as above, is a bash needed, ride natural trails around peaks, lakes and hebden

Depends what purpose you are using the bash for…do you need it to help keep the chain on? Then generally no. Do you need it to protect the chainring from knocks? Then yes

For XC/Trail/AM/ whatever you want to call it, the main issue for me is knocking unprotected teeth off a chainring. I used to run a bash with 2×9 but it’s not really an issue if you’re running 1×10 since the chain is always there to protect the ring. Obviously a bash will protect against bigger impacts but for the odd scuff I don’t bother with the added weight.