torside Clough and reservoir

On the Pennine Way

There's a stoat hiding in there, honest!

My route across to Higher Shelf Stones

Approaching the B29 plane wreck and trig point in distance

'Overexposed' B29 plane wreck

Dowstone Clough

View from Glossop Low

A little windswept at Cock Hill with Bleaklow behind

Glossop town

Flora Focus: Heather

There is no denying that the heather filled moorland all around us is looking splendid. I don't know what it is, but this year the heather seems to be more vibrant, richer purples and more widespread than I remember in previous years.

Chunal Moor, with Wormstones crag at the top right

The heather we see most commonly is actually called Ling and typically flowers from August to September. It's a plant which loves acid moorland and bogs - perfect for on the moorland around Glossop. The flowers are rich in nectar - a super food for bees and their honey production. 

Historical uses for heather include thatch for roofing, brooms, bedding, making baskets and ropes, dying wool yellow/orange and in the Bronze Age the Picts and Celts made ale. Ale brewing with heather has seen a revival recently, and I can report that it is very tasty indeed. There's also information on the internet about heather being used in herbal remedies and as an antidote for stings and bites from venomous animals, as well as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic agent.

In addition to the common Ling there are two other types of heather - Cross-leaved Heath and Bell Heather. If you're interested in learning how to identify each type of heather - here's some useful information I've found on the Wildlife Trusts website:

• Cross-leaved Heath has pink, bell-shaped flowers clustered at the end of long, branched stems. Grey-green leaves are narrow and in whorls of four.
• Bell Heather is distinctive with its dark purple-pink, bell-shaped flowers forming clusters up the stem, and short, dark green needle-like leaves borne in whorls of three.
• The stems of Heather are woody and coarse, sometimes clumped together and close to the ground in exposed areas. The delicate pink flowers grow loosely up the stem and the short, narrow leaves are borne in rows.

Bell Heather

On moorland above the Doctors Gate path I found a mix of Ling and
Bell Heather. You can see the more delicate Ling, top left.

The glorious purple won't last long, so do get out and enjoy it while it's here.