For those of you new to Blue Fox reading the forthcoming stories, as they build over the year, will give you an insight into what this club is all about and what we value … I hope that it inspires you to dust down them boots and explore the great outdoors(?). In reality it will probably put you off walking for life!!!

 

25&26.03.25 ~ Beaumaris to Llanidan, Anglesey

Staying in the magnificent town of Menai for a few days, we took advantage of completing a couple of legs of the Anglesey Coast Path.

The weather on the first day was rather gloomy, it seemed to suit the walk … for there was far too much road walking for our tastes! There was a lovely section of rugged countryside at Pen-Y-Parc, but even that didn’t offer any compensation.

On the positive side, there were fine views over to Bangor’s pier and when we eventually dropped down to the water‘s edge at Menai, seeing the bridge close up for the first time remains with you forever!

Day Two restored complete faith in our viewpoint of the the coastal path. Sure, it too had long lengths of road, but there were plenty of shore-hugging pathways and amazing points of interest to scintillate the taste buds!

We left behind one magnificent bridge, via the Belgian Promenade, and another soon came into our sights. Church Island offered a highly recommended short diversion.

Continuing to hug the coast, we now entered a belt of sumptuous National Trust woodland … Coed Mor. As wonderful a sight as the Britannia Bridge is from afar, the real treat is to investigate what is UNDER it … Stephenson’s original masterpiece(?).

More treats were in store … courtesy of Nelson’s Statue, the Neolithic Burial Chamber at Bryncelli Ddu (short diversion required, but affords a bonus picnic spot) and a tranquil finale along the pebbled beach and along tranquil tracks to Llanidan.

20.03.25 ~ Jumbles, Bolton

The extended spring sunshine has morphed into summer-like sunshine … a day begging for a walk!

Although the route was the same as our “Walking Back Through Time” project, this was not a day for historical research but a day for enjoying a stroll.

From the main Jumbles car park, we followed an intriguing old goit through woodland. It conveniently came out at a relatively new cafe (Cafe Twelve) adjoined to a series of magnificent angling lodges. The cafe is an absolute must-stop … it is spotlessly clean, serves excellent food and the staff are a complete credit (thanks Andy & Team!).

Post ‘Full English’, we continued to follow the magnificent Bradshaw Brook through heavenly woodland. Our intention was to cross the brook at a bridge that belonged to an old mill, but we were scuppered doing so courtesy of some large iron gates … firmly locked!

Following a short diversion through a magnificent housing estate (and I don’t ‘say’ that very often), we picked up the thread of the brook again until we did find a footbridge crossing.

Before long, we were back on track and in familiar territory … and our first glance of Jumbles Reservoir, drenched in sunshine. The circumnavigation of the reservoir is a very popular walk, but too short for our purposes, so another detour took us to a scheduled brew stop at Turton Hall.

Another medley of lanes, fields and woodland paths took us nicely back to the eastern side of the reservoir and a return to our oven car.

08.03.25 ~ The Mulgrave Estate, Sandsend

(Part of our ‘Walks Around Whitby’ Project)

We spent a few days near Whitby enjoying the most incredible spring-like weather, taking the opportunity to iron out a few footpath snags for our massive (decades in the making) ‘Walks Around Whitby’ project.

March is the worst month to walk in this part of the world (mud, mud and more mud), but the prolonged recent sunshine has made it feel more like May-without-leaves.

Our main walk focused on the Mulgrave Estate. I have taken many walking groups through here over the years and rate it as one of the best walking destinations in the country! Only open to the public on certain days, it offers 15,000 acres of panorama heaven, supported by wide and well maintained tracks.

The owner of this paradise is the Marquess of Normanby. He lives in the grand “New Castle”, located in a prime part of the estate. Although we walked very near to it, it can only be viewed from a distance … due to the strategic planting of trees and hedgerows. We opted for a picnic at the ruins of the “Old Castle” … as good a break spot as possible. There is a third an even older castle, hidden deep inside the woods … easy to find with a good walking app or brain!

Post-refreshments, we continued to explore the vast open and virtually human-free landscape. Our finale took us to the steep road of Lythe Bank, via one of the estate’s exit points … guarded magnificently by a lodge house. We plunged into Sandsend, by now bustling with beach seekers. The entrance to the car park offered the only remains of a great alum works that once dominated the area.

05.03.25 ~ Burrs Country Park & The Kirklees Trail

(Walk 12 of our ‘Walks Around Heywood’ Project)

STATISTICS: 7.34 MILES / 618 FEET OF ASCENT

~

I was asked some years ago by that wonderful ‘Heywoodite’, Dr Michael Taylor, to produce a series of short walks in and around our town (a sort of a get fit programme). Back then I had absolutely no resources (ie time) to be able to fulfil this. Then came along the horrific days of Covid … suddenly I did have time in abundance to explore my local walking scene in depth. The idea stuck with me and I expanded the initial idea, the result was to devise a couple of seven-mile offerings. We are now up to walk number 12 … and I reckon the quality of this latest one is as high as the first(?). 

We started at Burrs Country Park and headed west through pleasant woodland perched high above the River Irwell. Before too long, we were on the magnificent Kirklees Trail. This was the old Bury to Holcombe Brook railway line, converted into a much-used multi-activity asset.

The significant strategic valley of the Kirklees Valley was not wasted on industry … a procession of old mills line the route. One of the large lodges made for a welcomed loop and break from the trail.

Conveniently at Greenmount, there is an excellent cafe … cue an outside brew in the company of glorious spring sunshine. The next leg took us through a residential area, but there was still plenty of history-snippet evidence to satisfy my curiosity. The folly of Tower Farm was a prime example … originally built as dwellings and stables for nearby huge calico print works, the castellations were added later and remain as a magnificent local landmark.

More woodland and more derelict mill remains … somehow blending in wonderfully with nature’s priceless presence. This walk was shaping up to be an absolute beauty! We passed the oldest of to-day’s points of interest … Brandlesholme Old Hall .. and onto a stretch of open fields. There were the obligatory views of Knowl Hill in the distance.

Our finale came courtesy of the stretch between Summerseat and Burrs. It hugs the East Lancs Railway line … no steam trains running to-day, but still a peach of a walk!

~

 Walks Around Heywood Project

I have spent much of the summer re-visiting my walks around Heywood. There are 12 in the series, with a 13th on the drawing board (Bowlee & Heaton Park). I have taken the opportunity to make a couple of additions … a short promotional video now accompanies each walk. Also, each route has been converted to the “All Trails” walking app.

See the relevant pages under the ‘Local Projects’ section.

 30.07.25 ~ Lockton, North Yorkshire

(B16 of our ‘Walks Around Whitby’ Project)

STATISTICS: 14.6 MILES / 2209 FEET OF ASCENT

I walk the North York Moors often, but don’t usually stray this far west.

This is one of our “Walks Around Whitby” and starts in the familiar village of Lockton. I say “familiar” … the magnificent valley I encountered on exiting the settlement was new to me and a pure joyous sight … it set the tone!

Following a first crossing of the NYM Railway line at Farwath, a long stretch of arable-rich countryside was there to savour.

Onto the halfway point and one of those true joy-dropping moments … an absolutely absorbing stroll around the old Roman Camps at Cawthorne, its size and preservation were only matched by its beauty!

Part Two involved a seamless, endless weave through deep magical woodland. The paths were surprisingly well-trod and ground bone-dry … this had turned out to be a complete peach of a walk (even by our high standards!).

The finale included another railway crossing and steam train fest encounter, then up to the intriguing ‘backwater’ of Levisham.

  10.08.25 ~ Llangollen, North Wales

STATISTICS: 6.9 MILES / 590 FEET OF ASCENT

On a glorious Sunday day, we found ourselves in the beautiful town of Llangollen. The great weather meant we didn’t exactly have it all to ourselves … the crowds were out in force!

We were here to do a reccee for a ‘D’ walk I will be leading for another club next month.

It was a mouthwatering beauty from the off! A gentle riverside stroll formed the start and certainly set the tone. Next, required a short, sharp climb, up to and through Inman’s Wood … the views over the valley were as good as you get. The climb did not concern me (it is a prospective ‘D’, but the narrow paths and steep drops did.

I met up with Linda and Henry at Berwyn Railway Station. They stayed on the (paved) main road … it wasn’t ideal, but at least it was flat. They didn’t have too long to wait and were nicely entertained by the procession of steam trains whistling through.

The next treat came courtesy of the famous ‘Chainbridge’. This wasn’t open last time I was here, and makes for a memorable river crossing and straight into the hotel on the opposite bank … how convenient!

Our first encounter with the canal soon followed, this morphed into a picnic at the honeypot of Horseshoe Falls … Linda didn’t know where to look next .. it was one treat after another!

The next section was less frenetic as our route connected a series of quiet field paths and deserted country lanes. Another point of interest passed near the abbey ruins of Valle Crucis, and an extended finale returns to the canal.

This route passed the world famous Eisteddfod Centre. In recognition of this fact, I have named this walk: “The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music” … genius! 

19 & 20.08.25 ~ Wasdale, Lakes

(Part of our ‘Lakes Tick List’ Project)

I have climbed all the highest mountains of the Lake District in an earlier life, but what I failed to do was record them in my own meticulous way. I have spent several years correcting my errors … this was the last piece of the jigsaw.

Conditions were absolutely perfect, and realistically, this was the last chance of the year to complete this monster project!

DAY ONE = PILLAR ~ by the time I drove up here (not easy) and pitched my tent (easy), it was mid-day. I set off in glorious weather that gave me an extra spring in my step. Although I had planned my route well in advance, I decided to leave my options open.

When I reached a pre-determined fork in the path, I made the decision to GO FOR IT … conditions were superb, and a chance like this is a rare occurrence.

A steady climb turned into a full-on scramble at the wonderfully named Elliptical Crag. I have made harder ascents, but the ground comprised of loose shale, making for very slow going. The summit afforded sumptuous views aplenty, but I decided to have lunch a little lower down (all to myself) … then a hop, skip and a jump all the way back down to base.

STATISTICS: 6.8 MILES / 2944 FEET OF ASCENT

~

DAY TWO = SCA FELL > SCAFELL PIKE > BROAD CRAG ~ although my old bones were still aching from yesterday, I set off with the same excitement. A very pleasant start took me to the main “tourist route” up to The Pike, via Lingmell. It was still early in the morning, and walking traffic was still light.

Once again, I reached a definitive fork and impulsively decided to make the momentous decision to attack the ascent up to Scafell via Lord’s Rake. I had the great fortune to meet an extremely experienced mountaineer who was going my way and was able to impart some valuable advice. Lord’s Rake turned out to be another scramble and again nothing I haven’t done before … I couldn’t help thinking it is not always as straightforward as this! I was absolutely elated on reaching Scafell (number one ticked off).

Between Scafell and the Scafell Pike is the little matter of Mickledore … in other words, an almighty drop to re-climb via Foxes Tarn was required … sole-destroying.

Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and an absolute magnet for walking pilgrims … it was bloody dreadful and I couldn’t wait to get off! My final destination was Broad Crag … another, albeit simpler. descent and re-ascent. I met some many wonderful people to-day, some of whom I was able to meet up with again in the pub later. However, I was absolutely knackered, and to be honest, had had enough!

I got off the top in the easiest way possible … by way of the dreaded “tourist route”, by now a swarm of human activity. With hindsight, I should have taken the path down alongside Piers Gill to connect to the valley floor at Moses’ Trod … I ain’t going back!!!

STATISTICS: 7.1 MILES / 3977 FEET OF ASCENT

23.08.25 ~ Our Annual Blackpool to Bury Cycle Ride

Team Fox ...