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Anybody else stopped for a trail side survey this weekend?
We were stopped on the track running up from High Tilberthwaite heading towards the Langdales (sorry I'm not local) and asked a few questions by national park or maybe council representatives - but the questions seemed a little 'loaded' to me. Such as 'would you expect to see 4x4's on this trail' and 'what do you think of the condition of the trail' and 'have you had any problems with other trails users'.
Maybe my paranoia but I hope that doesn't translate into 'we want to ban 4x4s' or 'we want to sanitise this trail'.
That track has been highlighted recently as problematic in terms of 4x4s. There were reports that the current tenant farmer at H Tilberthwaite had decided to give up his tenancy because it was becoming too difficult to get a vehicle up there to tend to his stock due mainly to 4x4 damage. It is a popular route with the cash-cow guided end of the market (Kankku) as well as the normal weekend warriors.
So it may well be that the NP is being pressured by the NT (which owns the farm) to find a solution. As far as I'm concerned, the track is in great condition currently, but I'd be unsurprised to see a couple of short sections sanitised if what I'm thinking is right.
Would be a shame to see it TRO'd, but it's possible, as I imagine they'd argue that there is an alternative byway between Hodge Close and Little Langdale, which is far less rocky and challenging, of course...
As for 'would you expect to see 4x4s', the answer is yes, every bloody time I do that descent... 🙂
Thanks @martinhutch for that info.
As a mountainbiker, 4x4er and hiker I tend to be a little live and let live (especially as there seems so few trails left for 4x4 enjoyment) but I hadn't thought about the farmer access - ie. the people who use it every day. I only ride that trail 2-3 times a year and can't say I had noticed it any 'worse' then I remember - it seems a pretty hardy rock base - but then I can't remember what I had for tea 2 days ago so probably shouldn't rely on that!
The clip shows some numpties chewing it up on the Little Langdale side, but TBH I think Storm Desmond was a bigger culprit in recent years as the track is generally pretty well drained. There is a short bedrock section on the Tilberthwaite side which is probably what is causing the farmer difficulties - but that doesn't seem any worse to me than it has been for the last few years.
If someone is out with the clipboards though, I'd be surprised if there wasn't a temporary TRO in place shortly 'for repair purposes'.
Hmm, there’s been quite a bit of work at the middle gate to stop landies rubbing the wall and the crossers are pretty frequent at the moment. Doubt any sanitisation will last but closing to 4*4’s might be a sensible plan.
There is a fair bit of friction at the moment. Last kankuu I followed up was dropping diesel everywhere.
Bit of give and take needed I think.
Haven't got much time for Kankku after one squeezed me off the side of a track a while back, and, unlike most of the offroad groups, they seem to be less inclined to pull over a little with good cheer to let bikes come past.
I imagine they're still going the 'wrong' way up the byway from Esthwaite as it fits in with their route better.
So I'll be fine with that lot having to trundle down tarmac or easy forest tracks on the other byway from Hodge, but on the whole, I don't see the need for a TRO on the Tilberthwaite track.
A little give and take for each group would work wonders. If I’m slogging up it trying not to dab stopping for an Mx bike doesn’t fill me with joy.