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  #1  
Old 23 Apr 2007
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Salisbury Plain
So what is the story with riding around on the plains? Where may and may you not go? We've been a couple of times; with the detailed OS maps to find the byways; but there is just a maze of roads which are not shown on the OS.

I'm sure the official line is you must stick to the byways as shown on the map but what is the tolerance of the wardens? Is it ok to take any road (twin track)so long as you aren't crossing open grass fields or inside a clearly marked "Out of Bounds" area.

Who of you go there regularly?

We are hoping to go there quite regularly so give a shout and we can meet up if you want.
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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Red flag
Hey Bossies,

I was lucky enough to be lent a military map of the plains from a friend who lives out there. Unfortunately I no longer have it. The crucial thing to note are the red flagged areas - so that you aren't mistaken for a target!!
I was given instructions to stick to the tracks, avoid the flagged areas, and give it some welly if I got stuck

I can't advise on the warden tolerance I'm afraid. But there'd only be one way to find out!
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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Howzit,

Thanks for the tips....I'm too sensible and I've been on the island too long so have lost my disregard for authority

(ps:Nice pics of Morroco. I think my missus would like to meet up with you some time to talk girlie travelling stuff before we head off in September.)
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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That used to be the case when I used the plain in my Landy, Charley. I got buzzed a few times by helicopters at night and one night got warded off a byway that goes right past one of the training villages during a night exercise but I was never stopped and nobody seemed all that upset by my presence.

Admittedly I did *try* and keep to the byways and any deviations were due to being lost and choosing to follow a propper track. This was before I got a post-Y2K GPS.

x_AJ_x

BTW, never got a chance to post congrats to you & Rensche (sp?) when you got married as I no longer had a presence on YDC.
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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" If you drive “off road” where no such right exists, you commit an offence under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The MDP do prosecute under this section - expect a fine of around £300. For persistent offenders there is a power under the Bylaws for Police to seize vehicles and/or any other item connected with the offence and apply to the Magistrates for it to be forfeit to Her Majesty."

Driving on the Plain

Oops!
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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We ride on the plains a lot, normaly start out around the Bustard pub for cooffe, most of the marked roads have a muddy track running along the side if you are into that thing. we have been stopped once and had our names taken but we were in an area that we should not have been in.

Most of the time we say hello to the warrdens and pass the time of day, they are only doing there job and trying to keep people safe. Its the tossers on motocross bikes that they are after.

Keep to the tracks and you will be fine, let us know when you are going down next, another good meeting place is the 303 services at Amsbury.
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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Ye I saw that AJ; hence this enquiry. I hear they can give a £60 spot fine if they catch you on the tank "ramps"...although it was fun doing a 45 degree slope up...and down

We are going down over the next bank weekend. Most prob camping at Wykes Down near Andover. Good steaks and ale!!!
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Old 23 Apr 2007
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My dad used to drive tanks over that way when I was a kid... I stopped even thinking of going anywhere near where you 'shouldn't' be when my dad came home and told us he'd killed a motocross rider who was coming over a tank ramp.... sad day.

m
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Old 24 Apr 2007
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Come to the Andover Rugby club on the 7th 8th & 9th July to the annual UKGSER Hograost and you'll have a good chance to explore the plains with a local guide. It's become an annual pligrimage and aside from a few bruises and odd broken limbs it seems to be a fine event. More infor over on UKGSer* ::::* For BMW GS Enthusiasts search under hograost (note raost spelling not roast !!! ....it's a long story)
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Old 24 Apr 2007
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  #11  
Old 25 Apr 2007
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Hi get your self a copy of OS MAP 184 Salisbury and the Plain
And have a look at this site and off you go
http://www.army.mod.uk/ate/public/salisplain.htm

If you look on the map to the south and a bit west of Salisbury there are lots of good lanes around that area well worth a look
I find the plain gets a bit boring after a while it’s all very much the same

If you are up for it let me know and we can meet up for a ride out

That’s if wishfull traveller doesn’t mind getting his bike dirty

Her are a few shots of our last run up there
Bob

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96495
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Old 28 Apr 2007
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Xrv.org.uk
Some of the XRV bods ride there on a fairly regular basis...I've posted the question here also...

Salisbury Plain Question... - Honda Trail Bike Forums
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  #13  
Old 29 Apr 2007
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I go up there a helluva lot in my land rover. i live in Swindon, which is only about 1/2 hour away.

There are lots of RoW's there, but 10x more other "tracks" that the military have made, so you need to get good at map reading (or get a GPS) to stay on the legal ones.

there are "cat 1" tracks, these are all the graded and levelled tracks. the MoD allows civilians to drive on them (adhering to the by-laws... 30mph speed limit etc) but these cat1 tracks can be closed at a moments notice.

Obviously, if there are red flags flying around the ranges, then you can go in, cat1 or byway, it's out of bounds (for your own safety!)

If you drive like a tw@t there, blatantly going where you shouldn't be making an arse of yourself, then expect the wardens to give you a good rollocking, and probably the police too.

If you're genuinely trying to navigate, and get lost, the wardens are most helpful, they'll point you in the right direction. (i've been going there years and know most of them on first name terms, so can get away with a little more... :-)

PM me if you want to meet up sometime, i'm usually there once or twice a week bimbling around.

cheers

Jamie
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Old 5 Jun 2007
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As a serving soldier who has been based in Tidworth on the edge of the plain i used to ride on it on a weekly basis. In my experience the range wardens were tolerent if you dont take the mickey, ie road legal bike, proper riding gear.

there are set areas which are more heavily patrolled than others, the very obvious cross country driver training area behind the barracks at Tidworth is a case in point.

my best advice would be if you see a range warden drive over and say hello rather than attempting to do a runner, they do occasionally have access to helicopters and the local police co-operate in joint patrols, especially at the weekends.

as well as the plain it self there are some reasonable trails heading out through shipton belliger to the South of tidworth towards boscomb down and around collingbourn woods to the NE.

Any further questions ask

38th foot
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  #15  
Old 5 Jun 2007
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illegal laning of course puts everyones hobby at risk, so don't do it!! sometimes on the plain it is impossible not to accidently off road illegally because when a tank drives along some grass it instantly makes a new track, so navigation can be very difficult, but as has been said, don't kick the arse out of it and at least make some pretence at driving legally and there shouldn't be many dramas.

Bear in mind this is where the army trains, and trains seriously, in new and exciting ways to kill people so behave accordingly, this stuff doesn't hurt just a little bit!

Go get your jollies on the army's off road driving course and you will deservedly be nailed to the nearest wall and shot!
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