Here's a little write-up I've done for the GLASS website (which should also be appearing in the Autumn edition of the GLASS magazine).
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North Wales Recce
Having partaken of a couple of laning runs with the Leicestershire GLASS group, my mate had volunteered us (me) to lead a day out in Wales for them. This little report is on our recce that we did on Saturday 4th November.
Being bonfire night weekend, a lot of the
Frontera Owners Group forum members had other plans, although Mat from south Wales was keen to loose his green laning cherry (his phrase, not mine). So, we would recce the route with Mat’s standard 2.2 petrol estate and my 3” lifted 2.8 diesel estate.
Having met for pleasantries in Corwen for 09:45, we made for the “carwash” (
SJ0542-3a). On the access road we met a “little old lady” in a blue hatch back (who apparently lives in the corner house by the traffic lights). We stopped and chatted for about 5 minutes. She told us to watch out for a woman (description withheld) who often walks her dog down the lane and complains about the 4x4’s coming and going and the mess the tractors leave on the road. Our aged friend cheekily suggested that if we met her we should ensure that she clears up after her dog!.
Mat's first (ad)venture off-road
After the ford we headed up to the Wayfarer (
SJ0438-5a). I was keen to try my axel articulation (due to a new 3” lift) on the climb up from the west; I think I was a bit too optimistic. Mat, in the standard Frontera chose to take the easy route but inexperience caught him out and polished the clutch. We had a discussion about 4WD and low boxes and his enjoyment of the day out was improved immensely. We stopped for the traditional coffee break at the summit, before making our decent.
Next time I pass this way, I'll take a shovel and fill in this hole
Now, we detour from our “old” route, to avoid the RUPP’s and concentrate on ORPA’s and BOAT’s. Our first “new” lane is
SJ1533-1a. Starting off as tarmac (and to be honest, a little disappointing), it soon turns into a challenge of 30 degree side slopes. Having over-shot the next lane we met up with a Disco and a 90 at the next gate. It’s great to meet other Laners and discus/swap routes over a coffee and an OS map laid out on the bonnet of your car – sharing your experiences is all part of the enjoyment. We about turned, and following the GPS plot hung a left into the grassy field (
SJ1635-8a) and followed the tyre track depressions until the surface became the familiar pair of gravel tracks. There is sign on a gate post warning not to enter during the posted times due to game shooting – it was dated 2005 so we continued on into the valley. There is a cutting into the side of the cliff here, ideal for parking up for a sheltered coffee and a short path to a grassy knoll picnic bench.
Interesting side slopes for a hundres yards or so
Moving on, we do
SJ1733-4a where we stopped whilst 3 horses were lead to the riding school and then the narrow and sunken
SJ1834-8a.
After a 3-point-turn into
SJ1935-6a, we stop for more coffee after the cattle grid, before taking the muddy climb up through the forest. At the exit gate, we stop for a few minutes to allow a couple of horses and riders get some distance before we follow them onto the country yellow. They are taking it easy and we soon catch them up – very impressively, they “park” their steeds in the field and acknowledge us as we crawl past.
Approaching
SJ2135-8a, we are aware of cattle being herded out of the field. We pull up a good safe distance and indicate left. As the farmer follows his herd out of the field, upon spotting us, gestures us into the gate way, the gate having been left open for us – we acknowledge this, close the gate and continue on.
For a change, at the cross-roads, we continue straight ahead onto
SJ2135-1a. Although mostly tarmac, you do get a cracking view over the next valley. After a short road section we descend through the woods of
SJ2337-7a to a 3-point-turn left. Over the bridge we hang a left to try and find our next “new” lane.
There are some very nice property developments around here and I think we saw all of them as we missed a junction and had to find an alternative route as the roads are too narrow to three-point-turn. We found it eventually;
SJ2237-1a. With the fallen autumn leaves covering the rocky surface, this was an exhilarating steep climb (well, exhilarating in near standard Frontera’s).
Another short road trip brings us to our final pair for the day – the views from
SJ2239-3a are amazing – you can imagine how the ice flows formed the valley. Near the end, we hang a right onto the BOAT to finish up in a field with views over into Wrexham (and beyond) with cracking sun set to our right.
as the sun sets slowly in the west...
After a quick pause for photos, we head for a pub in Chirk for a quick bite before making our way home.
Route time: 7 hours (including stops)
Route mileage: 39miles
A 10mb, 7 minute video clip (mostly of the Wayfarer) is available
here
Lawrence
