Great Local Running Areas

It is my firm belief that living in the Glossop area offers many options for all kinds of running. The town is backed by the Dark Peak moors,we are close to the Trans-Pennine Trail, Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Longdendale Valley, there are many footpaths and we are on the edge of the beautiful Peak District National Park. I have been a runner for 37 years now and never tire of the variety on offer. In no particular order, here are just some of my favourite places to run.

Number 1 - Hobson Moor

Easily reached from Glossop, Hobson or Hollingworth Hall Moor has so many footpaths and routes that even today I am still able to locate new ones. There are fantastic views all around and good going underfoot. Used also for training by legends Andi Jones and Sikobe. Favourite route:- up and over PBW to Carbrook then back via Hobson Moor Trig point.

Number 2 - Shelf Moor

Whether you are up on Shelf Moor on a wet, windy day, in the snow or on a warm summer evening, it really is a special place. I have been lost, well misplaced, up here on several occasions, not the place to venture unless you know it or are in company. Again so many different running options. Favourite route:- Doctors Gate, Crooked Clough, B29 Superfortress, Shelf Stones, Shelf Moor race descent.

Number 3 - Cown Edge

Easily reached yet again from the town centre, this area affords good running options combined with fantastic 360 degree views. Mentioned in 'Studmarks on the Summits' as one of Bill Buckley's training areas also. Favourite route:- Gamesley, Hargate, Slack Edge, Cown Edge, Plainsteads, back down the Nab.

Number 4 - Werneth Low











Sometimes heading back closer into the edge of Greater Manchester offers some hidden gems.  If you can get a lift to Stockport there is an excellent run back though the valley to Glossop. Favourite route:-  Etherow Edges taking in Broadbottom, Werneth Low, Etherow Park in Compstall, back home to Glossop via Coombes Rocks and the Nab.

Number 5 - Matley Moor



The area at the back of the Nab en route to Hayfield and Rowarth is a wonderful vantage point for views of the bigger hills. The paths and quiet roads here were often used by Andi Jones on his long Sunday morning runs. Favourite route:- Paths to the top of the Chunal, then return to Glossop via Harry Hut and either Moorfield or Gnat Hole.

Number 6 - Dragons Back

A little bit further afield but still reachable from Glossop. This ridge is very quiet and offers great views of the Kinder massif. Favourite route:- up to Cracken Edge via Kinder Trog descent, Peep O'Day then back down the ridge.

Number 7 -  Cock Hill and Shooting Cabin

Perfect destination if you want to get a fell run in and you are restricted for time. Good climb up from Old Glossop then a lot of choice either for continuing or heading back. Favourite route:- Eastwards on the beaters path then landrover track to Dowstone Clough and Yellowstacks, back down Lightside.

Number 8 - Longdendale Valley

 

Living in Hadfield, it is only natural that my home valley is where I do most of my running straight from the front door. I used to run in the valley before the old railway line was converted into a trail so know a lot of the other available paths and options. Whether you want to get up higher onto the Knarr (see photo), Bleaklow, Upper Longdendale or a steady run round the reservoirs, there are limitless route choices of distance and severity. The Longdendale Trail is a good option for all, also offers quick access onto or an easy way back from the higher moors. Favourite route:- Up the northern side of the ressers to the crossing under the Woodhead Dam then trail and footpaths back, good climb back out of Padfield or through Bankswood to get back to Glossop.

Number 9 - Kinder





Moving further afield now for the last two, though the delights of Kinder can still be enjoyed on a long run from Glossop centre via Turfpits or Harry Hut. Many, many options on Kinder dependent on how much time you have, the northern edges can be very quiet, wild and rugged, great to be at the Downfall when it's blowing back or frozen as it was in recent years. Kinder is not to be taken lightly, several Pennine Way aspirants have had enough after the first day! Favourite routes:- through Kinder Gates and back by the southern edges or Shelf Brook, Roman Road, Lady Clough and back via the Snake Path and Moorfield.

Number 10 - Derwent Valley







 Much further afield now but only a short drive over the Snake. If you can get someone to give you a lift there are many route options to return over the moors to Glossop. Marvellous scenery, a beautiful valley, limitless options low or higher level. Favourite route:- Fairholmes, Lost Lad, Back Tor, south along the edge to Whinstone Lee Tor then drop down back under the edge to Fairholmes.

 

I could have included so many other areas also: Black Hill, Goyt Valley, the marvellous run over the Wilderness to Alphin and Chew Valley on the high level crossing to Laddow and back via Crowden etc   10K runners have the benefit of the Longdendale Trail, Green Lane trail, Derbyshire Level. If you are training for long hard fell-runs, try running reps up the climb from Crowden to Lad's Leap, Sandy Heys direct from the bottom of Williams Clough. GDHrs in the past including the legendary Andy Trigg used to train for Jura by running reps in Torside Clough straight up to the edge path from the stream in the bottom. Score orienteers could get some practice in by seeing how many Peak and Northern Footpath Signs they could visit in a set period of time. The location of all the signposts can be found on the Peak and Northern Footpath Society website by clicking here

 

 

There are some of my favourite local running areas and routes. Which are yours?





Don't get lost, get Recced!

The advantage of major races being held nearby to where you live is the sought-after 'local knowledge' which the Fellrunners Association list as desirable in some of the races run under their aegis. The getting of local knowledge comes from the Recce Run, where runners take a morning, afternoon or weekend to familiarise themselves with the race route, its challenges and most of all the optimal lines to take to shave off precious miles, minutes or metres of ascent.

When I first joined Glossopdale Harriers I remember overhearing recces being planned, thinking how dedicated and hardcore the runners were, to be going out (often in winter) to ensure a good performance on the day. Of course, Winter is a time when you don't want to be spending unnecessary time out in a side-wind, falling into freezing bogs or skittering down the wrong hill. So it came to pass that I've found myself on a number of recce trips this winter, firstly for the Trigger race and the fabled Christmas-tree Time Portal across the peaty wastes of the Kinder Plateau, and more lately for the Edale Skyline, a local classic Long race and one where you hear there are great gains to be made by learning some shortcuts.

finding some saucepans at Bleaklow Head whilst recceing the Trigger

This Saturday the Babes (and honorary Babe Mr Stephenson) took a trip to Edale to check the lines on the second half of the race route. The party consisted of Sue, Jude, John, Alison, Milo the dog and myself - we set off up towards Mam Nick with 'raceshy' Sue setting a cracking pace. On reaching the ridge at Rushup we realised that Spring had not yet reached the higher contours of the area and made onwards with caution to the icy puddles. On reaching the path to Brown Knoll we fell into chatter, marvelling at a line of perfect icicles along the side of a peat grough. Having lost a clear path on the ground we reached the crest of a small raise to find we were a bit far off to the right of our goal, the trig point of Brown Knoll. Running over to regain the path we then dicsovered that we'd managed to inadvertently avoid all the Bogs of Doom this hill is famous for. So we found a new, potentially time-saving line by accident! However with nothing to compare it with, it may not get followed come race day.

After suffering some icy winds on the way up towards Pym Chair we had a short break to don jackets and refuel on Pork Pies and butties (mandatory fellrunner foods) On continuing we spied a familiar shorts-wearing figure heading towards us. It was none other than Bob Graham and Cuillin Ridge completer and all-round Glossopdale powerhouse Alasdair Cowell, out for a Saturday jaunt. I grew dizzy and tired just hearing where he'd been and we packed him off on his way in the hopes he'd soon sit down and have a nice cup of tea.

Here is where I must pull over the veil of secrecy in case any Calder Valley runners are reading...we approached Pym Chair and *poof* like magic, ten minutes later, we reappeared on the edge path just near Crowden Brook. Suffice to say we found the line we meant to find, to avoid further Bog of Doom territory at the Woolpacks. Jude then started saying something about going down and up. I though she was crazy till I remembered her pedigree (not Milo's, hers!) so the group split with Jude, Milo and I on an intrepid mission to learn whether dropping down into the valley of Grindsbrook Clough and then climbing steeply back up we could reach the final checkpoint at Ringing Roger before the others.

Jude, Milo and I had tremendous fun, taking a very off-piste line down to the brook, crossing over and then spying another runner with a dog descending through the woods a bit further along, We hurried to the bridge to meet him, keen to know whether he too was practising his lines for race day. He was, and his advice was that it was a good line though only for the hardy climbers as, once the checkpoint is reached, you might be short on 'zing' for the foot-busting descent on a stony track to the finish. We followed him up , scrambling up a stream then popping out on the stony track only to see Alison waving at us from the top. Decision made - stay on the edge path and save our legs for descending.

Descend we did, and over to the Penny Pot cafe for tea, cakes and discussion. No down-and-up, and if we can actually remember where we went - John pointed out that we had gone over a bit of hill called Horsehill Tor - we'll likely take that line on race day. A fun day out both for those intending to race, those not bothered by the race but loving the run, and Milo, who's not allowed to race as he can't pin a number to his chest.