Summer Mooch (Trugga & Driftwood in N Wales)

[Trugga]

Ste (DRiftwood), Sandy, Martin and myself went for a laning mooch this weekend. Our "holiday" was to serve a number of purposes:

Recce some lanes we had not done before.
Give me a weekend to forget my troubles (I might loose my job in a couple of weeks time)
Have a bit of a lads weekend away (and avoid the football)
Try and determine a route for a later FOG Green Lane Day.

I'll probably put some report together in the next dew days, but to give you an idea of some of the lanes we explored, here are a few pictures:

A little used ORPA:


Enteriing a Forest ORPA:


A meadow ORPA:


ORPA with a firmer surface:


There is definately an ancient ROW here:


Entrance to the ford:


A very dry looking ford:


A veiw of Cadir Idris


A little used grassy, steep hill ORPA:


Views over Barmouth from an ORPA:


Anothey leafy ORPA


Ste on the "Happy Valley" BOAT



I'll sort through the video and see if there is anything that might be of interest

Lawrence

[Trugga]

Here's the first video clip.

It shows the two Frontera's and a Landrover 90 tackle a rocky step. Both the Frontera's on 31" tyres grind out, but the Landrover, with it's higher ground clearance plus 33" tyres, makes it look easy.

Clicky Video

Lawrence

[Drift]

Well the sound of metal on rock does it for me

That was a fantastic weekend , each trip we do just gets better.

I love the looks people give when your stuck in traffic car all scratched up dusty muddy and smelly me sitting in it with the sterio blasting

Looking forward to the rest of the clips there is some good footage there.

Email back up Lawrence if you dont mind forwarding some pics.
Cheers, Ste.

[sollihull]

Lucky Gits!!
I'm gutted I couldn't join you this time!
Would my 35" Tyres have let me clear that rock?

Ste,
I know what you mean Mate, they look at you like you're insane for
using your 4x4 as it should be used!
I get mine covered everytime I go out on a "Drive" and I get some filthy
looks.. that's just from the Kids when they realise How Muddy they Made my Fronty!

Lawrence,

Next time, a bit more notice please!!! lol
Is that the Ford you were in When you hit the Rock?


It looks like you all had a Great time and I can't wait till I join you one time.

[Trugga]

Yes Steve, that is the same ford I mentioned in the other thread. My previous trip was about 2½ years ago in the autumn.

Here's another video clip of some of the footage we got over this last weekend: clicky video - all on legal Rights Of Way.

The only damage that we (I) incurred was my rear exhaust section cracking at the rear box (which I removed as it was banging against the bodywork) and my towing electrics bracket which fell off when I tried to bend it back.

Lawrence

[sollihull]

I can see the rock in that pic up top!
nasty....

[Drift]

Just a link to a few pics of the first days lanning before my camera packed in, (I think it was the heat)
http://www.byphotos.com/album/3394984
Ste

[Trugga]

Try this one hacked

Lawrence

[Drift]

I knew techo guy would come to the rescue
Ste

[sollihull]

hee hee, I up-dated/edited the original post as well!!
Trust Techno-King Trugga to save the day with a Hack!

[sollihull]

Oh Excellent Pics Ste!
I hope you get your Cam fixed!

Amazing difference with that Ford!
Ok it's a 2 1/2 year gap but it's always interesting to see them in Full Swing and then with a trickle owing to our great British Summers! (Can you hear the sarcasm??)

[Trugga]

I have posted a report on the GLASS website forum regarding the destuction of the ORPA we came accross on Saturday:

I will be contacting Powys County Council to 1 enquire if they are aware of the damage, 2 to ensure planning permission was saught/approved and 3. how they intend to remedy the interuption of a puplic right of way along the unclassified road.

My full text on the GLASS forum appears as follows :

Destroyed Lane !!!

I was out with two other vehicles the weekend of 1st/2nd July, exploring some ORPA’s and BOAT’s in mid Wales, using a GPS unit connected to a Pocket PC running Memory Maps 2004 1:50,000 Landranger maps.

On Saturday we came to drive SH9413-5a

The lane starts well, being easy to find on the ground at SH986118. At SH958131 there is a field gate and the OS map suggests the ORPA continues straight across, although the lay of the land means you can’t see the next field exit gate due to a rise in front of you. As we arrive at the top of the rise, the only gate appears to be to the left, but when we get to the gate (SH957131) we are 100m off course with an incorrect projection. We tried to correct our track by making our way around the edge of a marsh area (indicated by reeds), to another gate (SH956131), but we still appeared to be too far to the left.

Having stopped the vehicles and taken a walk, we found the ancient ROW 200m to our right, clearly identified by wheel ruts and an embankment. We returned t the gate we had previously entered this grassy field through, but this time turned right along the edge of the field to another (open) gate (SH958132), then left onto the track we were looking for. (It therefore appears that the OS map or my GPS tracking is incorrect).



Later, the track disappears again, although GPS suggests we are correct. Following existing wheel tracks we rejoined the correct route (according to the GPS)

Destroyed lane

As we continue on, it is apparent that there has been some local road reworking in the area as we try to find the correct route around a “building site” of diggers and piles of stone. We eventually find the correct route once again. Through a gate, and a short boggy section the ancient lane reaffirms itself, until, the lane stops dead – with a 8’ almost sheer drop !

In front of us are the footings for a large building/barn, dug into the sloping mountainside, destroying the ancient ROW that is an ORPA on the map. 100m further across the building site we can clearly see where the lane continues, but there is no way to get to it, unless your vehicle can climb a near vertical shale wall of rock – mine can’t.

Here are a few pictures:

1.Looking from the east, looking west to where the lane continues:



2. Looking from the west towards the east:



3.Looking from the south to the north, on the east side of the building works at where the lane is severed:



We tuned round (well, reversed back to the previous gate, through the boggy section) and made our way to the main road through the new, work in progress, access roads. On our way out we came across a man on a quad bike. I stopped and had a quick conversation, expressing surprise at coming across the building works. He’s response was that the footings were only dug out the other week. On expressing my disappointment in not being able to finish the lane, the quad driver said that they would be re-routing the lane. The conversation was very normal, not heated at all, not aggressive – he sounded very genuine and appeared indifferent to our three vehicles being there..


Memorymap trace:



The lane is severed on the left of the above image, under the 339 spot height, just to the left edge of the indicated building (which is delapedated). The lane continues just at the western edge of the woods as shown on the map.

My research on this lane, before driving it, was through the Wayfinderproject, where nothing negative was apparent. We were not challenged and the start of the lane was easy to find and access.

I have no idea if the building work is legitimate or not, but either way, I am very disappointed that part of an ancient ROW has been physically destroyed for ever.

I’m now trying to find an on-line planning permission for the building work, unless anyone knows any further information about this lane.

The location of the destruction is at SH951132

Lawrence

Lawrence

[sollihull]

Oh No!
It almost makes you cry when you realise that the ancient route will never be fully accessable again!
Some people just do anything these days to make money.

Lawrence,
My Congratulations on a Well worded and documented report!
please keep me updated on any replies/actions that come about from this.
It will certainly be interesting to see the Councils reaction to the Works, especially if there is no Planning Permission!

Steve

[Drift]

Nice job Lawrence
Ste

[Trugga]

A bit of an update on the destroyed lane.

I have contacted Powys Council (Highways, Rights of way & Planning), buts as yet have had no reply.

I have also been in contact with the GLASS ROW Officer and the Powys area rep who have also contacted the council. I have also been contacted by the GRAG (Countryside Recreational Access Group) Powys rep (who used to do the same role for GLASS) and as he has regular meetings with Powys Council, will be formally bringing this to the attention of the "powers that be" (GLASS do not have a problem with this as they know the relationship this person has with the council)

I'll keep you updated...

Lawrence

[Drift]

Cheers Lawrence.
It will be interesting to see the outcome.
Set

[Trugga]

Another update - I have now recieved a reply via email from the council, confirming reciept of my email and asking for clarification on on the issues I want responces to.

More updates as and when.

Lawrence

[Trugga]

I have since received a snail mail from Powys CC from the Panning Enforcement Officer.

I have also recieved an email from the GRAG Powys rep who attended the site with the Planning Enforcement Officer. No further work had been carried out (ie, it was the same as when I took the photos), and it looks like there was possibly no planning application.

I'll keep you updated...

Lawrence

[Drift]

Cheers Lawrence, funny as I was just thinking about that this afternoon.
Ste

[Trugga]

Another update...

I've had an email from the CRAG rep, who inturn had received some communication from the Planning Enforcement Officer, along the lines

...that the Landowner will reinstate this lane by the end of this week - apparently his digger driver got a bit carried away when clearing the land for the construction...


Result

Lawrence