GPS , sat nav recommendations

howdy doo..
I’ve noted that this has been mentioned before. But technology and software change..
I’m wondering if anyone can advise or has experience of the latest gadgets to find and mark the green lanes in the UK..
Just it’s me birthday next week you see and her indoors said she would buy me a gadget so I didn’t keep getting lost..
as it’s costing a fortune in the 3.9efi as I keep driving up and down the same road looking for the entrance to lanes.. do more tarmac than on track!!!

You still won’t go far wrong running Memory Map on a tablet. Good software on a decent sized screen....

Thanks.. I havnt even tried that yet.. so will give that a shot today

What the old fella ( @DavidSally ) said ...

Also, in my view, it's well worth joining Glass for access to Trailwise where you can check legality of most lanes, many of which also have user reports on condition and type of lane.

Join Glass

Suppose I’d better reciprocate.
I agree with the comments of the sprog above. Trailwise is a valuable asset. Just one more reason to join Glass.

Paul D said:

What the old fella ( @DavidSally ) said ...

Also, in my view, it's well worth joining Glass for access to Trailwise where you can check legality of most lanes, many of which also have user reports on condition and type of lane.

Join Glass

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Hi Paul and the older gent
We did last year member 7958!!
I just havnt had the chance to log in to the forum yet.. as I can’t escape this one.
The trailwise thing is what is getting me confused . As the highlighted lane veers off from the actual track and we don’t know if we have to drive “off road” and some highlighted tracks go through farmers gates and yards. So we don’t venture any further!!
I think I need to see me local rep Andy in Durham.. but definitely be helping out this year.. I have generator welders and every tool under the sun .. so if you ever knack a farmers gate I will come and repair it for you free of charge.. just buy me a pint lol

Nice one ..

A lot of the basic Trailwise info and lane positions were inherited from the 'Wayfarer' project from many years ago when mempry and such were very limited, so each track only has two points on it (Much like many Councils still use) and thus has a start and an end point with a straight line between. Where there are three 'bends' in a Trailwise track, if you click on the links you'll see that they'll be named along the lines of AB 1234-01, AB1234-02, AB1234-03. This usually happens only on longer tracks so relating the actual route along the ground needs an OS map and some common sense. We also inherited a lot of it's quirks for using it, so it's a pain in the butt unless you take time to learn it, simply because it's really just a lane database with information about a lanes characteristics and legality, rather than it's actual, definitive track. Glass has, however, been working on a Trailwise Mark 2 fro a while now (I know no more detail) rumoured to be much easier to work with.

If a gate is across the track and it's closed, open it, go through, close it, simple. If you KNOW you're on a legal Byway and a gate is locked, or there's some other obstruction you are legally entitled to abate the instruction to get by it, or deviate from the line by enough to just get past, and then report the blockage to the council or Glass rep .. A locked gate is easily lifted off hinges and replaced using a Hi-lift, for instance ....

My eldest son lives in Middlesborough, next time I'm up in the Landy (not for a month or three) we might meet and I'll show you a few tips, drive a couple of lanes etc

Thanks for that Paul...
It has clarified a few things.. I will pm my number through, so if you ever do get a metal work problem I will pop down and also when you pop up to see you son I would be greatful for all advice..
I’m sorting out a personal phone number as I’ve always used my business number.. so mid week I will send it over to you..
Thanks again for the advice
Regards
Paul R (aka weldy)

No worries ..

Paul D said:

No worries ..

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Hi Paul
Just a quick question if you don’t mind. I know I should go on the glass forum and find this out. I will go on I promise ..
But it’s to do with condition of tracks.
We’ve noticed some areas are Just deep mud after the winter abuse.. is it still ok to drive them or do you turn round and head back? As we don’t want to bring the hobby into disrepute by adding to the damage!
Hope you don’t mind me asking silly questions!

No legitimate questions are silly, they're only silly if you have a question and don't ask it!

Mostly we'd turn around and head back, unless we know the land the Byway is on, so 'It depends' of course ...

In Wales a few years ago we were driving in ruts with 12" mud and water and to all intents and purposes most folk looked at our video and (Fairly) asked why. The reason we did is 'cos the ruts were down to baserock and would never (in my lifetime anyway) erode any further, they're like that in summer and winter and are continually driven by the local farmer with no detriment to them. On the other hand, we currently have a Voluntary TRO on a lane in Derbyshire with shallower ruts and less standing water and mud, because the underlying lane is still top soil .. the chances of erosion or damage by 4x4's is potentialy huge, so it makes sense to stay away.

In North Yorks on Deadmans there have been repairs done to a hilly part of a brilliant byway, but the flatter ground still suffers from waterlogging and has developed into a quagmire. Glass have asked for a Voluntary TRO for all vehicles Including bikes, and we've organised (via the local rep, Barrie) for the farmer to do some work, it's in his interests after all, if we provide the materials and some voluntary manpower. This work will be done over the next few weeks.

So, in general, I'd say try and determine the basic lie of the land and what it's made of. Ask yourself, 'is there a chance that driving this will damage it, even a little' or 'am I likely to need a recovery from here' .... In either case if you answer yes, then it's better, perhaps, to turn around. If you honestly answer no and there are no VTRO or other restrictions in force then I'd go ahead ..

As a segway to this,

@Paul D , iirc you use Memory maps, which I also do now, as before I was continuously having trouble taking other peoples planned routes and seeing them on the OS app without seeing a lot of archive route info of strange routing options.

There is also View ranger, which I did consider at the time I purchased MM OS 1:25K scale maps last year fro £165 ( Black Friday deal price) . But View ranger app OS mapping was only available in segments which would have gotten very expensive to cover the areas I want ed to have available.

Now however it appears that Viewranger app can now be loaded with the OS maps in 1:50K and 1:25K for a yearly subscription of £25. A friend has recently loaded the VR app and paid the £25 for a year, and he has not had a problem loading the .gpx files produced on a MM loaded tablet and sent to him by email.( I have not confirmed this with my own eyes !)

This IMHO, makes Viewranger a very worthwhile option for someone coming into the hobby / pastime who can then learn the system for a reasonably cheap amount.

Cheers

Brilliant advice Paul thanks
Common sence prevails.
It’s a learning curve and we want to go about it the right way.. my friend has a farm we can play on so we get our off road thrill there.. he doesn’t mind us bogging down in his muddy bits and winching ourselves out off the nearsest Cow lol. but it has also shown us what a remarkable machine the D1 is.. so we now know it’s capabilities..
All advice has sunk in and it may make our trips more fun . As we are always doubling back on our selves through lack of knowledge..
be good to catch up. But will see you on the glass forum.
Regards
Paul and Andrea