Bit Of Fun Corner!
Foxes Tarn, near Scafell
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Blue Fox Walks
Annual Lancashire Three Towers Challenge (08.04.23)
Time For 2023 =
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 = 11:52 (MB/MK/VA) / 2022 (IN REVERSE) = 11:23 (MB/MK/SW/VA) / 2023 (IN REVERSE) = 11:23 (MB/MK/VA)
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Blue Fox Wheelers
Annual Blackpool to Prestwich Bike Ride (xx.xx.24)
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) / 2023 = (AL/GO/JS/MK/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
Lyke Wake Walk Challenge (01.07.23)
Time = 21 hours + 11 mins
This is an epic walk of 42 miles over the North York Moors, from Osmotherley to Ravenscar. The challenge is to complete it in 24 hours. Vast swathes of wilderness moorland form much of the route … inevitably, sections have to be negotiated in complete darkness!
(GO/MB/MK/JS/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
