Round Loaf SD 638 182 & Hurst Hill SD 631 179 13th October
Type stuff
Welcome to my journal recording progress along my plan to scale 80 UK summits (high or not so high) during my 80th year, that is, starting 15th September 2025 and finishing on 14th September 2026. I'm hoping that this will leave me on 15th September 2026 a little fitter than when I started the year, having enjoyed many outings with current, and hopefully a few new, friends. Let's see in what shape I greet the world as an 80 year old. Feel free to contact me using the contact form.
The photo below was taken a year or two ago from the garden at "Luciano's at the Millstone", Anderton near Chorley. The tall mast in the far distance is on top of Winter Hill, not far from the summit trig point. In front of that, about a mile nearer is the small tower on Rivington Pike, and the lower wooded top to the right is Brown Hill; more of these later, as the year progresses.
Counting Hill, Bolton SD 672 142 and Two Lads SD 655 133 Monday 6th October
Counting Hill is a fairly nondescript 'top' on another of my Winter Hill training routes. It lies nearly a mile SE of the top of Winter Hill. Many folk travelling along the gentle ridge on which it lies will have passed over it without being aware that it has a name, although its existence gained some exposure locally when it was included in 'Coope's Dozen' (an informal challenge round based on Winter Hill) about a quarter of a century ago. From there it was round the east end of Smithills Res (aka the Hidden/Secret/Dean Mills Res) then over Two Lads (name refers to legend of two shepherd lads who died in a blizzard there many years ago) then over Rivington Pike (already counted) and back to the Barn. Nothing really to report on this outing, other that it was a fine clear day and the count is now 5 down, 75 to go.
Noon Hill, Chorley SD 647 150, Saturday, 27th September
...also Rivington Pike SD 643 138. Still not straying off the Winter Hill 'massif', this is another of my short training runs. Started from Rivington Top Barn and headed directly to Noon Hill. The cairn has a long history, as various excavations have revealed, but was at one time a bronze age burial site. It's not often visited, except by errant fell walkers and runners, who see it as a fine viewpoint, deserving due reverence. From there my route took me across the moor to Rivington Pike - if you've not been there, shame on you! Enough said. Then back down to the Barn. Three down, 77 to go.
Winter Hill, Chorley SD 660 149 Tuesday 23rd Sep
This is on one of my shorter training routes. As usual I parked on the small parking place at Hordern Stoops, the high point on the Rivington-Belmont road. Up the steep northern flank of the hill, minor scramble onto the summit ridge and on to the trig point. Then down the 'ramp' to San Marinos, into Belmont and back up the road to the car. Recorded in my training diary as a 'PW' - things can only get better! One down (up?) 79 to go.
The Year Hasn't Started Well
To avoid offering TMI, I'll just report that I've been gradually developing what I'm calling 'Unpredictable Bowel Syndrome' (use your imagination - or don't!). The medics have carried out certain tests (!) without reaching any conclusion or appearing unduly concerned, so for the time being I'm not travelling very far from home, and experimenting with minor dietary changes. This has meant that I've had to postpone a couple of planned outings, sorry Mark and Steve. However, there's quite few decent little fells close to Blackrod, so the show can go on.
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