thinking about doing a run over towards dorset, bridport etc at some point with a few mates.
We had a go at this last winter, and subbornly set off in foul freezing weather and awful visibility. One of us drowned his bike, floods everywhere, drowned or shut lanes everywhere, and we all froze solid when we finally gave up and set off home. Silly.
Might have a slightly less shambolic go at it this time....
Does anyone have a route plan they use? If so would you be kind enough to pass it on? A simple list of lane numbers in order would be great.
Also, whats the story with Hell lane? Is it shut all year round.. I seem to remember it has a seasonal closure to motors??
Gruff and I had a day out two weeks ago, round there, I am away at the moment and havent got the lane numbers but you will be able to work out where they are
Take a saw with you as they were all pretty overgrown
Bullmoor Farm to Combpyne , This lane is back to its snarly best
Whilst you are heading East dont forget the two little used lanes at Yawl and Uplyme
The Loop lane at Raymonds Hill / Hunter lodge is impassable due to a deep 4 foot plus wash out with shear sides, could do with a working party there, if not a digger
Lanes at Stonebarrow are all good, just watch the exit onto the marshwood road on the blind bend its a tad overgrown, Normally best to get one person to go the otherside of the road and wave riders out when the road is clear
Common Water Lane from Broardwindsor to Beaminster is CLOSED The council is repairing the damage where the lane collapsed over the tunnel and killed the couple in the car last year, There is Metal Security Fencing welded right across the lane and down the banks either side, the top is a construction site, There is no way of diverting so give this a miss
You will need to go by road to Beaminster
The sunken lane just above West Milton is virtually blocked at the southern end, THe bank has slid down complete with a tree, It is signed as closed at the southern end, no signs at the north end. Its / was passable with care, if it blocks completly the route back north is NOT for the inexperienced as the entry to the lane is a trials section
Didnt find any other problems apart from overgrown paths
HELL LANE There are road closed signs both ends, one lot had been shoved in the hedge at one end, didnt see any TRO paperwork, had a look at the lane and its in the worst state I have ever seen it 4X4's have really made a mess. If it was ridden it would only be do able east to west
THe main opinion we got from the days riding is no one has ridden them for months, If they are to stay open they need to be ridden more often, and the highways are not really doing anything
Just take care on some of the steeper climbs its dry at the moment but they will be very slippery once they get wet and there are a couple with nasty drop offs
Also beware in the overgrown lanes as the wildlife have been digging holes, didnt find any the last time out but I have had my front wheel dissappear in the past
Hope that helps
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Riding with enthusiasm upon the ragged precipice of disaster
The man to speak to regarding Dorset lanes is Dave Oickle, he is Dorset Trf rights of way guru. Due to his efforts many Dorset lanes currently open to us would not be so. You are quite right Hell Lane has a TRO on it due to the lane surface being destroyed by 4x4use,but again due to Dorset Trf efforts the TRO does not apply to motorcycles.I was there earlier this year and met a group of 4x4s about to enter the lane they were duly told of the TRO situation and turned round and left ,saying they were only following their map and did not know there was a TRO in force. Matt Towill, Somerset TRF
Matt I have ridden Hell Lane for several years, these portable signs were not there the time before last I rode it, it really is in the worst condition I have ever seen it. The 4x4's really have churned it up, must find out what is the present status of the lane, I would hate to lose it
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Riding with enthusiasm upon the ragged precipice of disaster
Pre Nerc when we had some fantastic lanes in Somerset,a TRO was imposed on Pitt Bridge Lane near Timberscombe. Again due to some TRF efforts motorcycles were exempted,this was enforced by some stout poles being sunk into the lane entrances, allowing the passage of motorcycles but not 4x4s. A similar system would perhaps be appropriate in Hell Lane as the lane entrances are quite narrow.
Thats really what needs doing in Hell Lane probably just as the lane passes the last house at the western end as there is no access required after that. At the eastern end poles just after the gates where the other lane cuts across it, after that point there is no need for access
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Riding with enthusiasm upon the ragged precipice of disaster
