Anybody knowledgeable about lanes near Ashbourne? I was out yesterday for a recce on some lanes I've not done for ages, if ever. Tried SK1445-01(trailwise ref, no warning re 4x4) Slack Lane from the North. Fine to start but then got very tight, impassable without some damage likely to lane and car. Is this a new issue or should I have just pressed on? Walked on a bit and it looked like it would open out but the stream in the bottom made the route about 2 feet wide at one point.
On the plus side I managed about a dozen other legal lanes that I haven't used since I lived in Ashbourne 25 years ago.

A couple that I went down a couple of weeks ago have had the 'access for all' treatment and a gravelled and perfectly smooth whereas a couple of months ago they were rutted and muddy, I suppose if the bobblies can't get them closed they get them smoothed over and boring but wheel chair friendly. Wales here I come....

The following is why you read Trailwise in a little more detail first .... Mind, I'd have tried to drive it too, in fact might do so soon as I've not driven it at all, or indeed many others that seem to be recorded for the area ..

"Badly obstructed by watercourse that has been diverted along highway. Needs extensive maintenance.
07/09/2002, by Ian Boddison"
"Usage record (UEF) - date: 03/07/2010 type : mc User: Steve Birkinshaw [4438]
user note: Track quickly becomes extremely overgrown with trees and bushes and down to single foot track. Didn't have time to walk it but will do in future and report.

Usage record (UEF) - date: 01/06/2002 type : foot User: Ian Boddison [1]
user note: Severely obstructed by trees and water course that has been routed along the highway with vertical paving slabs"

Can I suggest that you also record your findings, please. It'll possibly help others.

Unfortunately my Glass membership has lapsed (will renew soon) so I can neither see or make comments at the moment. If you try the lane it may be worth coming at it from the South as the reverse out to the North is quite tricky, with a steep bank on one side and a crumbling drop into the stream on the other and not a lot of room for error! Not sure if the Southern end is better but doubt it could be much worse
There are some cracking lanes in the area and I'll be back to try some more new to me ones soon.

MrIFan said:

Anybody knowledgeable about lanes near Ashbourne? I was out yesterday for a recce on some lanes I've not done for ages, if ever. Tried SK1445-01(trailwise ref, no warning re 4x4) Slack Lane from the North. Fine to start but then got very tight, impassable without some damage likely to lane and car. Is this a new issue or should I have just pressed on? Walked on a bit and it looked like it would open out but the stream in the bottom made the route about 2 feet wide at one point.
On the plus side I managed about a dozen other legal lanes that I haven't used since I lived in Ashbourne 25 years ago.

Click to expand...

There's 2 at eyam the one going north is a bit scary. Regards nick