I did wonder about that, will have to do a google. I wasn't sure exactly how far the "right of way" thing would translate - i.e. walking, running, biking is fine.... but 4x4s?!
Green Laning report
Re: Green Laning report
Cheers,
Mike.
Mike.
- Orange Cola
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Re: Green Laning report
Simon, I went and did a days driving here www.kankku.co.uk which I think you’d be interested in. They supply the cars, all of which have been modified properly plus a guide. You go about the Lakes driving the green lanes to get to places which are pretty inaccessible and have great views.
It’s not easy terrain either, we had a number of wading points and a lot of “it’ll never get up that” rock crawl moments but the guide was very good and showed us how to drive the cars over the terrain to get there. Although the cars are modified to be capable the emphasis is on the drivers skill to get the most out the car and ultimately go places where others with all the gear and no idea have failed to get to (we heard a couple of amusing stories in there when we asked). They’re also very good at letting you drive properly, left foot braking where required, getting the car positioned right, no worries about paint work against the foliage or wearing the brakes out, no signing your life away with additional insurances at the start of the day either. Just some genuine and friendly off road guys who love doing what they do. The trails are quite challenging too, which makes you glad you’re in someone else car in a way, plus they’re well up on green lanes and the more subtle things which go with them.
We can’t wait to go back, best driving experience I’ve ever done
It’s not easy terrain either, we had a number of wading points and a lot of “it’ll never get up that” rock crawl moments but the guide was very good and showed us how to drive the cars over the terrain to get there. Although the cars are modified to be capable the emphasis is on the drivers skill to get the most out the car and ultimately go places where others with all the gear and no idea have failed to get to (we heard a couple of amusing stories in there when we asked). They’re also very good at letting you drive properly, left foot braking where required, getting the car positioned right, no worries about paint work against the foliage or wearing the brakes out, no signing your life away with additional insurances at the start of the day either. Just some genuine and friendly off road guys who love doing what they do. The trails are quite challenging too, which makes you glad you’re in someone else car in a way, plus they’re well up on green lanes and the more subtle things which go with them.
We can’t wait to go back, best driving experience I’ve ever done
Mustang GT 5.0 V8 -- Jaguar F-Pace
Re: Green Laning report
That looks good - and I was expecting mad prices but they aren’t that bad. Shame it’s such a long trek up there.
Whitecliff in the Forest of Dean is great too.
Currently trying to arrange a day out where Choo can open the gates
Whitecliff in the Forest of Dean is great too.
Currently trying to arrange a day out where Choo can open the gates
Last edited by Jobbo on Wed Jul 31, 2019 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Orange Cola
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Re: Green Laning report
We’ve headed up here on holiday distance wasn’t an issue for us in the end, it was recommended to me by some family members who live in the area some years back so definitely one to bear in mind for future. Prices are reasonable considering the high standard of kit you get to drive freely, I would quite like to do a two day one with camping and friends if that’s ever available, we found the five hours we did (plus an hour stop for a pub lunch) to be about the most you’d want to do as you’re knackered after that.
My other half was dubious about it at first but I think she enjoyed it as much as me once she saw the first trail which started out a technical rock crawl section.
My other half was dubious about it at first but I think she enjoyed it as much as me once she saw the first trail which started out a technical rock crawl section.
Mustang GT 5.0 V8 -- Jaguar F-Pace
Re: Green Laning report
Excellent day of laning yesterday round Worcestershire and just into Herefordshire. Quite different to my Cotswolds excursions; the ground doesn’t drain so well and it’s actually a bit more hilly to the west of the River Severn.
Defeated by one muddy climb due to tyres (finally decided to get the chunky A/Ts for the spare wheels now, having not previously been sure I needed them). Fortunately the difficult lane is close to my friend’s house so we can try that again easily.
We did manage a couple of shorter similar muddy hill climbs with the benefit of some momentum though. And we forded quite a few rivers. The first was the deepest:
Enjoying the Vitara; it’s even fun to drive on the road between lanes
Defeated by one muddy climb due to tyres (finally decided to get the chunky A/Ts for the spare wheels now, having not previously been sure I needed them). Fortunately the difficult lane is close to my friend’s house so we can try that again easily.
We did manage a couple of shorter similar muddy hill climbs with the benefit of some momentum though. And we forded quite a few rivers. The first was the deepest:
Enjoying the Vitara; it’s even fun to drive on the road between lanes
Re: Green Laning report
As impressive as the video is, was there any need for the cameraman to be wanking?
- Sundayjumper
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Re: Green Laning report
Jobbo - is there a particular resource you use to find these green lanes ? I need to go exploring with the Touareg but apart from buying an OS map I don’t know where to start. There’s presumably better / detailed info around as to what’s driveable ?
I've got my chunky tyres on now:
I've got my chunky tyres on now:
Last edited by Sundayjumper on Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Jimmy Choo
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Re: Green Laning report
I feel cheated. That clearly wasn't an Aston or a Ford and there were no ladies of any ethnicity!Jobbo wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2019 2:29 pm Excellent day of laning yesterday round Worcestershire and just into Herefordshire. Quite different to my Cotswolds excursions; the ground doesn’t drain so well and it’s actually a bit more hilly to the west of the River Severn.
Defeated by one muddy climb due to tyres (finally decided to get the chunky A/Ts for the spare wheels now, having not previously been sure I needed them). Fortunately the difficult lane is close to my friend’s house so we can try that again easily.
We did manage a couple of shorter similar muddy hill climbs with the benefit of some momentum though. And we forded quite a few rivers. The first was the deepest:
Enjoying the Vitara; it’s even fun to drive on the road between lanes
Banal Vapid Platitudes
Re: Green Laning report
I've never seen a Touareg fitted with knobbly tyres before!Sundayjumper wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 8:22 pm Jobbo - is there a particular resource you use to find these green lanes ? I need to go exploring with the Touareg but apart from buying an OS map I don’t know where to start. There’s presumably better / detailed info around as to what’s driveable ?
I've got my chunky tyres on now:
IMG_0901.jpg
Oui, je suis un motard.
Re: Green Laning report
Steve, I joined GLASS (the Green Lane Association) which is about £48 for the year. That gives access to their mapping database, TrailWise2. It’s a great resource.
However, what it does is highlight the Other Routes with Public Access and Byways Open to All Traffic (ORPAs and BOATs) which are shown on OS maps in England and Wales. It does also have user-submitted comments on many of them (plenty of legal rights of way aren’t actually passable) and generally gets updated quickly when a TRO limits use (sometimes permanently, sometimes at certain times only) which is not at all apparent from an OS map.
Back issues of Land Rover Owner often have suggested routes in, and the ViewRanger app has a website which you might find routes on too. Fundamentally TrailWise2 is the best resource but it’s well worth using multiple sources. I’ve not gone as far as digging through the List of Streets yet, which is a per council specific database, but that’s the definitive info on whether a route is legal. But being just a list of road names it’s a bit hard to use
However, what it does is highlight the Other Routes with Public Access and Byways Open to All Traffic (ORPAs and BOATs) which are shown on OS maps in England and Wales. It does also have user-submitted comments on many of them (plenty of legal rights of way aren’t actually passable) and generally gets updated quickly when a TRO limits use (sometimes permanently, sometimes at certain times only) which is not at all apparent from an OS map.
Back issues of Land Rover Owner often have suggested routes in, and the ViewRanger app has a website which you might find routes on too. Fundamentally TrailWise2 is the best resource but it’s well worth using multiple sources. I’ve not gone as far as digging through the List of Streets yet, which is a per council specific database, but that’s the definitive info on whether a route is legal. But being just a list of road names it’s a bit hard to use
- Sundayjumper
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Re: Green Laning report
Marv - I'm not surprised, but it's a shame as they're quite competent offroaders. They all (well, the early ones, up to 2010) have a proper transfer box & centre diff lock, and mine also has the optional rear diff lock & air suspension. At its max height it has a fraction under 12" of ground clearance. The V10 also has a mammoth amount of torque - 553 lb-ft. Offset by being bloody heavy though !
Jobbo - I've found www.bywaymap.com which shows various byways but doesn't have feedback on condition etc. There's a few not too far away so if I'm allowed out this afternoon I'll go for a look.
Jobbo - I've found www.bywaymap.com which shows various byways but doesn't have feedback on condition etc. There's a few not too far away so if I'm allowed out this afternoon I'll go for a look.
Re: Green Laning report
TFL Car on Youtube have a mk1 Touareg (petrol V8) to which they have fitted knobbly tyres and they've been very impressed with its ability off road. Apparently they were available with centre, rear and front diff locks in some markets
The Byway map shows just BOATs, not ORPAs, so it's missing the majority of legal routes. BOATs seem to be prevalent on historic downland so you may be fortunate where you are. Here's a zoomed-out excerpt from Trailwise2 - all the coloured routes are clickable:
The Byway map shows just BOATs, not ORPAs, so it's missing the majority of legal routes. BOATs seem to be prevalent on historic downland so you may be fortunate where you are. Here's a zoomed-out excerpt from Trailwise2 - all the coloured routes are clickable:
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Re: Green Laning report
Here seems the most appropriate place for this...
Some of you might remember we picked up a 3.6 TDV8 L322 about 10 months ago. In an effort to try and justify it, we signed on to a Forestry Commission 4x4 trip round Cannock Chase. We were expecting a tour of the fire roads and a lectrure from the ranger about wildlife. Turns out it was a bit more exciting than that! Fortunately our 8 year old loved it.
Definitely worth a go if you have a 4x4 and fancy getting a bit more ambitious.
Apologies for hijacking your thread Simon.
Some of you might remember we picked up a 3.6 TDV8 L322 about 10 months ago. In an effort to try and justify it, we signed on to a Forestry Commission 4x4 trip round Cannock Chase. We were expecting a tour of the fire roads and a lectrure from the ranger about wildlife. Turns out it was a bit more exciting than that! Fortunately our 8 year old loved it.
Definitely worth a go if you have a 4x4 and fancy getting a bit more ambitious.
Apologies for hijacking your thread Simon.
- Sundayjumper
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Re: Green Laning report
Ah, the mythical front diff lock ! There's a couple of images on the internet - literally a couple - of a selector dial with a front diff lock icon, but nobody has ever seen the actual diff. Nobody has found it in any of the VAG technical docs either, in the parts diagrams and wiring schematics.
The question comes up in the Touareg forums quite regularly. There's always someone who's convinced it's just a matter of plugging in the switch and then it'll work
The BOATs to the west & SE of Wokingham are the ones I'm going to check out first. I don't imagine they'll be very challenging but they're close to home and very easy to get to.
- Sundayjumper
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Re: Green Laning report
Dave - none of your pics show up for me !
Re: Green Laning report
Nor for me - Dave, you’re not hijacking my thread (hey, if others are interested maybe we could do a green laning meet!) and I’d love to see them.
I’ve not thought about trying pay and play type sites, though there’s a GLASS day at Hawkstone Park in November which would be tempting if I had my new tyres by then.
I’ve not thought about trying pay and play type sites, though there’s a GLASS day at Hawkstone Park in November which would be tempting if I had my new tyres by then.
- Sundayjumper
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Re: Green Laning report
I’d probably be up for that, depending on the location. Is hoyley still around with his Rangie ? I can’t remember where he’s based.
I did a pay & play thing many years ago with my Frontera. It was fun and it felt like you could take more liberties with the driving as it was private land. You’re not ripping up a public RoW.
Also, there’s plenty of other people around to help if you get stuck
- Sundayjumper
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- Sundayjumper
- Posts: 6548
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 4:04 pm
- Currently Driving: Land Rover, Peugeot 406