Finally, watch out for 'show-offs'. They have a habit of appearing from nowhere when you least expect them. Your next thoughts on where to drive off-road may turn to greenlaning. And if they do, we really must stop, think, and consider where to go.

Driving off-road on public rights of way simply means driving off the sealed highway but all the usual legal requirements governing the use of vehicles on the road apply. Vehicles must be road-legal and drivers must comply with traffic regulations. Greenlaning is the general term that the off-road fraternity use when referring to driving the legal byways in England and Wales.

Classifications

Let's remind ourselves of the various definitions of the three types of highway

Public Footpaths:on which the public has only the right to walk and vehicles are not usually permitted. On the Landranger Ordnance Survey Map 1:50.0 (1.25 inches - one mile) these paths are marked in a red dotted line.

Public Bridleways:on which the public has only the right to walk, cycle and ride horses. Vehicles are not usually permitted. On the OS map these are shown as red dashes.

Public Carriageways: on which the public can do all the above, plus drive a motor vehicle and use horse drawn vehicles. These are shown by many different markings on the map depending on their classification.

Motorways, trunk roads, main roads, secondary and minor roads are shown in blue, red, brown and yellow. The lesser tracks shown in white, dotted or otherwise, start to get our interest.

The main interest to us as off-roaders are two markings which can be seen on the map's legend panel normally shown under public rights of way - below footpath and bridleway.

Index [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

(c)Goodwinch Limited 2006