Foxes Tarn, near Scafell

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 Blue Fox Walks

Annual Lancashire Three Towers Challenge (16.04.22)

Time For 2022 =

11 hours + 23 minutes

 This is not a new idea … a local fell running event was held in the 1960s (sponsored by an infant Bury-based company called ‘Reebok’!), a race that started up Holcombe Hill to the Tower > across the moors to Darwen Tower > over to Winter Hill and down the muddy slopes to the finishing line at Rivington Pike .. but maybe what makes our version unique, is to do it as a complete circular(?).

2013 = 9:30RECORD (VA) / 2014 = 10:12 (PG/TP/VA) / 2015 = 11:21 (PG/ST/TP/VA) / 2016 = 11:02 (MK/PG/TP/VA) / 2017 = 10:50 (LR/MK/VA) / 2018 =12.02 (LR/MB/MK/PG/TP/VA) / 2019 (IN REVERSE) = 11:52 (MB/MK/VA) / 2022 = 11:23 (MB/MK/SW/VA)

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 Blue Fox Wheelers

Annual Blackpool to Prestwich Bike Ride (03.09.22)

This one is not against the clock, but is a superb challenge of mind and muscle … the route is a mix of main and minor road, delightful country lane and the long middle and finale sections are a Blue Fox blend of little known off-road mystery and pure magic(???). 

 

2017 = (MK/WG/VA) / 2018 = (MK/WG/VA) / 2021 = (JS/VA) / 2022 = (GO/JS/MK/WG/VA)

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Blue Fox Walks
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge (04.07.19)

Time = 9 hours + 40 mins

The official challenge is to collectively bag this trio of Yorkshire giants … Pen-y-Ghent>Whernside>Ingleborough .. in 12 hours. I was asked to organise our own attempt, as a one-off, by some friends who were in training for the UK 3 peaks (Ben Nevis>Snowdon>Scafell Pike). It is best tackled (in my opinion)  mid-week and therefore in comparative solitude! 

(MB/MK/TD/VA)

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Blue Fox Walks Annual Navigation Challenge

This is an opportunity to introduce and explore some remote and largely untapped parts of northern England & Wales, setting myself a navigation target in the bargain!

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30.11.2019 (VA) – IRWELL SPRINGS, DEERPLAY MOOR (Lancs) …

As a Mancunian with Salford roots, I have always been mesmerized by the river that links and divides the two cities. This is not only a journey to find the source of the Irwell … Irwell Springs on the moors above Bacup, but to continue to walk alongside its 40-mile length, only ending where it meets the Mersey at Irlam. My inspiration stems from Cyril Bracegirdle’s excellent read … “The Dark River”.

GRID REFERENCE: SD 86426 26662

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11.08.2018 (VA) – WHITENDALE HANGING STONES (Forest of Bowland) …

This is a journey to the centre of the earth (well, Great Britain anyway!), as these stones are claimed to be. Once again, I have done this before … or so I thought, for the EXACT spot is some 200 yards to the northwest of the stones.

On a glorious summer’s day, this turned out to be a walk to Solitude Central as well as GB Central! The vast area that is Bowland offers some scintillating scenery and intrigue aplenty to explore.   

GRID REFERENCE: SD 64188 56541

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14.10.2017 (MK & VA) – KINDER SCOUT (Dark Peak) …Our objective was to locate the summit of Kinder. Not as easy as you might think … we tried this one a few years earlier (but failed miserably!).  

This famous plateau is as daunting as it is featureless … the terrain is unforgiving (ask my companion Mareks!!!).

On the day of the search a more focused and determined me navigated the old fashioned way with a compass to take us within a ‘spit’ of the, not so obvious, enigmatic point. Then, I honed in using my gps … mission accomplished!

GRID REFERENCE: SK 08534 87524

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CITY STROLLS

Although I have been travelling abroad since 1980 (my very first Grand Tour!), it was only in late 2011 that I decided to devise and record a series of easy walks, that may be of use to anyone who is visiting an international city.   Behind every great city lies a great park … this is where the foundation of my ideas lie, BUT by no means tells the whole story(?). I have planned many urban walks, for various councils in the past, and reckon I know what makes up the key ingredients to a successful city stroll(?).   I have had immense fun and enjoyment doing these, I do not deliver any ‘points of interest’ … that is up to you to find out (as much or as little as you like), but do accompany each walk with the relevant guidebook and map. Note – in order to take into account that accommodation will vary greatly, I use the (always) excellent underground network to get to and from the start and finish points.  

BERLIN     NEW   YORK     AMSTERDAM    BARCELONA   

 Next stop … Brussels

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TOP TEN PUBS … IN THE WORLD!!!

10     ~           Golden Ball, Lancaster

9       ~           John Bull Inn, Alnwick  

8       ~           White Hart, Mickleby (best hospitality on the planet!)

7       ~           Bridge Inn, Calver (best-kept beer on the planet!)

6       ~           Stag Inn, Dufton

5       ~           Swinside Inn, Keswick

4       ~           Salutation Inn, Manchester

3       ~           Jamaica Inn, Whitby

2      ~            Blue Note Bar, St.Helier

1     ~         Red Lion, Litton