Since 2011 the managers, Eastern Moors Partnership, have removed sheep and introduced highland cattle to Big Moor.  These cattle will eat tussock-grass, so the runnability of the moor is gradually improving. 

Big Moor was used for Northern Championships in 2010. It is a large area with open moorland,  the gritstone edges of Frggatt and Curbar and the steep, wooded slopes below the edges having good rock and contour detail. Runnability is variable, particularly on the open moorland. Although much of the moor is runnable and there is little heather, there are some areas of heavy-going tussocks in the middle of Big Moor.  Courses are generally planned to avoid these.  Deer and cattle trods can often be found to speed going.