2024: Hardmoors 55; Bruce's Crown; Hardmoors Wainstones Half; Matlock Skyline

Matlock Skyline, 30th June 2024

The Matlock Skyline Challenge is a fundraiser for Derby Mountain Rescue which is run as a challenge event – there is no mass start, walkers are advised to start between 8 – 9am, runners between 9 – 10am, there is no timing, numbers are given at registration to enable organisers to track each participant through the checkpoints along the route. The route itself is 22miles (35km) with 3417ft (1042m) ascent and descent, it is a loop starting and finishing at Matlock, everyone was issued with an OS map of the route to compliment electronic navigation from the GPX sent out before the event.

 

We were lucky to have perfect weather on the day, it was overcast and below average temperature for the time of year, with a bit of drizzle in the air now and again. I set off at 9am with Wendy and we took it steady on the climb out of Matlock on the Limestone Way. The first half, over fields and many, many stiles, then over Stanton Moor before dropping down to the second checkpoint at Rowsley went by spirits lifted by seeing 2 friends who used to be my Girl Guides many years ago – one walking, the other running past us in a blur! From Rowsley, there is a long flat section on the cycle track beside the railway (not my cup of tea) before a long, steep, road climb up the hillside and on to the moor, at this point Wendy was suffering with her IT band and decided to walk the rest, so I trotted the remainder on my own. The least enjoyable part followed, exiting the moor on the road at the top of Rowsley Bar and running along the road with a lot of fast traffic and no verge to escape on to, however, this was quickly over and again on to the moor, through the heather and over to Flash Lane. Another long descent on a track before crossing Sydnope Hill and a further descent before checkpoint 3 and the climb out of Tax Cottage. Through the plantation, descending in to Lumsdale and Tansley before one last up and over Riber and back in to the park at Matlock to finish.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the day out and the format, organisation and support, personally, I would have preferred less tarmac and hard tracks, but there were great views and much nature to enjoy along the way.

Wainstones Half, 5th May 2024

Another fantastic day on the North Yorkshire Moors, this time running the very challenging Wainstones 'half' marathon - 16.6miles (27.7km) with 3,484ft (1,064m) of technical ascent and descent. Accompanied on the moors by cuckoo and curlew, with fabulous views as we climbed from lordstones over the three sisters and wainstones, then up on to urra moor.

Full report to follow

Bruce's Crown 5th & 6th April 2024

Bruces Crown is a circular route which is undertaken by teams of 4, overnight, in the Galloway Hills only map and compass is permitted for navigation, no GPS devices etc. I joined Steve's team with Andy and Steve, it was a challenging event, made more challenging as Storm Kathleen rolled through! Thanks to Steve for inviting me to join his team and for his facebook write up, which follows:

Setting off first on the newly resurrected Bruce's Crown Race from the benign Caldons Camp felt a little underwhelming...boy how that would change as the night unfolded. I had warned the team Apocalypse Now, Andy Heading, Marianne Heading & Steve Sanders, not to judge the race by the first climb. Lamachan is an energy sapping slog and when you get to the top its no summit , just the end of the wall. It was still broad daylight but thick cloud and a momentary lapse of concentration and the feint trod was gone causing a wee wobble. An equally momentary break in the cloud and we could see the line between Benebrack and a gnarly lumb of rock just to the right leading nicely down to Nick of Curleywe.

Curleywee, short and sweet is probably the nicest summit on the round but in zero viz its just another cairn on a hill. Got a good line down and good to see Ross & James hunkered down in loup of Lagan.

Ground to map nav was now becoming impossible so it was point to point over gnarly ground and intermittent ATV track to Millfore trig. It should have been a fairly straight line over flattish boggy ground towards Cairngarroch. A short while later we are looking into a craggy abyss of swirling mist, we had drifted right towards Buckdas of Cairnbaber ( couldn't make it up could you !!). 200m dog leg brought us back to flat ground and .. way hey a fence and a stile, not just any stile the slipperiest stile in the world, we opted to stride the wire. Cairngarroch summit then a tussock fest descent down to CP5. Food and cheery MRT.

With the Quarry OoB a contour of Darrou was off so it was strait up, Steve S up front found us a great line & bang on.

The rain had started in earnest and the wind was picking up, we headed straight over Little Millyea and headed for the hand rail walls not before putting on another layer of waterproofing. It was turning out to be "T' Big Coat Weather".

What could possibly go wrong on the Corserine ridge..? there's hand rail, ATV track and if you stay high, nice short grass & easy underfoot..... Drum Roll... enter Kathleen the goddess of washing machines, someone had pissed her right off & she was going to make life hell. Its a long way along the Corserine ridge and under normal circumstances you can roll along from easy summit to easy summit. Andrew and Marianne had the bit in their teeth and the descent to the woods in their sights, blessed with longer legs than Steve & I, were striding out. Next minute M is no longer next to A, Kathleen has picked her up chucked her 10 feet sideways and left her in a heap. They link arms and gain some stability.

Finally, out of the wind in the shelter of the trees we have a breather and some food , the first for hours. I curled up on the floor to die then thought better of it and had a gel. Pulling into CP11 was like pulling into Tebay ! Loads of food, Great MRT and volunteers catered for our every need. There was no will to carry on so we pulled the plug.

Hardmoors 55, 23rd March 2024

That was a more successful Saturday than expected 😁 55miles (88km), 2700m ascent over the North Yorkshire moors, battling bitterly cold winds 🌬🌬 A great day out on the hills and moors 😊

Full report to follow