Greenlaning? Or just bloody vandalism?

The Old Macc Road is a UCR which runs between Buxton and Derbyshire Bridge, where it turns to tarmac and leads up to the Cat & Fiddle. Being close to town and well known its often busy with mountain bikers, walkers, off-road motorcyclists and 4x4s (I drive it myself on occasions). The stony surface is pretty hardwearing, not challenging to a 4x4 (a bit tough in sections on a mtb though!). But the lack of challenge seems to be a problem for some, in the past few months some fuckwits in 4x4s have been tearing up the peat verges. By the tyre tracks and depth of the damage it looks to be vehicles fitted with lift kits (raised suspension) and extreme challenge type tyres (very deep lugs), neither of which are really necessary on a Derbyshire lane. The result is a bloody mess;

Looking towards Buxton, stone road on the right.

Same spot as above, looking the other way.

The hole on the left has been caused by 4x4s, and just gets bigger. The bottom is clay.

If I tried to drive my 110 through that it'd get stuck.

Looking towards the Cat & Fiddle. This was a peat verge.

The above were all taken at approx. SK024718, and shows the worst of the damage. This carries on to a lesser degree all along the whole length of the lane.
The big hole in the 3rd photo down has been there for about a year now. Late last year I tried to help a park ranger pull a Freelander out of it, even with my 110 coupled to his 90 pulling together we couldn't shift it. As I said to the driver, the stone track is the road, that parts the verge, and you don't drive along the verge anywhere else.
There will, I'm sure, come a day when this lane is closed to 4x4s due to the damage shown above. If it happens I'll have mixed feelings. I enjoy driving along it (although seeing it damaged takes a lot of the enjoyment out), but it does need repairing and protecting from idiots, and if that means a permament TRO then so be it. A lot will say education is the answer, but I get the feeling from seeing this amount of wanton damage that the culprits couldn't give a toss. There's also the 'we have a right to be there' argument, but with rights come responsibilities, in the case of 'laning responsibility means treading lightly and respecting the terrain, the conditions and other users.
There's a very strong anti-greenlaning lobby in Derbyshire, the above damage just gives them ammunition.

Paul.

Driving home from work by the scenic route.

Early shift this week, so on the way home this afternoon I stopped at the bike shop in Whaley Bridge to order a new chain. Rather than double back to the A6, my usual route home, I decided that a spot of gentle greenlaning was in order. I firmly believe that lanes should be driven gently with consideration not only to other users (I'm quite happy to pull over and wait for mountain bikers, walkers, horseriders etc. to pass) but also to the ground itself, for example I wouldn't drive along a muddy lane after heavy rain to avoid creating or worsening ruts. I prefer to drive lanes on weekdays when there are less people about, mainly because I like to avoid crowds (the Peaks get very busy at weekends). I keep my speed down as well, low 2nd or 3rd, its actually nice to just bimble along and far kinder to the ground and the vehicle. And besides why hurry when there are some stunning views to be enjoyed!

The first lane I drove was Long Lane (SK019793 to SK032788). This is quite a narrow track for most of its length with greenery brushing both sides of the Landy in places, another reason to only use it on weekdays as passing would be difficult in places. However, being narrow means that 4x4s have to stay on track and cannot stray off and damage verges, which does happen on wider lanes such as the Old Macc. Road where morons have chewed up sections of verge testing out their extreme tyres and lifted suspension.

On Long Lane, Combs Moss on the horizon.

Then I turned right and up a short stretch of tarmac which led me to a farm gate and another lane running through sheep fields (SK032785 to SK026777);

Through the sheep fields, Combs Moss on the horizon.

At the end of this lane I turned left and followed tarmac until I reached the back of White Hall outdoor centre and the start of a byway marked 'Midshires Way' known as Old Road or Whiteleas Road which is the route of a Roman road and runs alongside part of Combs Moss (SK032765 to SK043747). A short climb on rubble (this part of the lane is regulary repaired as it gets washed out in rain) leads to broken potholed tarmac and fine views of the Goyt Valley;

Driving on broken tarmac, Old Road.

This leads to a short rubbly descent to a very narrow road leading onto Long Hill and a short drive to back into Buxton.

All of these tracks are part of my local short mountain biking route, in the Landy I can sit back and take in the scenery whereas on the bike I'm normally too busy concentrating on line choice and sweating and swearing on the uphills!

Paul.