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Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

2002 Defender 110 Td5 Black LE Java Black

Wiltshire and Salisbury plains advice.

Hi all,

The family and I have booked a cottage in Bowerhill near Melksham.for February half term and we are taking the Land Rover. I fancy taking the boys (and my dad) for a spot of greenlaning but have no idea where to go.

I have been on Wiltshire councils website and found the map with all the legal routes marked on it, but there are hundreds! I also don't want to damage my vehicle so really need some inside information in order to have a successful weeks holiday.

I have seen davidwhittakers videos in the pictures and videos section and that looks perfect (thanks for sharing). I drive a bog standard 110 double cab with all terrain tyres. I have a winch but really don't want to be using it, mostly because there don't seem to be many trees, I don't have an anchor and the council website says that level of off-roading is inappropriate).

Any guidance in terms of grid references or coordinates for my memory map would be much appreciated. Also, if anyone fancies a trip out to show me the ropes that would be great too.

Thanks in advance for the help

James 2002 110 td5

27th Jan 2015 10:01pm

CatherineF

Member Since: 22 Nov 2014
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 762

Your cottage is probably minutes away from us> 2015 Audi Q3 Quattro S Line Plus 184 TDI Stronic
2010 90 SMC Over Land Nero Edition - Santorini Black Metallic (Now Departed)

27th Jan 2015 10:06pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

Great stuff, I am really looking forward to it. It looks like a lovely part of the world and Stonehenge is on my bucket list. (That might sound a little sad but I did a history degree so have always had an interest in such things!) 2002 110 td5

27th Jan 2015 10:10pm

Thor

Member Since: 17 Dec 2011
Location: Didcot
Posts: 446

No grids to hand sorry,

Only seen one persons get stuck on the plain and that was in the mud hole ages ago. You'll be fine with the set up you have.........Not to say that it can't happen of course haha.

I'm sure BPman will add to the thread as he, and quite a few others have loads more experience there than I do.

Put the date up your planing on going and I'm sure there will be some folk who'd love to go with you.

Strong people are harder to kill and generally more useful!

28th Jan 2015 8:32am

BigRuss

Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black

The biggest issue with navigating the plains is knowing which track to use!

The map in front of you says there is only 1 while the land in front if you says your at a cross roads with 5 different options! Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black

28th Jan 2015 11:13am

jhnstap

Member Since: 01 Apr 2013
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 73

Wiltshire.gov

This may be of help

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/row-salisbury-...-guide.pdf I do my thing and you do yours. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine

28th Jan 2015 11:17am

BigRuss

Member Since: 15 May 2010
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 2785

Also the MOD has graded a lot of the tracks lately so not much chance of damaging things (but it can happen) Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black

28th Jan 2015 11:21am

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

You have a PM

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !

28th Jan 2015 3:20pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6093

If you don't want to pay the arm & leg entrance fee to the stones, just take the byway from Larkhill (by the med centre) and follow it out to the stones. Park up, and walk along the field behind the old visitors centre.

OK, you're a hundred feet or so further away then the people who have paid entry, but you'll get that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing you haven't been ripped off.

And you get to antagonise the security people who seem to think they're guarding the crown jewels.

28th Jan 2015 6:50pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

We will be there from the 14th to the 21st of February. Thanks for all the advice.

It seems like there are plenty of nice gentle scenic trails to follow, but it is the big mud holes I am worried about as I could well be travelling alone, and I am sure the temptation to drive through them will be too great! I have been caught out more than once driving through stuff that looks straight forward but turns out to be just that little bit too sticky or deep 2002 110 td5

28th Jan 2015 6:51pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

diesel_jim wrote:
If you don't want to pay the arm & leg entrance fee to the stones, just take the byway from Larkhill (by the med centre) and follow it out to the stones. Park up, and walk along the field behind the old visitors centre.

OK, you're a hundred feet or so further away then the people who have paid entry, but you'll get that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing you haven't been ripped off.

And you get to antagonise the security people who seem to think they're guarding the crown jewels.

Great advice. I will bear that in mind although I quite fancy a look around the new visitors centre. Maybe I will change my mind when I see the price! 2002 110 td5

28th Jan 2015 6:53pm

Jimb1978

Member Since: 05 Sep 2012
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 808

Well, I am back from my trip to the plains and what a great day out it was. I just wanted to public ally thank everybody for their help. I pretty much stuck to the gps routes I received, but they did give me the confidence to venture to other areas as well. Also the brilliant sign posting done by the council meant there was little chance of straying onto illegal lanes.

Here are a few shots, although we didn't take many as we forgot! We have got about 4 hours of gopro footage, so if I can get the hang of iMovie i will try to create a short video to go with it.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge 2002 110 td5

24th Feb 2015 7:34pm

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