Viking Way (Grantham / Stainby) conditions @ 22.04.07

[cyb]

Viking Way report on conditions as at 22.04.07

Hopefully one of you guys going to the Stainby meeting will have a copy of the Landranger series map no.130 (Grantham & Surrounds)
If not can I suggest someone buys one it will make things easier for you.
To try and make things less complicated I’ll not use map refs – but if anyone wants some give me a yell.
And I’ll assume you are going to start at the Water tower end (North West of Stainby) and head North.

The section from the water tower up to the airfield is very easy and unless we get a shed load of rain would be passable by all with care even a standard B should be able to do this section. But there is a chance you may get a few minor scratches.

The Airfield – be aware this is not disused and is home to a gliding club. Make sure you do not cut across the airfield but turn right and travel to the end of the runway then around as marked. There are signs but unless you have done this lane before can be a little confusing.

The section from North of the airfield to the A607 has deep ruts and narrow sections where you will get scratches. If you look on the map and run your finger up the Viking way just north of the airfield you will see ‘Tipping Lodge’. The section of the lane at this point should not be done by standard fronteras unless you’re not bothered about possible body and or underbody damage. Part of this lane looks like someone has taken a JCB down there and dug out a section leaving a 4ft deep gouge (see 'bomb hole' pic below) -could be a problem if we get a lot of rain.

Take note - there are many deeps ruts which will bottom out most standard Fronteras.

My general advice is if you enjoy your laneing and want a good day out and don’t mind the odd scratch give it a go. Depending on the weather it may take you up to 4 hours to get as far as Woolshorpe by Belvoir (there’s a nice pub a little to the north by the weir that does family grub and they don’t mind the odd muddy boot in the bar).

I will add I’ve never seen the Viking Way as dry as this ever – and the ground is very hard and unforgiving.
And don’t go thinking it’s Lincolnshire so it’s flat, there are a couple of small hills one and the one near Woolsthorpe can be really tricky if its wet.
In case it helps the Pajero in the pictures is standard with the exception of good set of tyres and he managed ok ( with a few scrapes and scratches)

You may also come across the usual trials bike riders, the odd rambler but all usually just wave… sometimes even with 2 fingers
Enjoy your day.


Some deep ruts






chance of scratches and panel damage?




the ‘bomb hole’





and there are some nice easy sections too…


see HERE for information on the Stainby meeting this June 2007

[chilly]

Now that looks like fun

[fuzion]

Excellent report Cyb

[muddypluka]

excelent posting there cyb are you free on the weekend in question would you be able to come along to the event and see if anybody wants to go on the viking way ,
i did post on the meeting thread that it was there but im not sure weather anybody is going to use it i have been plagueing trugga to come but unfortunatley he is pre booked at a different event ,

[marlbororman]

Im definatly up for this ,especially after seeing the Bomb hole

[Trugga]

Is that a Right Of Way for motor vehicles

No wonder the walking brigade get upset when they see us driving through the countryside - that lane is destroyed.

Looks like it could do with a voluntary restraint at the very least.


If you have to drive it, might I suggest you drive it when your vehicles are clean (ie, before you have been round the pay and play site), as the sight of muddy vehicles on a public right of way in that condition will do us all no favours at all.

Tread lightly

Lawrence

[lotusfrontera]

Unfortunately Lawrence that route was also taken by ourselves the same weekend and it was obvious that something other than a 4X4 had made those huge gulleys because we were bottoming out severely.
Difflock Dave.

[Trugga]

Fair enough Dave.

It might be ok to drive the route when you come across it for the first time, but to plan a day out to target such a lane is a bit, in my opinion, insensitive.

Each to their own I suppose - I will continue to return to sustainable lanes and get my mud fix from P&P sites (and marshalling MSA sanctioned motor sport events)

Lawrence

[lotusfrontera]

The route believe it or not was part of a TOR route!!!!!!!
Difflock Dave.

[lotusfrontera]

P.S. I`ve marshalled on one or two RAC MSA events in the past and believe you me without regrading by the forestry commission they too would be in a very poor state.
Difflock Dave.

[Trugga]

P.S. I`ve marshalled on one or two RAC MSA events in the past and believe you me without regrading by the forestry commission they too would be in a very poor state.
Difflock Dave.

Very different story there Dave as I'm sure you appreciate. Generally, forest tracks are maintained by the Forestry Commission and off limits to the general public's motor vehicles, unless they have need to cross one while legally driving a RoW.

Yes, the forest tracks do get cut up during a motor sporting event, especially on the corners, but the fees charged by the Forestry Commission take this into consideration, and even vary their fees depending on what type of event it is or vehicle taking part - I have a scale of fees near to hand in your interested.

Public Rights of Way for motorised vehicles are not the same as Forestry Commission owned/maintained tracks

Lawrence

[lotusfrontera]

I agree with you there Lawrence, the forestry comission do plough some money back into maintaining the tracks, mainly so they can charge(high prices) for their use again.
But also alot of forestry tracks are public rights of way, I`ve been on them partically in Grizedale forest.
Difflock Dave.

[Drift]

Remember the FC is goverment subsidised and also they have the heavy roads to take thier own plant up to the plantations

[Trugga]

...But also alot of forestry tracks are public rights of way, I`ve been on them partically in Grizedale forest.
Difflock Dave.

Fair comment, but surely the forest (gravel) tracks are more sustainable than an unsurfaced track.

Just for interest, the Forestry Commission charge (for 2007) £528 per mile for initial use and £313 per mile for secondary use. So a 10 mile route run twice for stage rally would cost the organisers £5590. Other costs include a National Permit of £531 (the WRGB is £2126) and a "Right To Roam Closure Order CROW Act 2001 is £103.

Source: http://www.msauk.org

That's why forest motor sport is not cheap.

Lawrence

[NiftyWolfie]

but we do need to protect the forest

[Drift]

but we do need to protect the forest

We need to be seen by the general public as using Green Lanes in a sensible manner, as any adverse driving on any lane could get the lane closed.
We need to drive at a sensible speed, not deviate from the route, ie, "there is a ditch or puddle or pond, lets drive through it."

As this could end up with you getting a Section 59, and you car could be seized and ultimately crushed.

Not to mention the damage done to 4x4's with publicity.
And the damage left behind to the lane and local wildlife.

If seen causing these actions you could and most likely will face prosecution

[NiftyWolfie]

best guide is the Glass guide then...the one trugga goes by......if we do as they say we should always be in the right

[cyb]

I’m not really happy about some of the comments made above and feel they are made without understanding either the area or the people involved.
Those of us who are pictured in this picture are serious 4x4 owners and do not travel lanes if permanent if damage is likely.


• The section where the bomb hole is had been repaired a few years ago by members of LOR and GLASS.

• It was and is obvious that something had been used to dig the out. This particular section is often water logged due to bad drainage. Again we have offered to repair this section. Part of the problem is that one side of the lane (well it is actually part of the lane) has been declared an SSSI and this prevents us from opening up the lane and /or improving the draining. Unfortunately now someone has dug this out it would not be possible for us to do a lot to improve drainage.

• We do think Lincoln & Leicester CC could do more and refuse to understand the words ‘lane maintenance’ to the point where they seem to make it as difficult as possible for clubs who wish to put something back to do so. They simply do not want people driving lanes. We also think they prefer the lanes left in a state of ill repair to prevent Gypsies and Tinkers from moving onto the land and from fly tippers using dumping their usual items.

• In the late 90’s The Anglia Water Board dug up part of the Viking way then left it in such a bad state we complained to LCC. AS far as we know nothing was done and nothing is likely to be done.

- Looks like it could do with a voluntary restraint at the very least.

The Viking way may and does have a TRO imposed at certain times and sections, mainly over the winter /wetter months and most local 4x4 clubs use / ask for voluntary restraint over the wetter months.

If you have to drive it, might I suggest you drive it when your vehicles are clean (ie, before you have been round the pay and play site), as the sight of muddy vehicles on a public right of way in that condition will do us all no favours at all.

Please drive the Viking way but drive it with respect. When you drive any lane you should do so with as clean a vehicle as possible. As you can see from the photos all the vehicles are pretty spotless for 4x4’s.

And finally –. If we do not drive lanes we lose them, particularly in Lincolnshire where farmers and landowners seemed to rule more than us ‘plebs’. Over the last 15 years we have lost so many lanes in the county due to poor management and understanding of highways. Many farmers do and have ploughed out lanes and footpaths never to be seen again.
With a council who seldom bother to prosecute there will be more.

Please drive the lanes of Lincolnshire but drive them sensibly.

Cyb

[Drift]

[FUDDY MUCKER]

I don't know much about the in's and out's of greenlaning, but as a novice keeping tabs on the topic, I think all sides of thought have been well expressed and debated with lots of passion for a "SPORT" that many outsiders don't understand.

We all need to protect the environment that we live in, respect the land and show all those mis-informed do gooder's that 4x4's and there owners/drivers are caring and considerate to all around them.

This is an artical from my local newspaper :

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/di ... ebarsearch

That's the sort of bad press genuine 4x4 users don't need.

Please feel free to use the comments section on the website to post a reply. Hopefully a article my be printed in defence of the 4x4 user.