MOOCH - ANDY & THE DEFENDER

Usually, when Andy gets a 4x4 to review I nip up the M6 towards Yorkshire and we explore some Cumbrian lanes, but this time I knew of a few lanes not far from Muddy HQ that would be suitably challenging, not just for Andy, but the new Defender 90 he had on loan.

Despite driving a few Defenders myself recently, after meeting up with Andy in a small village called Denshaw, I suddenly remembered just how wide the new Defender is - and how narrow the first lane I’d pencilled in actually was!

Lanes 1 + 2 - SD9809-11 & SD9810-03

SD9809-11 is a cracking lane that offers some spectacular views over both Castleshaw reservoirs and beyond. The last time I drove was a few years back with Luke and his then partner in their Wrangler Rubicon, it was tight in a few places, especially where the stone wall had collapsed and was leaning inwards, but we managed it.

Being from the 90s, Deux Smurf isn’t full of airbags and side protection bars, so she’s quite slim and was able to get through the narrow bits with ease, and despite Andy’s girth, well, the Defender’s girth, he also managed squeeze through.

Upon reaching the end we turned right onto lane 2, SD9810-03 that heads downwards towards the reservoirs. It’s quite steep, which wasn’t a problem as the ground is solid and well drained, though I’d imagine it would be fun driving when it's icy as I suspect it could be a bit treacherous, especially heading downwards. Anyone for a spot of Tobogganing?

Lane 3 - SD9807-03

Just a few miles we found our next lane, Lark Hill.

With a mild rocky climb it’s quite fun, and around a 1/2 of the way along there’s a diagonal channel that spans across the lane, nothing too challenging. Having said that, I was crawling up slowly and as I crossed the channel immediately lost traction. My own fault really as I hadn’t engaged Deux Smurf’s centre diff-lock, or used any momentum.

A few photos later, and centre diff-lock engaged, Deux Smurf drove onwards. Time to jump out and see how Andy in the Defender faired. Pretty boring really, the Defender’s electrics kept it going, despite a slight wheel lift.

Lane 4 - SD9907-06

Reaching the top we turned left and followed SD9907-06 which is a long, straight wide dirt lane, and suitable for a 2wd car, with care.

Lane 5 - SE0008-04

Our next lane was Harrop Edge, quite a gnarly lane with a few deep ruts and a couple of bumper grinding steps to contend with.

Andy didn’t look overly convinced about this lane, and after we’d walked the route, even less so, but he agreed to give it a go in the name of good journalism, and certainly no peer pressure from me!

For Andy and I, negotiating the deep ruts wasn’t a problem, mainly because we were driving downwards, which could be argued is the easiest way to drive Harrop Edge, and you’ll receive no arguments from me, in fact I’ve driven Deux Smurf down this lane 3 times so far, but never once up it!

Once past the ruts it becomes quite narrow with a bit of a lean into some scratchy bushes, fortunately it had been dry of late so traction was good.

After the narrow bit you’re faced with a tight left hand turn, that for Deux Smurf requires around 3 shunts, and then it’s the rock steps.

The first one is quite steep, and when Muddy Madam took a video of me first taking Deux Smurf down it, the rear bumper was millimetres away from getting damaged. No such drama this time ‘round, except for some impressive wheel lifts.

When it was Andy’s turn it looked more dramatic than actually was - being a 90, the wheel lift looked higher, but with a shorter overhang, the Defender walked it.

Our next lane should have been SE0109-01, but I noticed a new gate had been erected, unsurprising really as the damage that’s been caused over the last two years makes it unrecognisable, so for the next 30 minutes or so it all main roads until we reached Holmfirth and the infamous Ramsden Road.

Lane 6 - SE1105-05

If you are tackling Ramsden Road from west to east you’ll probably start off by driving along SE1005-06, Rake Head Road and KilnBent Road, they’re dirt tracks with wide puddles in places that can be driven easily enough in a ’normal’ 2wd car.

Ramsden Road begins as a narrow track with a stone wall and trees either side, and once you reach the right hand bend it opens up to become wide and rocky. For the morons amongst us, there’s the temptation to take it wide and drive offpiste, but we’re made of sterner stuff.

If you keep to the centre there’s quite a large step, and after a bit of track maintenance by building a secondary step with some hefty rocks, I edged Deux Smurf upwards and without much drama climbed up and out.

Andy’s turn, and after widening the rocks due to the Defender’s extra girth, Andy edged forward and without even a hint of wheel spin conquered step. Again boring, but Defender was proving itself not only to be capable, but with a first-class 4wd system, there was no doubt of any damage to both vehicle or ground.

Within a matter of yards, just before the deeply rutted left hand turn that makes Ramsden Road so well known, I again managed to get Deux Smurf properly cross-axled with both opposing wheels off the ground.

It wasn’t a problem of course, I simply reversed a little and took a different line. Andy simply drove over the obstacle as though it was flattened hedgehog in a carpark.

On our way to the next lane we popped into somewhere I’ve been meaning to visit for quite a while - The Carding Shed, http:// thecardingshed.co.uk and browsed around their superb classic car collection, some of which were for sale via I.K. Sport Classic who offer bespoke car restoration facilities within the factory. It’s good job I have no money otherwise I would have bought a couple!

Lane 7 - SE1607-02

Next was Cheese Gate Nab Side, a bit of a mouthful, and quite a challenge, but when we drove it there was a one-way order in place - east to west (downwards), and now it’s been completely TRO’d to allow for some repairs and much needed maintenance.

I know a lot of you will bemoan that it’s another challenging lane lost, but I’m confident that most of you will prefer maintenance to it being lost completely, and to be honest, it was getting quite bad.

Not having driven it for a while, it seems to have gotten worse over the last twelve months, with large ruts and holes forming at the top.

Despite it’s worsening condition, both Deux Smurf and the Defender handled it with ease, though Deux Smurf managed to make it look more dramatic than it was, as she lurched from side to side with wheel lifts aplenty!

As you near the bottom there’s an ’S’ bend, and it’s the second bend that’s more severe, as you not only have a deep rut that’s formed into the rocky base, but quite a big step just after it. This section in particular has been affected by all the adverse weather we’ve had and has washed all the dirt away. Still, great for photos.

Lane 8 - SE1705-02

Our penultimate lane was quite short, but what it lacked in length it made up for a deep ruts and scratchy bushes! The last time I drove it was a few years ago and the grass and shrubbery surrounding the track was only a few inches tall, now you could lose a small child in it for a week! If you have a smaller 4x4 I wouldn’t with this lane as you’ll easily find yourself grounded. On Trailwise2 someone has written that even a new Toyota Hilux became stranded.

Lane 9 - SE1608-01

And so to our final lane - Scar End Lane. Again, it isn’t the most challenging, and in wet conditions I’ve driven up in a Subaru Outback. It’s quite narrow when you start climbing but it has a solid dirt base and the occasion rock to negotiate, but the main reason I like this lane are the views over New Mill, Holmfirth and beyond, they’re stunning.

Apart from the odd scratch here and there, the day had gone without a hitch. The new Defender in all sense and purposes had walked it and Deux Smurf didn’t do too badly, either.