UKH

A dodgy knee means a 4-day Peak trip next week is going to be a bit sedentary and lonely.

Anyone fancy PMing me a good spot to pick sloes?  I'll be staying near Edale/Hope area.

Thanks!

Wheatlands lane between Baslow and Hasop about 1 mile on right from Baslow end, loads

You'll be lucky, that's like giving away the whereabouts of your favorite wildcamp spot.

They've come early around here. Lots already been picked. Bit early IMO. But if you snooze, you lose.

I walked past loads of sloes on Sunday about SK 165 703 not far from the car park on the A6 at the end of Monsal Dale

I wouldn't worry too much... Just get out to somewhere with hedgerows and if you don't find sloes (and you probably will anyway tbh) then your bound to find blackberries / rosehips / apples / damsons / something!

I keep seeing wild hops this year - way more than any other year although maybe I'm just more tuned in to seeing them.

ie don't be a sloecoach!

Any tips on what to use sloes for that don't necessitate expensive spirits or huge amounts of sugar? It would seem to be a barely used natural resource (for obvious reasons). 

They are very tart so they do need some sugar.  You can make chutney with them.  

Put a handful in apple crumble. 

Except sloes tend to be more abundant on alkaline/neutral soils. Not so many in grit areas

I've just harvested about 4 kilos of Bullace (wild plum)   - 1.5 litres of gin on the go + 10 pots of superb jam  

If you boil them down you might get a strong purple dye for cloth?  

You might also try boiling them for juice and reducing it down five to ten fold with only a smattering or sugar, then using that as a cordial with water or champagne.  I’m enjoying my tart plum cordial made with stewing juices after freezing a batch.

Just use cheap spirits. 70cl of gin is only around £8-10, and as it’s just a base, it doesn’t matter if it’s not the best gin in the world. I used Lidl cheapo gin for mine and I’ve never had cause to complain. 

Yep - basic gin, cheap as you like. The sloes (or damsons or bullaces) will transform it.