Doug Munroe, a member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers for nearly 30 years, wanted a different challenge to celebrate his 65th birthday, so came up with ‘Doug’s Odyssey’ – the idea of visiting 65 trig points.

Fortunately, there were just enough on the Blackburn and Burnley Map OS sheet 103, covering the area from the Trough of Bowland in the north to Darwen and Rawtenstall to the south, so he could keep it nice and local.

Munroe figured that “there is only one way to eat an elephant – a bit at a time”, so broke his task into bite-sized chunks.

He started his collection on January 1. Some of them he found very easily, while others he described as epics.

Wolfhole Crags, at the Western end of the Trough of Bowland, took 90 minutes of running and walking even after parking as close as possible.

It all came to a conclusion last Saturday, two days after his birthday, when he climbed Pendle Hill with a bunch of fellow ‘triggers’ from the Harriers, to collect his 65th and final trig point on the Big End.

n Doug has been collecting sponsorship for Derian House, a local charity that provides care for terminally ill children. If you want to support the cause contact him on 01254 824320 or douglasmunroe @btinternet.com.