Back Lane, Darley Dale. I have been off roading/green laning down there before but on Google Earth I have discovered a circuit nearby which looks similar to an LR course from above but it must be private. A google search for off roading in that area yields no results for an actual circuit and I doubt anyone could simply drive around it. i haven't checked but I suspect it won't be on OS maps.

Here are 2 views from Google Earth and the LR Rockingham Castle circuit in the 3rd photo for comparison

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

You're a resourceful chap, so why not ask at Woodside Farm upon whose land those "scars" are. Maybe for a bob or two you can organise on there a Freel2 day out

The land surrounding is owned by the Forestry Commission as is almost all wood up and around Sydnope Hill.

-o0o-

Whilst you are in that neck of the woods go across the A6 at Darley Bridge and make your way to the village of Birchover. There, almost opposite the excellent Red Lion Pub (read the plaque above the door) - go due south on single tarmac road to the hamlet of Upper Town and turn left - track - to UT Farm and Ivy House. Continue past, now on rough track, and bear right leading you steeply down through Clough Wood for 4kms back to almost Darley Bridge. Warning - it is very rough in places - proper off-road no problem in the D90 when I was younger - used to be a packhorse way transporting lead ore from the "Mill Close Mine" and as such was paved in parts with large gritstone slabs. If you want to do a circuit then go back up via the "northerly" track that takes you past Cowley Knowl above the old "London Lead Company" works abandoned by them in 1764 hence the tracks that ran around these woods

Around this area - "Stanton Moor" - I spent at lot of time in my youth as it is a veritable necropolis of the Bronze Age. Over 70 barrows are in these hills and have revealed many great finds. Pop into Birchover P:O. (if still open) as they used to have a display of some of the local finds that were not secured by either London or derby museums. Also whilst there (if you are interested) you can read about Joan Waste Birchover's own blind martyr who at the age of 22 was burned at the stake in Derby's old Windmill Pit for heresy in the turbulent years of "Bloody Mary"

On the other hand Doc - in the years that have past since I last drove through Clough Wood it may now have become so overgrown that it is no longer passable. Proceed with caution. But it will make for an interesting historical walk

Agree with athelstan, go knock on the door and enquire for an organised Freel2 day out.

Looks like a motocross track for the farmers kids, albeit without the jumps

With H&S and insurance implications I doubt you'll be allowed on

I'm not so sure, it looks a little more than a kids playground but you never know, farmer's will allow anything for ready cash.

did I hear the word 'cash'


I reckon it where a vaner has been practising reversing his van in a straight line. he has obviously left now to go get a new clutch fitted At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Looks like a farmers tractor training course, you can clearly see where he is practising his road blocking skills and making sure he gets a good coating of mud to deposit on the highway.

hard to say, but it doesn't look too steep or taxing for a off road day

if your wanting a offroad day there was the Bala one or your could see what is happening at Tong

The Google image of the LRE circuit at Rockingham Castle only shows half the circuit. There is another similar sized area to the East of the one shown in the photo.

npinks wrote:

hard to say, but it doesn't look too steep or taxing for a off road day

In that particular wooded "off-road" course that the Doc has referenced the elevation west to east is approximately 25mtrs only, and that's over a longitudinal distance of roughly 250mtrs. Traversing south to north the elevation remains almost constant over circa 275mtrs. In other words - relatively tame terrain.

I have sent an email to Woodside Farm about this. I will post any reply on here. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

But what cannot be seen from the air is what is 'man made', after all LR sites have 'man made' courses.

Having emailed the farm the other day offering cash in hand for usage of the circuit I got a response by email, here it is:

NO

Regards Shelley **********






Fairly definitive answer  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The Doctor wrote:

Having emailed the farm the other day offering cash in hand for usage of the circuit I got a response by email, here it is:

NO

Regards Shelley **********





Fairly definitive answer

So it is a caravan training track then  2002 Honda VFR800
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