TRAIL GUIDE; YORKSHIRE DALES.

By demand because of the sheer confusion of what is open and what is now closed , I have now produced a new marked up map for the Yorkshire Dales. 

This shows a total of 95 miles of lawful green lanes and also  shows the latest(eight)

TROs brought in on June 3rd and older TROs.  There is therefore   a lot of good trail riding to enjoy in the Yorkshire Dales area !   

The map also shows two  more  TROs proposed which are likely to come into effect by the end of the year.

The map guide  takes in an area from Ingleton in the west to Masham in the east, and from Swaledale in the north to Kettlewell and Horton in the south.   It is on a 3 miles to 1" scale.

The YDNP say they have no more  TROs planned. 

This map will I hope prove  to be a fairly accurate trail guide for some time.  

I never under estimate the appetite in the TRF for information as to where to ride, though most of the information can be  obtained from OS maps and council websites but riders seem to prefer a different source.

I am especially glad that the take up for South Yorkshire and East Yorkshire maps has been healthy which shows that TRF members are keen to explore new areas.   Local residents seem to  be rather  surprised to see a trail bike for the first time and some even phone the police(who are not very tolerant of trail riding) but do persist and let me know if you meet any  trouble.    The TRF is here to help !

Such has been the loss  of trails (TRO and NERC) with virtually no lawful green lanes left  in the Settle, Horton, Kettlewell, Malham, etc area that now one map does the job, including some useful mileage in the eastern Dales which is outside the YDNP.   

I have asked the TRF to issue such maps free of charge to members, but it prefers to let me continue to issue them on a semi private basis, so therefore I am obliged  to charge the small fee of £3.50 for each map including postage.  

Other trail guides available from me  in  the north of England are; North Yorkshire Moors and East Yorkshire  (2 off),South Yorkshire, Co Durham and Northumberland.  My address is 55, Warkworth St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 8ED which with my e mail address is  on the back of the front cover of TRAIL.

Do remember that some of the green lanes now being lawfully enjoyed are a direct result of hard work over many years by the TRF and no one else.  

I can also supply information for Scottish trails on request.   I am unable to supply trail guides for any other part of the UK.    

I have been asked to respond to criticism on the TRF website of the Northern TRFs failure to prevent the TROs in the Yorkshire Dales.  Dont forget that the TRF had 3 members on a joint committee working closely with YDNP staff for 18 months, all volunteers.  A mountain of papers were scrutinised and commented on. 

Many many hours of hard work trying to persuade the YDNP to try partial TROs on a weekend or seasonal basis,had   no effect.  I am extremely proud of the hard work carried out by officials of the  TRFs Cumbria and West Yorkshire Groups.  Criticism therefore from certain members is totally unfounded and does not help.

The real problem was the passing of  NERC in 2006  which gave national parks for the first time sweeping powers to make TROs on environmental grounds.   Do remember that there is not one full time person working to protect green lanes employed by motor cycle and 4x4 organisations, and trade and industry.

There never has been !  In the USA  the  2000  member New England Trail Riders Association employ full time staff to combat similar attacks from powerful anti biking lobbies.

Also  remember that the combined forces of the ramblers and farmers and landowners seeking to ban us have many times the staff and resources. That was especially effective during  the NERC Bill.  The Ramblers  Association for example even  have full time regional staff in Wales and Scotland !      

It is therefore amazing what the TRF achieves and has achieved over the past 38 years   relying on a few part time staff  and volunteers.   And it is surprising that after 38 years of fierce campaigning  by our opponents ,that  trail riding in the UK  is  still far from being banned even in the national parks ! 

BRIAN THOMPSON  13 JULY 08