GREEN LANE SCOUTING: PEAK DISTRICT (inc.Chapplegate & 'The Steps')

 
 
 

5th July 2003

I arrived at Daniel Swains house and helped / watched him fit a set of free wheeling hubs (their not as shiny as mine!) after some dinner we set off laning...

The first lane was around Bakewell. Pretty easy going, with a smattering of mud...

 

...and a few ruts.

 

Next onto the main roads (Bakewell again) where we came to a river crossing in the road, albeit a small disused side road, but it can still get pretty deep!

See - over the bumper and that Samurais shod with 235/15 MTs and a 2" lift.

 

Next Dan let me drive his truck back through, brave/stupid or what. made it across with no trouble. i didnt take mine through because ..errm.. ..err.. the paints not harderned yet. yes, that'll do!

 

Next onto some VERY overgrown lanes. Even a lifted Vitara would struggle down these!

Definately need some Tcut after all this

a few ruts...

and onto a nice little ford at the bottom.

 

safely through

 

a LOT of overgrown hedgerow/bushes/brambles/trees. It knocked the CB aerial off no end of times. i resorted to putting it on the bonnet.

 

At last! a new lane and some space! This one peaked at 1500ft* above sea level!
(* thanks to Dans flashy GPS system)

 

Right now down to business. our goal for the day was this lane, Chapplegate. We parked up at the entrance and had a walk up due to being told it was extreme. And it didnt disappoint! This was the first pic we took (about one third of the way up the hillside) due to us being more concerned about getting the trucks through it in one piece.

and it got much worse...

Yes, a 2.5ft wash out zig-zagging down the track!

 

Safely at the summit, it was ...flooded!!!

 

over the bumper, there.

 

And into another pool

 

what can you say, it's a fantastic lane!

 

After Chapplegate, the track lead onto 'The Steps' In case you couldnt guess, let me explain. These are a series of stone steps running down the other side of the hill. some are getting on for 2 feet in height! As you can see, building up the step with rocks was a good idea with standard suspension and a tow bar!

 

and stretch!

 

tip-towing over

 

some good flex there!

 

my turn

 

No problem!

 

Parked up at the end of the steps

 

The start of Roych Clough. "Point at the sign and look angry" Dan said. "OK". 'I'm not posing for anything again!

That was the end of the trip. we set off back to Dans arriving about 8.30ish. The last two lanes were amazing and ill definately be returning soon! I Reckon a certain lifted Vitara couldnt have done those two lanes without breaking an axle! do you think the owner of said Vitara will prove me wrong? To be continued......