The wetter the
Everybody loves a bit of water. Whatever kind of 4x4 you drive, anything from a big puddle to a bonnet-deep flood is capable of bringing out the big kid in all of us. And wherever you go in Britain, you’re never far from a chance to play. There are more than a thousand fords on Britain’s roads, ranging from tiny seasonal splashes to epic coastal crossings which disappear beneath several feet of water at every high tide. Some are on surprisingly major routes, while others appear as a welcome surprise on little-used green lanes. Aston Cantlow
Aveton Gifford
Warwickshire SP 132 594
Devon SX 683 567
An unclassified county road crosses the River Alne between Great Alne and Aston Cantlow – via a brute of a ford that’s long and deep and, in places, overgrown. Oh, and as you plough forward with water foaming up around your wing-tops, you won’t actually be able to see the way out until you’re well into the middle of the crossing.
This is not so much a ford as a tidal road. It even says as much on the OS map. At low tide, it’s just a concrete ribbon along the coastline and across an inlet in the Avon estuary, with a tell-tale line of poles either side of it to keep you on track once the water starts coming in. And when the water does start coming in, get ready for a treat. If you want windscreen-deep wading,
48 | MAY 2023
8pp 25 Fords.indd 48
4x4 11/04/2023 01:00
