UK expeditions?? Are they worht it? Or close alternatives??

Me and a friend are looking into doing an expedition but seeing as the vehicles are older (93 & 96) I dont want to disappear too far away, also I would like to keep costs down at the moment as I got an expensive year...

So I have seen a few UK ones, are they worth it? Is it just a guided tour of green lanes or is it worth the £150 per vehicle to get guided around and have accomodation sorted out?

Also where is there in EU thats close and worth a trip? Northan france, alps maybe??

Jon

What you talking about, a long weekend or a week or two. If you do the research yourself get more pleasure out of it and save enough to tank up a couple of times. EMM will have a long weekend in the not to distant future.

Why would you want to pay someone to escort you around lanes when it can be done for free?

That would be a good challenge lands end to John o'groats via as many green lanes as possible, avoiding motorways and A roads completely.

wickford90 said:

What you talking about, a long weekend or a week or two. If you do the research yourself get more pleasure out of it and save enough to tank up a couple of times. EMM will have a long weekend in the not to distant future.

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Long weekend or a week, 2 weeks would be too much I reckon but possibly an option, 10 days maybe, a week would be better though... Whats the EMM plan? That may be an option, 'twas a laugh the other night, driving home with half a ton of ice stuck in me front guards was interesting though...

nathan5346 said:

Why would you want to pay someone to escort you around lanes when it can be done for free?

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Because I have no idea where I would be going, it wouldnt be lanes anywhere near me, I can and do them whenever, it would be maybe wales or up north somewhere (im in essex). Also you get accommodation in with this and its organised, not just turn up and see what happens


For £150 it sounds interesting, thing is I want more of a challange than some muddy lanes, I want a bit of rock crawling, water, all sorts really...

There are three sites in Northern France which I have personal experience of. All within One and half hours drive from Calais

Villian - Small site so you would not want to be there more than one day. You also need to stop driving for two hours lunch (Noise restriction) But not a bother in the summer if you flash up the BBQ as we do.

Hesdin - Large off-road site with camping facilities and bar. Better than any site I have used in the UK. The guy (Alaine) will take you laning if you ask nicely.

Marquenterra - The site is huge and is only One & half hours drive from Calais. It is 95% sand driving. There are campsites close by.

I don't agree that two novices should go laning on their own. I have been offroading and laning for years and it won't be the first time I've seen people get into sticky stuations that could have gone pear shaped. Join an off-road clob near you and tag-a-long with them. If there are none near you I can recommend The Kent Off Road Club. They are not a million miles away from you and even have navigation days for novices ....and it's all free.

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Jongould said:

For £150 it sounds interesting, thing is I want more of a challange than some muddy lanes, I want a bit of rock crawling, water, all sorts really...

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Pay me the £150 and you can follow me round the lake district

Discodad said:

Pay me the £150 and you can follow me round the lake district

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I'll join in


You can pay mum and dad too we've got a BnB

muddyfox said:

I don't agree that two novices should go laning on their own.
http://www.thekentoffroadclub.proboards.com/index.cgi

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Where does it say they're novices?

blue beasty said:

Where does it say they're novices?

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I could have got this all wrong of course but....

"Me and a friend are looking into doing an expedition"

I wouldn't call green laning in the uk an expedition.

"but seeing as the vehicles are older (93 & 96) I dont want to disappear too far away, also I would like to keep costs down at the moment as I got an expensive year..."

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a 93 or 96 vehicle for travelling "too far" and if they had done so in the past or researched the subject they would know that many myself included, prefer older engines which are easier to repair...if they go wrong.

If they were not novices, I'm sure they would not be looking to pay someone their hard earned cash to take them laning.

As I say I could be wrong....but I don't think so.

muddyfox said:

I could have got this all wrong of course but....

"Me and a friend are looking into doing an expedition"

I wouldn't call green laning in the uk an expedition.

"but seeing as the vehicles are older (93 & 96) I dont want to disappear too far away, also I would like to keep costs down at the moment as I got an expensive year..."

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a 93 or 96 vehicle for travelling "too far" and if they had done so in the past or researched the subject they would know that many myself included, prefer older engines which are easier to repair...if they go wrong.

If they were not novices, I'm sure they would not be looking to pay someone their hard earned cash to take them laning.

As I say I could be wrong....but I don't think so.

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Were not novices no, I was asking about UK 'expeditions' as I have no experience of them and was asking if they are simply greenlaning somewhere or a bit more involved, private land and hidden gems as such, I dont want to pay £150 for something I can do locally but if it turned out they had a nice piece of rock crawling or something else then it may be worth it, from what I can see it doesnt look all that challanging and I want a challange.

As for the vehicles, your right, theres nowt wrong with older ones and I have got the confidence in mine but as I have only had this one 6 months I wouldnt want to be taking it on a 1000KM off road expedition anywhere just yet. I know the 300TDi is a better engine and thats the reason I went for it but I have no idea how good the diffs, clutches, wheel bearings e.t.c. are so I want to put a good few miles on it before going off too far. Also the second vehicle is a Suzuki Vitara that we have had for 2 weeks at the mo, really not sure on that one, its solid but its a suzuki so who knows

But anyway, I like your idea of maybe going northan france and doing a few static sites although I dont want to get all the way there to end up in another bures pit. I think im gonna gibe it a bit more thought, if the UK ones are just lanes its not worth my money, if they had some extra bits then maybe but instead I will tag along with EMM if they are going to do a long weekend.

Jongould said:

Were not novices no, I was asking about UK 'expeditions' as I have no experience of them and was asking if they are simply greenlaning somewhere or a bit more involved, private land and hidden gems as such, .

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Nope they're just green lanes..

redhand said:

Nope they're just green lanes..

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Cheers, that was kinda what I was expecting hence the thread, was hoping for some hidden gems or something but oh well, stick to laning for this year, abroad next maybe...

Not much wrong with a Vitara. They would have benefitted from a solid front axel. The front shafts are prone to snapping if you dont know when to back off when off-roading. The rest of the motor is very reliable. I prefer the 8v engine to the 16v engine, which I have found to suffer from overheating issues.

Travel Blog: Overlandlyn2010's Great Adventure
This is a blog of our travels in 2010-2011and also a video
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muddyfox said:

Not much wrong with a Vitara. They would have benefitted from a solid front axel. The front shafts are prone to snapping if you dont know when to back off when off-roading. The rest of the motor is very reliable. I prefer the 8v engine to the 16v engine, which I have found to suffer from overheating issues.

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Yep, they are good, I may end up doing a live front axle conversion if we keep it, its a bit tinny and rattely but its OK, if it survicves this summer then we will go all out on it, if it doesnt then he wants to get a disco next...

i have been on a guided tour £150. they are good so far as they show you which lanes you can legally drive and there is a bit of support if it goes wrong with your vechile 10 miles from anywhere.
They do use normal green lanes that anyone can access however they give you some advice on potentially tricky areas, some that i would not have tried on my own- big drops if you mess up. We did however make note of all of the lanes they took us on and have since been free of charge!

any group worth its salt would do that. Come along on a free trip and see if you are disappointed.

If there are any free trips due soon, would be interested.

craigie222 said:

i have been on a guided tour £150. they are good so far as they show you which lanes you can legally drive

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That may not always be the case. 12 months later some of those lanes may have a TRO in place. Worth checking trailwise for pointers and take another vehicle if you are unsure about 'obstacles'.

G