The Old Coach Road

[Henry Porter]

I ran along the Old Coach Road from St Johns Vale to Dowthwaite Head yesterday for the first time since Christmas (Thank-you, thank-you the NHS!)

It had been very damaged by 'off roaders' but now has been extremely well repaired. I was wondering who did it, why and who paid? Also what is the strategy with these byways or 'green roads'?

It has been so well repaired you would have no problem driving a car along it so I was musing if the strategy was to bore them into going somewhere else.

Anyone know?

[detritus21]

A lot of repairs are carried out by groups such as Glass (Green lane association) and TRF (trail riders fellowship). I do know that GLASS were looking into it however I do not know whether it was they or the council that repaired it. 4x4 use isn't all bad. Recently they have repaired Stanage edge in High Peak and Roych Clough but this has been thrown back by a ban on off road vehicles. I also know they carried out repairs on Gategarth pass a couple of years back to repair washouts.

[that_fjell_guy]

A lot of repairs are carried out by groups such as Glass (Green lane association) and TRF (trail riders fellowship). I do know that GLASS were looking into it however I do not know whether it was they or the council that repaired it. 4x4 use isn't all bad. Recently they have repaired Stanage edge in High Peak and Roych Clough but this has been thrown back by a ban on off road vehicles. I also know they carried out repairs on Gategarth pass a couple of years back to repair washouts.

I recce'd over from Little Langdale to Tilberthwaite (L50 route) the other day and four Landrovers and two scramblers came over. Its always a bit of a shock when you see them and immediately you go into 'defensive' mode. But when you chill back out and consider the situation it was fine. Two at a time, steadily driven, no obvious bad damage (scuffs and stuff). Actually looked like fun. Its quite a good surface to drive over there mind, I dare say there's bigger issues elsewhere. I guess its like anything in this world, rights v. responsibilities. Its good to know the drivers/riders do get involved in repair work.

[BritNick]

I was reconnoitring part of the Bullock Smithy Hike last Saturday with a friend, and we encountered quite a few off-road bikers on some tracks. We were happy to stand aside until they passed (for our own safety as much as anything). Muffled 'Thankyou's and nods of the head were given. Mutual respect.

Those tracks have always been rocky and washed away, so motorised vehicles make little difference. I've seen repaired (compacted) paths in the lake district on the L100 route get washed away again and back to square one after a good year or two of deluges.

[MarkL]

I personally wouldn't piss on one of the feckers if I came across him burning in his vehicle

[The Navigator]

I personally wouldn't piss on one of the feckers if I came across him burning in his vehicle

Now don't sit on the fence Mark!

[BritNick]

That's what I like, high standards of hygiene and personal modesty.