Marking the Maps

So, how do we find out where to drive? The first thing to do is purchase the latest edition of the Ordnance Survey Landranger map for the area you would like to explore. The scale is 1:50.000 (1.25 inches to one mile - two centimetres to one kilometre).

Unless you have good eyesight, use a magnifying glass and check across the map in blocks, of say, three or four grids at a time. Mark the start and finish of likely 'through' routes bearing the markings of RUPPs and BOATs (Byways). Look out too for interesting UCRs, which continue right through to other roads. Do not bother with any dead-end routes, which, more often than not, will only lead to farm buildings.

Use a yellow highlighter pen to show the 'ends' of these possibly legally driveable through routes. Then, contact the county hall in the area you will be exploring and speak to the rights of way officer. Ask if you can inspect its definitive maps to confirm RUPPs, BOATs and byways. You can then check your maps against its very large-scale definitive maps and hopefully some of your chosen routes on your map will be confirmed as legally driveable. You can then mark the length of each route with your yellow highlighter. Before reaching any conclusion ask to check the revisions list, just in case the definitive maps haven't been updated with any changes that have been made. You should also ascertain if any routes are subject to a TRO.

You could also ask to see the UCR map and mark up your own maps accordingly. More often than not, you will need to visit the highways office to check unmetalled UCRs, including those black pecked paths that I mentioned earlier. I suggest that you mark up the 'ends' of all UCRs with a blue highlighter pen, so that at a glance you can differentiate between RUPPs, BOATs, byways and UCRs.

This method of how to find out more about greenlaning is by far the most enjoyable as it gives you a challenge and puts you in a good position of knowing just how you stand, which could save you a lot of embarrassment. When you go to the county hall or highways office, make notes on the side of your OS map as to the date you gained the information. Do bear in mind that whatever you have seen, or been told during your visit, that information regarding the status of any lane could change at any time. So what's legally driveable this year may not be next. That's life!

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