jasonFazack
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Great day working my way the some amber and red routes
General Green Laning in the Lake District today...
- Thread starter jasonFazack
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General Green Laning in the Lake District today...
TwinAir Newbie
Member
Looks like you were having fun.
How did the car perform?
How did the car perform?
Wow! Wish we had that down south
TwinAir Newbie
Member
Yes indeed!
My Fiat dealer told me of a route that he has used locally in a Panda 4x4.
I've checked it out on Google Earth but I'm not sure as to the legalities of the using of various tracks.
jasonFazack
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It was good fun, and the Panda handled it well. I always get a little disconcerted when I hear rocks hitting the underbelly - I need to get it on a ramp to understand any points of vulnerability. Saying that, I did have a Defender a few years ago and I felt the same way about that vehicle.
It was a bit of a last minute decision to do this, and I probably spent a couple of hours researching on the web. Living in Lancashire, like many areas of the UK, you quickly find that green lanes either do not exist, or are not documented anywhere accessible. Cumbria County Council, on the other hand, are very good at publicising the routes AND educating on correct use. For example, I found one route that should have been passable, had a river crossing, but also had Salmon spawning - it didn't say the route was closed at this time of year, just that you should consider this and your potential impact. I skipped this route. I also kept to the dedicated tracks to avoid churning up the already sodden grass either side.
So, a good start point is:
www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/...de-access/hotr/hierarchy_of_trails_routes.asp
This page provides an explanation of the hierarchy of routes (Red, amber & green). From this page you can then access different OS areas - I went for OS97. On that page you can get an overview of the routes for the east and west. These overview maps are very useful for planning your day as you can try and create an overall circular plan. The routes should are colour coded - I chose the red and amber routes. Once you have a plan, each route then has it's own detail page which gives an OS reference for the start and end, general descriptions of the surface (grass, crushed stone, rock), and any notes of warning e.g. river crossing, livestock etc.
I took a copy of an OS map on my iPad, and it was useful in identifying the start points. Note that this is probably the trickiest part of the day. However, many will have a subtle signpost to indicate the start. Don't be put off by gates, you have the right to access!
I did come across one red route which I managed just 100 metres of, finding it quickly turned to large rocks. But two other red routes were perfectly passable. Some of the Ambers were very easy, but wonderful all the same.
Having now tried green lanes I will definitely do it again, maybe quite regularly. They do not over-challenge you as a driver, they are more about getting out into the open countryside and enjoying it, without interfering with it. I took my kids and they also enjoyed themselves, at the pub lunch at the end. I recommend it, and again, thanks to Cumbria County Council.
It was a bit of a last minute decision to do this, and I probably spent a couple of hours researching on the web. Living in Lancashire, like many areas of the UK, you quickly find that green lanes either do not exist, or are not documented anywhere accessible. Cumbria County Council, on the other hand, are very good at publicising the routes AND educating on correct use. For example, I found one route that should have been passable, had a river crossing, but also had Salmon spawning - it didn't say the route was closed at this time of year, just that you should consider this and your potential impact. I skipped this route. I also kept to the dedicated tracks to avoid churning up the already sodden grass either side.
So, a good start point is:
www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/...de-access/hotr/hierarchy_of_trails_routes.asp
This page provides an explanation of the hierarchy of routes (Red, amber & green). From this page you can then access different OS areas - I went for OS97. On that page you can get an overview of the routes for the east and west. These overview maps are very useful for planning your day as you can try and create an overall circular plan. The routes should are colour coded - I chose the red and amber routes. Once you have a plan, each route then has it's own detail page which gives an OS reference for the start and end, general descriptions of the surface (grass, crushed stone, rock), and any notes of warning e.g. river crossing, livestock etc.
I took a copy of an OS map on my iPad, and it was useful in identifying the start points. Note that this is probably the trickiest part of the day. However, many will have a subtle signpost to indicate the start. Don't be put off by gates, you have the right to access!
I did come across one red route which I managed just 100 metres of, finding it quickly turned to large rocks. But two other red routes were perfectly passable. Some of the Ambers were very easy, but wonderful all the same.
Having now tried green lanes I will definitely do it again, maybe quite regularly. They do not over-challenge you as a driver, they are more about getting out into the open countryside and enjoying it, without interfering with it. I took my kids and they also enjoyed themselves, at the pub lunch at the end. I recommend it, and again, thanks to Cumbria County Council.
TwinAir Newbie
Member
Many thanks for that most informative post.
tardis56
New member
I'm near Southampton and just bought a load of Explorer maps which show the BOAT routes. You can also get up to date info from the MOD on Salisbury Plain which is where I want to go once it dries out a bit.
babbo_umbro
Established member
Sounds great - those in the south should come to Dartmoor; my experience of driving on it is limited as I can get on to it without getting into the car but there are some great tracks and it's one of the few places in the south where you can walk for hours without coming across another person. Some areas are restricted from time to time - rather like Salisbury Plain I imagine - and the army's withdrawal from Germany has increased their activity on the moor but it's a beautiful place to explore.
Check this out....I'm booking for the june 8th outing on salisbury plain....
http://www.suvadventuretours.co.uk/events.html
tardis56
New member
Think I will as well, looks like a good starting point / introduction!
Update - just booked and paid...
Update - just booked and paid...
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I have now booked and paid too. The guy organising it sent me this email:
If you can get enough of people together I would happily run a Panda only day. Group size between 3 and 5.
Could possibly run this in May. (I want to give Salisbury Plain some time to dry out as it has been very wet this winter).
I have told him I can do May 11th and 18th (Sundays)
They just come back to say they can only do sunday 11th may. So potentially we have a panda only adventure day on salisbury plain for 3-5 cars. So far we have 2....
Sounds a great idea - just need 1 more to make it feasible!
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TwinAir Newbie
Member
Hmm.
That's a possibility.
Thanks for the info and I'll see how things go.
That's a possibility.
Thanks for the info and I'll see how things go.
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I have now booked and paid too. The guy organising it sent me this email:
If you can get enough of people together I would happily run a Panda only day. Group size between 3 and 5.
Could possibly run this in May. (I want to give Salisbury Plain some time to dry out as it has been very wet this winter).
I have told him I can do May 11th and 18th (Sundays)
They just come back to say they can only do sunday 11th may. So potentially we have a panda only adventure day on salisbury plain for 3-5 cars. So far we have 2....
Sounds a great idea - just need 1 more to make it feasible!
I appreciate this is for the current Panda, but of you need to make up numbers (or want more), try posting on the Classic Panda section (or I can do it for you) - there are enthusiastic owners who are often looking for offroading opportunities - I can't make this date unfortunately (unless something changes) otherwise I'd have been blagging an invite for my Sisley!
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I appreciate this is for the current Panda, but of you need to make up numbers (or want more), try posting on the Classic Panda section (or I can do it for you) - there are enthusiastic owners who are often looking for offroading opportunities - I can't make this date unfortunately (unless something changes) otherwise I'd have been blagging an invite for my Sisley!
Can I ask you too pls, as am off out now & late already! Ta
Can I ask you too pls, as am off out now & late already! Ta
No problem - I'll see if there's any interest in that section
tardis56
New member
I'd be up for an all Panda day too!
I'd be up for an all Panda day too!
If you contact them and say u want to book the june 8th event, but would also be up for an all-panda event on may 11th, we will have 3 confirmed which is the minimum so it will go ahead! Great news
I'd be interested in doing this if there is still a place spare.
tardis56
New member
You need to contact to register your interest.I'd be interested in doing this if there is still a place spare.
Have done so myself so a potentially good gathering.
I've made a note of Toms no. so will give him a call tomorrow.
What they classify as a small 4x4 is still bigger than a Panda so I can understand why he'd like to organise a 'Panda only" day, means he can tailor the route for us.
