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Off Road Trail Riding and 4x4
Those of us who enjoy pottering about on Byways in the UK know that our pastime is threatened
by the gradual erosion of your rights to ride and drive. This situation is not going to get any better and in a few
years time it is likely to become significantly worse.
| Whilst there are some problems in parts of France, notably round Paris, we are located in
an area where off road driving and riding are positively encouraged. Correze is one of the three departments that make
up Limousin. Limousin as a region is a real off road paradise, littered with lanes (chemins verts) many of which are
virtually unused. Many are used for agriculture and these tend to be easily passable. When they are not used for
agriculture they often become overgrown. Whilst it can therefore be tricky to drive off road in some areas with a 4x4
there are few places that cannot be passed on a bike. |
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The riding here is exceptional. No other word for it. We have had groups of friends down who
rave about the riding. The only real problem that exists is that the equivalent maps to the OS maps we use in the UK
are very poor. Each local commune actually owns the lanes within the commune and so the best source for data is the
local Mairie. I have been learning the vast network of lanes and can lead runs through great swathes of forest which
seem never ending. Paradise is not too strong a word.
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Water crossings are plentiful even in Summer. In winter given that we get "proper"
weather the water crossings can get deep and there are plenty of very challenging places to get stuck. My knowledge is
thanks in the main part to a number of friends I have whenever I am down at the farm. They certainly know how to enjoy
themselves. |
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One of the most memorable rides I have had was 140 kms where the only tarmac we saw was
where we crossed the occasional road. On this particular day we ended up in forestry similar to Mid-Wales having
started in lanes that you might find in the Cotswolds. Quite superb.
In time I hope to develop this activity to run organised weekends or weeks of riding and
Enduro training on private land. However for the time being marked up maps will be in the house and the resident PC
will have Garmin GPS downloads available for visitors to upload and explore the area. |
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Deeper than it
looked! |
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