I blame, wrongly or rightly, climate change. The extraordinary warm, record-breaking recent weather trends have encouraged plant growth, with lettuces going to seed, rhubarbs becoming giants, raspberries and blackberries prolifically producing bumper crops and, most critically for us, bracken reaching ever greater heights, not to mention the bilberries and heather: Read more
Whilst Dennis Knoll was agreed last week as the next starting point, its scope for possible Harmerien experiences is limited without repeating fairly recent terrain. So, we (nine of us) were faced with the dilemma of avoiding repetition or going on paths. We chose the latter in our democratic giddiness; Read more
It was a warm and sunny evening close to midsummer, so what could be better but to shed our burdensome winter clothing and frolic in our lightweight shorts and tee shirts? With light hearts, we eleven skipped off like springy summer chickens from the Midhopestones elbow down the concrete tracks Read more
In the Slow Warts’ quest for points of interest in the Dark Peak, there was one which had eluded us for quite some time. So, a more determined and specific expedition was suggested by Andy to find the “other” memorial stone for the three scouts who died on the Four Read more
As witness our photos from the last several outings, there have been many blue skies so we’ve maybe turned into fair weather runners (?) who were shocked by the rain on our latest outing from Snake Bridge. After a long absence, Moz joined us to enjoy the drizzly rain and Read more
It is probable that most of the Slow Warts could be described as curiosities in their own ways but this time we were on the search for landmarks in the rarely visited (for us) area around Ocean View at Redmires. It has been suggested the dimpled (small hollows and mounds) Read more
In all our experience of fell running, there seems to be a recurring theme, that we should run faster and find the optimum route consistently. When we don’t, there is a detailed analysis during and afterwards and a commitment to improve next time and so the cycle continues…. It was Read more
We were joined at the Cutthroat Bridge by a photographer (Richard Gill) who was waiting for a top fell athlete to do a photo shoot advertising fell running socks. We willingly volunteered but sadly we weren’t accepted, I can only think it was because perhaps we weren’t wearing the correct Read more
I know the Slow Warts are allegedly hard core but we enjoyed (yes, enjoyed) a fantastic outing from Snake Bridge. It was warm and sunny and we were full of the joys of spring or so we thought. We even survived the crossing of Fairbrook without wet feet though this Read more
The early conversation topic at King’s Tree was of the planting of trees and their protection from rabbits (?) by plastic tubes which scatter the hillsides in the Dark Peak. However, once the saplings are robust enough, the tubes need to be removed which has been one of Russ’s volunteering Read more