Salisbury plain

[Lofty999]

Have been greenlaning,bikes,on the plain for a year now and still not sure where we are legally allowed.any ideas?It seems half the byways are only marked one end and most of the access points have no signage at all but are obviously used.Also told by plod up there that ALL metalled tracks are ok,again,no signs

Confused

[normalbloke]

Google the 'definitive' map, held by the local CC. Some make access to it easy, others are deliberately obtuse.

[RonnieH]

I'm shocked that you've been using the area for 'a year' without proper knowledge of where you can and can't be........
anyway.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbu...
read the attached file..........

[Lofty999]

RonnieH said:

I'm shocked that you've been using the area for 'a year' without proper knowledge of where you can and can't be........
anyway.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbu...
read the attached file..........

It's not that I don't no where I am,I stay on the marked byways,but it seems that I normally come across others,mainly 4x4 ,with GPS or better maps than my os explorer who advise that a lot of in marked tracks which they use are legal.I just want to make the most of the area but stay legal at the same time so as not to give us all more bad press!

[RonnieH]

The way I read the mod spta leaflet, we're allowed on any of the hard military tracks, as long as they're not barriered off, or signed as no entry, I personally rather stay on the byways, as long as you're not being a dick and not chewing up the grass off piste , and stick to the firm tracks you should be fine....

[Spare tyre]

Lofty I sent you an email, check your junk folder

[Lofty999]

Cheers spare tyre,will do

[Clivey]

O/T but what is with all the aforementioned obtuseness, cliques and other BS with regards to off-roading? All some people seem to want to do is be condescending without actually answering anyone's questions or helping them to stay legal.

If someone politely asks me a question and I know the answer, I'll tell them without being an arse about it...why wouldn't you?

[K50 DEL]

Clivey said:

O/T but what is with all the aforementioned obtuseness, cliques and other BS with regards to off-roading? All some people seem to want to do is be condescending without actually answering anyone's questions or helping them to stay legal.

If someone politely asks me a question and I know the answer, I'll tell them without being an arse about it...why wouldn't you?

With the exception of one PHer who actually came out on a couple of trips with us onto the plain I had exactly the same thing when I was trying to ascertain where and where not to go a couple of years ago... I gave up in the end, can't be doing with cliques and general unfriendliness.

[Clivey]

K50 DEL said:

With the exception of one PHer who actually came out on a couple of trips with us onto the plain I had exactly the same thing when I was trying to ascertain where and where not to go a couple of years ago... I gave up in the end, can't be doing with cliques and general unfriendliness.

The bit that makes me wonder is how these people expect others to support them when their hobby is under threat yet act like this when you try to join them.

[100SRV]

Clivey said:

The bit that makes me wonder is how these people expect others to support them when their hobby is under threat yet act like this when you try to join them.

As a GLASS area rep for over fifteen years I can sympathise with the frustration of those new to green laning, I was in your position once. As far as I am concerned there are NO CLIQUES - as long as you demonstrate that you can be responsible when using green lanes all are welcome.

For the record:

• I am happy to take those new to green laning on a trip.
• I am very wary about sharing information concerning viable routes because, in my experience, if you suggest a route is avoided when wet it will get over-used by those who think their cars are hippos.

PM me if you are interested in exploring the unsurfaced roads of:
Shropshire
Worcestershire
The Welsh Marches
Wiltshire
Lambourn downs

100SRV

[Clivey]

100SRV said:

As a GLASS area rep for over fifteen years I can sympathise with the frustration of those new to green laning, I was in your position once. As far as I am concerned there are NO CLIQUES - as long as you demonstrate that you can be responsible when using green lanes all are welcome.

Maybe not in your circles but I certainly have come across those who assume that aren't exactly forthcoming to "newcomers" - especially if you dare to drive something that's not a Defender. - I didn't mean to suggest that everyone's like that though. - I've already had several people on here and other forums PM me with offers of advice, help, support etc.

I've only recently bought my first 4x4 - a Discovery 2 TD5. I'm currently using the 3-month warranty period to track-down any faults and get them fixed, as well as to do any of the inevitable "little jobs" that all used cars have...I just wish the weather would co-operate as I don't yet have a garage. I want to make sure it's ready before I take it off tarmac but intend to take it green-laning as well as off road and also use it for touring both the UK and abroad (if money were no object, I'd like to take it around the world).

100SRV said:

For the record:

• I am happy to take those new to green laning on a trip.
• I am very wary about sharing information concerning viable routes because, in my experience, if you suggest a route is avoided when wet it will get over-used by those who think their cars are hippos.

PM me if you are interested in exploring the unsurfaced roads of:
Shropshire
Worcestershire
The Welsh Marches
Wiltshire
Lambourn downs

100SRV

Thanks for the offer.

Re. the comment in bold: I understand what you mean - if someone wants to drive in a bog they can go to a pay and play site. Another problem that obviously causes is that because you (and others) are now reluctant to discuss routes, it becomes harder for the sensible, reasonable newbies (or people unfamiliar with the area) to get started and find-out where they can go without causing problems.

Regarding water, mud etc.: When is "wet and muddy" considered "too wet and muddy"? I assume when further use would deteriorate the state of the lane?

EDIT: Just realised you're one of those who already PM'd me. I'm just outside Derby.

Edited by Clivey on Monday 6th January 23:55

[100SRV]

Clivey said:

Thanks for the offer.

Re. the comment in bold: I understand what you mean - if someone wants to drive in a bog they can go to a pay and play site. Another problem that obviously causes is that because you (and others) are now reluctant to discuss routes, it becomes harder for the sensible, reasonable newbies (or people unfamiliar with the area) to get started and find-out where they can go without causing problems.

Regarding water, mud etc.: When is "wet and muddy" considered "too wet and muddy"? I assume when further use would deteriorate the state of the lane?

EDIT: Just realised you're one of those who already PM'd me. I'm just outside Derby.

Edited by Clivey on Monday 6th January 23:55

I received your email, sorry for not replying yet, I blame the shock of returning to work after Christmas.
Derby - a reasonable way from my home county of Worcestershire but if I can help I will.

Too wet and muddy is really, now...and for the foreseeable future. This obviously depends upon whether the unsurfaced road you are using is on a rocky base (e.g. lots of Wales) or an old holloway with an earth bed (e.g. lots of southern England) but I'd suggest that if you can see surface water in pasture and cultivated fields then the water table is high and you will damage the surface. This is not good and gets us bad press or lanes closed.

There is a misconception that mud is a new thing in the countryside and that recreational vehicles create it. This is wrong - there is documented evidence of a Roman dude refusing to send a pack and wagon train to Hadrian's Wall from York because it is too muddy. Mud must have been a problem before then and certainly was afterwards - hence turnpikes being wide to allow horse-drawn carriages and wagons to bypass foundrous sections.

That said although historically we have always had mud it DOES NOT MEAN that it is ok to take your challenge-alike Ninety or one-life-live-it Disco 1 on a wet lane and cover it in mud.

I'm not suggesting that you would do that but I have come across small groups of "laners" in the past who, after discussing which way each is heading and I suggest "give this lane a miss, it's very wet and the ruts are quite deep" I get the response "we'll be OK, we've got 35 inch tyres"...no pal, laning isn't progress at any cost; it is about immersing yourself in the countryside whilst leaving little to no evidence of your passing.

[boobles]

Pah we on many occasions in the past have driven 4x4's all over Salisbury Plain without any issues.
Just stay away when the red flags are raised!

[anonymous-user]

K50 DEL said:

I had exactly the same thing when I was trying to ascertain where and where not to go a couple of years ago... I gave up in the end

Can't say I'm altogether surprised if this is your idea of a good day's laning:


100SRV hits the nail squarely on the head:

100SRV said:

As far as I am concerned there are NO CLIQUES - as long as you demonstrate that you can be responsible when using green lanes all are welcome.

For the record:

• I am happy to take those new to green laning on a trip.
• I am very wary about sharing information concerning viable routes because, in my experience, if you suggest a route is avoided when wet it will get over-used by those who think their cars are hippos.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 7th January 15:28

[K50 DEL]

Crossflow Kid said:

K50 DEL said:

I had exactly the same thing when I was trying to ascertain where and where not to go a couple of years ago... I gave up in the end

Can't say I'm altogether surprised if this is your idea of a good day's laning:


100SRV hits the nail squarely on the head:

100SRV said:

As far as I am concerned there are NO CLIQUES - as long as you demonstrate that you can be responsible when using green lanes all are welcome.

For the record:

• I am happy to take those new to green laning on a trip.
• I am very wary about sharing information concerning viable routes because, in my experience, if you suggest a route is avoided when wet it will get over-used by those who think their cars are hippos.

Edited by Crossflow Kid on Tuesday 7th January 15:28

I know I shouldn't feed the troll but really.... does that look like laning to you??
That's a fairly well known mud-hole on the outskirts of the plain that has been played in since time began (my old man and his friends used to play there on pushbikes in the 60's)
We ended our laning trip there just to have a bit of fun... remember fun??

Edited by K50 DEL on Wednesday 8th January 04:37

[anonymous-user]

Try a pay'n'play site then. That "well known mud hole" exists largely because of it's repeated use as some kind of proving ground.
Is it on a RoW? No. Is it common land with vehicular access? No.
Ah but I forget, it's the Plain isn't it? So it's MOD land, and since the tax payer funds the MOD it's essentially public land with unrestricted access....errr, no.
I really do wonder what it'll take for people to get the message that SPTA isn't a great big no-rules playpen for 4x4s.
Vehicular rights are no different to any other RoW anywhere on the country, and whilst the MoD do permit use of its own (non-public) range roads this doesn't translate as carte blanche to go anywhere and do anything.
Anywhere else in the country it'd be seen as unacceptable.
And yeah, I remember fun. Used to have a lot of that in the Peak District until that got fked up and essentially closed because of the hippos too.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th January 08:20

[TLandCruiser]

Yeah it amazes me people do not know the difference between green laning and off roading, you just have to look at videos on youtube with groups green laning and you will see poor driving skills and poor use of the green lane...and that's even with some so called "clubs" yet people assume it's chavs doing it. And don't get me started on some of the recovery techniques you will see!

[Spare tyre]

If anyone fancies showing me some green lanes in the Hampshire / wiltshire area i'd love to come. Hopefully some others will

[anonymous-user]

For info (from TreadLightly.org):
MoD are asking/telling people not to use SPTA for recreation until further notice due to flooding/saturation.