| Where: | Longshaw Estate near Sheffield at Barbrook Cottage, Owler Bar |
| When: | Saturday in mid October |
| Time: | Festival 3 pm, Bolving from 5 pm |
The art of bolving involves humans imitating the sounds emitted by red deer stags during the rut, with the aim of eliciting a verbal response from nearby stags. Rutting season takes place during the autumn when the stags are trying to attract mates. At the Eastern Moors Partnership of the RSPB and National Trust, a competition has been staged annually for over 5 years, with entries judged on authenticity, volume and responses. The judges sit in front of the competitors with their backs to them for impartiality, and their decision is final. All ages can compete, and the contest takes place a short walk from Barbrook Cottage on the Longshaw Estate, with an autumn festival beforehand which offers a range of craft activities, entertainments and refreshments in the afternoon. It’s a family friendly event with lots of fun and laughter.
Helpful Hints
In 2019 it was on Saturday October 12th -it hasn’t been held yet post-Covid but the event will hopefully return in 2024 (date yet to be announced).
A similar competition, which lapsed several years ago, used to take place on Exmoor. Let me know if you hear of a revival, please!
In 2019 entry to the competition cost £5. Tickets are available through the event website in advance (link below). All competitors receive a certificate on the day.
Wrap up well and wear wellies or walking boots as the paths can be muddy. By the time the prizes are given out (around 7 pm) it will be dark and a torch is useful.
Parking is very limited at the event (blue badge holders only, and must be arranged in advance with the organisers) but a free shuttle bus runs at stated intervals from the main Longshaw Woodcroft car park, which works very well (the carpark is free to National Trust members). The event website also shows parking available in nearby lay-bys accessible by footpath to the cottage.
The autumn festival is accessible to all, but the walk to the Bolving area is unsuitable for wheelchairs and anyone with even moderate mobility issues.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EasternMoors
Click here for the event website (select What’s On under Plan Your Visit tab): https://www.visit-eastern-moors.org.uk
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