We are lucky in Britain to be blessed with some of the best green lane routes on which to put your 4x4s through their paces.
From Dartmoor, Bodmin and Exmoor in Devon and Cornwall in the southwest, to stunning north Wales and the North York Moors and the Lake District and Peak District national parks, green laners are truly spoilt for choice when considering their best green lane routes. That’s even before we’ve headed north of the border to the Highlands and the Cairngorms.
And some of Britain’s “flatter” and more populated counties, such as Dorset, Kent, Norfolk and Northamptonshire also have much to offer and challenge serious green laners with a 4-wheel drive to exercise!
Best green lane routes: the Peak District
Here we look at one of our favourite and easily accessible green lane routes in the Peak District of Derbyshire.
It’s a 90 kilometre country ramble showcasing the very best of the Peak District in a circular route, with Bakewell roughly at its centre, which can start and finish at historic Matlock, the county town of Derbyshire complete with its preserved steam railway.
Heading north cross country from Matlock, this route delivers in terms of scenery and challenges for your 4×4 and makes it one of the best off lane routes around.
A great day out with a mixture of easy and slightly challenging lanes with some serious off-road climbs to challenge you and your 4WD.
Highlights on the scenic circular route include Calver and an impressive 7-storey mill which operated from 1785 to 1920 on the River Derwent, just off the A623.
The mill’s austere external appearance meant it could be used as an imposing film-double for Colditz Castle in a movie about the prisoner of war camp.
From Calver you head west and take in the villages of Great Longston and Taddington before skirting beautiful Buxton, famed for its spas and natural spring waters.
From Buxton you head southeast and climb towards Pomeroy, a small hamlet on the A515 at 375 metres above sea level which, according to locals, is a “tidy way up”.
From there on to Monyash an attractive old limestone village at the head of beautiful Lathkill Dale, again, surrounded by stunning scenery. A picturesque green, with the remnants of an old market cross is at the centre of this peaceful village which is set in a classic White Peak landscape.
From here it’s back to Matlock and the end of your off-road tour of the Peak District on one of the best green lane routes you could wish for.
Ascents, descents, peaks and troughs: The Peak District in Derbyshire boasts all manner of tracks and green lanes on which to test your 4×4.
Green laning: check before you try
Due to current Covid restrictions green laning is not classed as an essential journey unless it is for work purposes.
From time to time routes in the Peak District may also be reclassified as Restricted Byways or closed to vehicles by TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders). Plan your route thoroughly.
You should also check your insurance covers you fully for green laning. Adrian Flux specialise in green lane cover and would love to talk to you about your next green lane adventure. To find out about green lane and 4×4 insurance cover, call the experts on 0800 141 2794 — 81.5% of all customers receiving an online quote in August 2022 could have obtained a cheaper quote over the phone, based on the information they provided.
And if you are really going to put your 4×4 through its paces, now might be a good time to consider breakdown cover which could cost from as little as £59 a year when taken out in conjunction with your motor insurance cover.
For help finding more great off road routes for your 4×4 visit the GLASS (Green Lane Association) website. And once you’ve discovered some of the best green lane routes out there, let us know about your favourite.