Where to go off-roading?

[JulesW]

Haven't ridden off-road in ages and I'm damned if I can think of anywhere to go without being chased off by angry landowners, bothered by cops or paying fees.

Anyone know how to find great off-roading spots in the UK?

[MisterTommyH]

Best way is to head South.























Get a ferry and head to Valderrobres, Spain.

[Red Herring]

Are we talking road legal as in green lanes or off road as in "off road"?

The road legal version is easy, you just need to get an appropriate bike and join one of your local clubs to learn all the various routes available.

If you want proper off road again get a proper off road bike and enter a few off road events, there are enough going on to pretty much suit all needs and abilities.

[JulesW]

Get a ferry and head to Valderrobres, Spain.

Enduro riding in Spain is on the holiday wishlist for 2015 ;)

But I keep wondering whether it might be cool to own a nice little KTM or similar for fun times off-road, trouble is I can't find out where it might be good to ride without annoying others.

[Fordward]

http://www.trailwise.org.uk/gmaps/gmap.htm

You want to be looking for Byways Open to All Traffic (BOAT) or Unclassified Country Roads (UCR). The maps I've linked to above are pretty good, but not all encompassing or all up to date. Check your local authority website rights of way section, for any Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) that may prohibit you from riding on a BOAT or UCR.

Don't **** off the locals by riding like a loon. Slow down smile and wave when you pass walkers. Stop and kill your engine to allow horses to pass.

Have fun!

[Fordward]

Also look at Ordnance Survey maps, BOAT is shown as a line of plus signs, green on a 1:25000 Explorer map, or red on a 1:50000 Landranger map, as shown here

http://binged.it/1tX9jhG

A UCR is shown as a line of dots, green or red again as per the map types, like this

http://binged.it/1tX9QjB

[Red Herring]

http://www.trailwise.org.uk/gmaps/gmap.htm


Don't **** off the locals by riding like a loon. Slow down smile and wave when you pass walkers. Stop and kill your engine to allow horses to pass.

Have fun!

Whilst I'm in boring fart mode it's probably worth reminding you that these are all public roads and the Road Traffic Act applies just as it does down your local high street. The good news is there generally aren't that many camera vans enforcing the national speed limit along them, although local police forces do use Sect 59 quite effectively against riders that regularly cause upset......

[JulesW]

Whilst I'm in boring fart mode it's probably worth reminding you that these are all public roads and the Road Traffic Act applies just as it does down your local high street. The good news is there generally aren't that many camera vans enforcing the national speed limit along them, although local police forces do use Sect 59 quite effectively against riders that regularly cause upset......



Just checked out section 59 .....


Basically what that means is if you are seen:


Driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner
Driving on common land, a footpath or bridle way or any land which is not part of a road
Driving in a manner which is causing/has been causing, or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.



"Likely to cause annoyance" a bit vague and oh so flexible.

[Red Herring]

Yup, and as a result pretty much widely abused as well.

[Specialone]

My two penneth, I do a fair bit of green laning/trail riding, you have to be legal as you would on a Tarmac road.
The other option which is gaining in popularity is pay and play, few venues are cropping up now, pay something like £10-£20 per day and ride as much as you like, you then don't need insurance, tax etc, but if you do it a lot it might be worth getting 3rd party insurance for that type of riding, just in case.