This year has been a good year for bilberries on the moors. The tiny pink flowers appear in spring and are replaced with tasty purple berries as August approaches. They are delicious to eat right up there on the moors, or to pick and take home to be transformed into bilberry and apple pie or bilberry jam.
My mum’s old recipe for bilberry jam is 2 1/2 lb of bilberrys, 1/4 pint of water, 3 tbsps lemon juice, 3 lbs sugar and pectin (quantity as recommended by the manufacturer on the bottle or packet). Simmer the cleaned fruit, water and lemon juice for about 10 – 15 minutes, then add the sugar, stirring until dissolved, boil for 3 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, add the pectin and put into jam jars. Delicious!
Peak Walking Adventures Blog 
Hi could you please tell me a good spot for bilberrys? I’d be most grateful. Went up Nine Ladies and there were not many. We had previously been picking loads near to Birmingham but would love to find some up Derbyshire. Thanks alot
Hi Julie. I was on Stanton Moor yesterday and there were loads of bilberrys along side the path that runs between the Earl Grey Tower and the southern end of the moor, so not far from the Nine Ladies. The photos on this blog post were taken on the Roaches on the Staffordshire side of the Peak District. There are also a lot on the lower parts of some of the paths that lead onto Kinder Scout (not Jacobs Ladder though) Lots of other places in the Dark Peak area. Hope you manage to find some. Best wishes. Cath.