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If you could ride around Gisburn without pushing due to lack of gears, or crying due to lack of bounce, and honestly say that you wouldn't have preferred forks and gears, I would doff my cap to you and your proper play thing.

As for some of the riding in the Dales, I genuinely don't think it would be possible on a singlespeed, even if you were exceptionally fit (which I'm sure you are, much more fitter than me) but it's just too steep/too long/too bumpy...

All this started with me saying "I reckon" so, proper mtb to me, may be different than it is to you.

Proper mtb to me is being able to handle as well as possible, without too much compromise on anything, whilst being as much fun as possible.

you are 100% missing the point of singlespeed mtb, there is no course in the UK that can't be done, with grit and determination nothing is too steep and i am certainly not fit but ridden all of the trails at the 7 stains on a single speed rigid mtb (not recently mind)
i'm not saying i did it fast or particularly gracefully but that's not the point of one gear really - it's the purity and simplicity and ease of use. point at the mountain and pedal. - i think everyone on this forum should appreciate that really

p.s In my lack of fitness i've now made a compromise with a 29er full suspension 2 speed for speed/ comfort but still keeping the simplicity and weight advantages, if i had the money a rohloff would be the ultimate off road solution (or even better a nicolai internally gearboxes hobby)