Dovestone - (Wild) Park Challenges

Dove Stone Reservoir

For those of you who associate MapRun exclusively with urban events now is the time for a change of perception.

Dove Stone comprises three reservoirs situated in steep ruggedly beautiful and popular valley just the other side of Greenfield. Fairclough’s has been serving ice cream there for 50 years. The owner, at least, must have seen some scorchingly hot days, which must have been wonderful for him in all sorts of ways.

Whatever the weather get there early, especially at the weekend, because Dove Stone is always a great place to be and the Pay and Display Car Park fills up quickly. It will cost you £1 for two hours.

There are three MapRun Scatter courses from which to choose. You can visit whichever controls suit you best and the shortest course - the Dash (12 controls from 38) - can be done as a 3 km sprint around the bottom reservoir. Most, if not all the running will be on paths and there will be very little climb.

The longest course - the Daunting (30 controls) - is at the other end of the scale. It will require strenuous climbing across tussocks and boulders. It will be about 7 km of hard going so allow at least an hour. The middle course - the Diverse (20 controls) - is somewhere in between the Dash and the Daunting in terms of climb, terrain and distance. It will be about 5 km.

Location

Bank Lane, Dove Stone Reservoir

Nearest town: Greenfield

Postcode: OL3 7NE

Three Scatter Courses: find in MapRunF at UK>Manchester>Navvies>Park

Dash: Visit 12 controls from the 38 on offer. Estimated distance 3 km.

Diverse: Visit 20 controls from the 38 on offer. Estimated distance 5km

Daunting: Visit 30 controls from the 38 on offer. Estimated distance 7km

Parking: Public Car Park £1 for two hours

The Start is on the path bend at the Northern end of the Dove Stone Reservoir dam.

The Finish is on the river bridge at the South East corner of the reservoir.

Garmin and MapRunG !

Those of you with a suitable Garmin watch should try MapRunG. It allows you to leave your smartphone behind and run the course on your watch. No arm band, no rain worries, faster times.

It’s free. All you have to do is:

  • Check with the GarminIQ store that your watch can support MapRunG

  • Download MapRunG to your watch via your smartphone and Garmin Connect

  • Download your course to MapRunF on your smartphone as per usual

  • Do not ‘Go to Start’ but ‘Send event to Garmin Watch’

  • Leave your smartphone in the car, fire up MapRunG on your watch and run.

  • Sync on your return

  • Job done.

http://maprunners.weebly.com/maprung.html

The maps and Maprun downloads for your phone are available from these links.

Dovestone Map

In addition, for these courses, separate control descriptions are available.

Dovestone Descriptions

On your app 'Select Event'

UK/Manchester/Navvies/Park/

and download the appropriate course to your phone.

The start location