Heading Home

HEADING HOME

If you read issue 3 you will have read about how I had the pleasure of driving the Jeep Compass for a week, and it was a busy one. Not only did I have a few car launches to attend, but I was also invited to Tankersley near Barnsley for a Mercedes Unimog day.

It was after the latter that I decided to drive back home using as many green-lanes as I could, so as usual I logged into Trailwise 2, opened up ViewRanger and plotted a route that would include around 15 lanes and would take me roughly in the direction of home.

After driving a couple of Unimogs around the off-road course I made my excuses I left early and headed west.

My first lane, Park Lane SE1908-02 was a flat, single track lane with a good solid base with pleasant views and doable in a small 2wd car, if I’m honest. Once you reach the end, driving east to west, you cross the A629 and drive straight onto SD1908-03. This is quite wide and only lasts for a few hundred yards.

My third lane, ironically called First Lane, or SE1708-04, was a bit bumpier and longer that the previous 2, but again with a hard base it wasn’t challenging at all, but what it didn’t give me in technical difficulty it did offer some splendid views.

Reaching the end you have three choices, turn left onto Intake Lane - boring. Turn left down an intriguing gravel track that isn’t shown on the map - curious, or carry on along SE1608-01 or Scar End Lane. I chose the latter.

Scar End Lane is quite narrow with a dirt base and the occasion small rock to negotiate and at times has a steep descent, with even more stunning views to the right looking over New Mill and beyond.

I ended up being a bit of a nuisance to a group of walkers, a dog walker and a couple of mountain bikers on one of the steepest sections as I parked the Jeep at an angle that block the lane completely and jumped out to take some posing photos. I wouldn’t mind but I hadn’t seen anyone up until this point and all of a sudden, at the most inopportune moment everyone descended on me tutting and moaning - typical!

It was at this point, heading downhill on a newto-me green-lane, that I realised that the Jeep Compass Limited doesn’t have a Hill Descent Control button, so I ended up feathering the brakes all the way down to the bottom as first gear was just a tad too high for my liking.

• PC, smartphone and tablet friendly

• Toggle between BOAT, UCR and Legacy layers

• Information on restrictions and closures

• Multiple mapping options including OS

• Easy to zoom in and out

• Add comments and photos against routes

• Extensive coverage of England and Wales

• Share a lane on Facebook or Twitter

• Available exclusively to GLASS members

• TW2... TrailWise, but smarter!

WHERE WILL YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

Although I had 15 lanes to drive I was time conscious as it was already 3.45pm and Muddy Madam and I had somewhere to be later, so I decided to head as best I could as the crow flys. I missed out the next 4 lanes I had planned and headed straight to Ward Bank Road or SE1306-02 which again offered me some great views and a rocky base, which the Jeep made look easy. At a kink in the lane I came across a young lady walking her dog who gave me quite a perplexed look as if to say what on earth are you driving a new car along this track, you must be lost As I passed her I wound my window down and greeted her with a northern “Owdo!”

Ward Bank Road continued after a cross roads turned into Cartworth Moor Road, SE1305-02 which is wide open dirt track that can be driven in a normal car, but it was a means to an end as my next lane was infamous Ramsden Road.

Again, starting from the east to west, Ramsden Road is single track with a hard surface which in parts has been graded, but as you bear left and head downwards, in the distance you can spot something interesting.

Now, before I go any further it’s worth mentioning that not long after I drove this there was an experimental TRO (Traffic regulation Order) on this

route, but after some legal wranglings it has been revoked. This is still a sensitive route so if you do venture along it please drive with care and restraint.

Where was I? Ah yes. As you can see from the photos, water erosion has cut a deep channel on the left side of the track that’s around 4 feet deep, and thankfully the drop off on the near side isn’t that bad. As I edged the Jeep slowly and carefully into the channel I could feel the off-side rear wheel lift significantly. I remained at quite angle for the following 10 or so yards until I approached the right hand bend and the high bank ahead of me.

With the drivers side high up on the banking I again edged slowly as the passenger front tyre drove up the bank on the left hand side causing the near-side wheel to this time to flail in the air. At this point I decided to jump out and take a couple of photo, as you do.

The rest of the lane heading down towards Riding Wood Reservoir is quite rocky and would have been the perfect time to engage some kind of Hill Descent Control button, but nah, I feathered the brakes again.

Once you pass the reservoir the rest of SE1005-06 and Rake Head Road and Kiln Bent Road is manageable in a normal car, if you’re careful, and you end up on the A6024.

At this point I could have turned right and headed towards Meltham and aimed for the A62 for another 8 or so lanes, but as time was getting on I decided to call it a day. It was a good job too, as the indicated hour and a half it should have taken me to get back to Muddy Towers actually took almost double that due to the crazy 5.00pm traffic.

Overall a cracking day was had, and it isn’t often you get take a Unimog off-road then enjoy the rest of the afternoon exploring green-lanes whilst on the way home.

If you’re interested, I reviewed the Jeep Compass Limited in last months issue and being fair, it left a lasting impression on me as I was surprised at how capable it actually was. I shouldn’t be really, because at the end of the day it’s still a Jeep.