Green laning

Hello all.

Recently became the owner of a Nissan X Trail T31.   I'm really enjoying the car and it's great for getting up to certain hill tops for radio DX.   I've done a few very rough tracks but I don't like to do it too much on my own as it puts me out of reach of the RAC should anything go wrong!   

I'm trying to find out if there are any 4x4 clubs or just informal groups around the Berks / Wilts area.  Trying to green lane in Oxfordshire seems pretty futile as there are very few byways with motor vehicle access.   Does anyone on here belong to any groups I could join for excursions out on byways?   I don't expect my vehicle to do anything too severe, however it is quite impressive what these X Trails can do when you watch Youtube videos.    It would be nice to be able to go out and play and test the limits of this car with rescue at hand.   

Any green laners out there?  

I used to be a green-laner way back in the mid-late 90's. It is why I got a CB in the first place. We had an informal off road club called the Anoraks based around one of those old newsgroups that preceded forums as we know them today (uk.rec.cars.4x4).
After we moved abroad I had to give it up as there are really no green lanes here. So the CB also went into a box and I looked at it every couple of years. The last year I properly got the CB back out and here I am today!

Given today's interest in all things 'green and sustainable' I doubt whether there is much off roading to be had in the UK? I recall in the late 90's there was lots of talk and action on shutting byways to motor traffic.

Have you tried the Ox Drove at Win Green ?, its a great radio spot and plenty of green lane track ( haven't been there for 6 years so check for verhicle access)

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I wish to simply drive in a calm, legal and considerate manner on byways open to motor vehicles.   I should be shot for this?   If I wanted to "mud plug" I would go to a proper 4x4 activity centre, contrary to your angry and generalised rant.

And presumably Ray, you never use byways when you go hill topping?

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I don't think it's fair to tar all green laners with the same brush.
Like every hobby or sport there's a minority that ruin it for the rest by giving their chosen activity a bad reputation.

I see it where I live, there is a dedicated 4x4 park near me called Jakem Farm, it attracts dozens of 4x4 enthusiasts every weekend during the cooler months. Some who go there are so helbent on getting their vehicles covered in mud before and after they arrive, they deviate off the surrounding roads through every mud hole they can find leaving enormous holes that would swallow up a regular car.
You can usually pick those ones from the crowd, they get their vehicle covered in mud and don't wash it off for days or weeks, instead they wear it like a badge of honour.

As a owner of a 4x4 and someone who enjoys getting off the beaten track, those people annoy me. I don't like chopping up roads and tracks because I know that they can go un repaired for years leaving locals and emergency services with appalling track conditions, its just disrespectful to other road users.

Hotel Zulu 253 wrote:

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I don't think it's fair to tar all green laners with the same brush.
Like every hobby or sport there's a minority that ruin it for the rest by giving their chosen activity a bad reputation.

I see it where I live, there is a dedicated 4x4 park near me called Jakem Farm, it attracts dozens of 4x4 enthusiasts every weekend during the cooler months. Some who go there are so helbent on getting their vehicles covered in mud before and after they arrive, they deviate off the surrounding roads through every mud hole they can find leaving enormous holes that would swallow up a regular car.
You can usually pick those ones from the crowd, they get their vehicle covered in mud and don't wash it off for days or weeks, instead they wear it like a badge of honour.

As a owner of a 4x4 and someone who enjoys getting off the beaten track, those people annoy me. I don't like chopping up roads and tracks because I know that they can go un repaired for years leaving locals and emergency services with appalling track conditions, its just disrespectful to other road users.

What vehicle do you drive?   I've noticed that X Trails seem popular over there.

For getting away, I have a GU Nissan patrol 4.2 Turbo diesel because I wanted the basic reliability of an old tractor with enough room to pack for weeks away at a time
X Trails are definitely popular, the other popular ones at the moment are Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara. There's seemingly endless new SUV's entering the market now but dual cab 4x4 sports utility's are all the rage in Australia, every man and his dog seems to have one.

26uk81 wrote:

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I wish to simply drive in a calm, legal and considerate manner on byways open to motor vehicles.   I should be shot for this?   If I wanted to "mud plug" I would go to a proper 4x4 activity centre, contrary to your angry and generalised rant.

And presumably Ray, you never use byways when you go hill topping?

You presume right Chris. I don't use byways when i go hill topping.

Razz229 wrote:

26uk81 wrote:

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I wish to simply drive in a calm, legal and considerate manner on byways open to motor vehicles.   I should be shot for this?   If I wanted to "mud plug" I would go to a proper 4x4 activity centre, contrary to your angry and generalised rant.

And presumably Ray, you never use byways when you go hill topping?

You presume right Chris. I don't use byways when i go hill topping.

Congratulations, what a wonderful citizen you are.

26uk81 wrote:

Razz229 wrote:

26uk81 wrote:

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I wish to simply drive in a calm, legal and considerate manner on byways open to motor vehicles.   I should be shot for this?   If I wanted to "mud plug" I would go to a proper 4x4 activity centre, contrary to your angry and generalised rant.

And presumably Ray, you never use byways when you go hill topping?

You presume right Chris. I don't use byways when i go hill topping.

Congratulations, what a wonderful citizen you are.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of flattery.

Razz229 wrote:

26uk81 wrote:

Razz229 wrote:

26uk81 wrote:

Northern Crusader wrote:

Green laners in 4x4s should be shot. Living in a rural county with a lot of them all they do is ruin them for everyone else as they take great delight going out when or after it's been raining and churning them up, making them basically impassable for anyone else on foot, horse or bike.

I wish to simply drive in a calm, legal and considerate manner on byways open to motor vehicles.   I should be shot for this?   If I wanted to "mud plug" I would go to a proper 4x4 activity centre, contrary to your angry and generalised rant.

And presumably Ray, you never use byways when you go hill topping?

You presume right Chris. I don't use byways when i go hill topping.

Congratulations, what a wonderful citizen you are.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of flattery.

Well if you are happy DXing from public car parks surrounded by chavs in Corsas and doggers then best of luck to ya.   I will continue to enjoy driving sensibly  up (legal) tracks and getting away from it all.  If I can annoy rambler types in the process by my existence then even better.   Hopefully the "Crusader" does not possess a firearm and is unable to travel without supervision.

It'll be interesting to see where your green laning takes you.
I'm out and about today, getting amongst it

Made a couple of "local" contacts while mobile and managed to hit a UHF repeater about 80 km away, I'm happy with that.
Its great to get out. How's the gigantic chickens!!!

My main hobby is green Laning in my disco 2, planning a week trip into Wales in August .

Il uploaded pictures later ,

Sweet rig... needs more antennas though

out for a couple of  hours yesterday and found a river crossing 

Thats a decent bath, great picture!