Hello from Durham

ello, im from durham/newcastle area. Will have to find that lane in your pics, looks decent. Where abouts u from then?

I'm in bowburn, just off the A1. That lane I'm on is on the top of hamsterley common, I go to wolsingham and there is a turn signposted for hamsterley forest, go over the bridge and climb up the bank then you bear right and follow up the road till you reach the sign that says not suitable for motor vehicles. Through the gate then keep going to next gate then the track is the one that veers off to the left. Not advisable to go alone though because some of it is challenging ( or at least it was to me ). The route drops you down into the forest and down to the water splash called the grove. After that you can follow the route up the other side and out the top, but the better option is to turn around and drive back up the same route you came down. It's tougher going back up and I did get it cross axled but got out. I watched some defenders getting stuck at the same place and they had a real go at getting out.

Im up near Consett. Not far from Pea Farm, havent had a day there yet though.

Been going up to Castleside Quarry, its not bad up there, bit rough though.

doncarlyon wrote: Im up near Consett. Not far from Pea Farm, havent had a day there yet though.

Been going up to Castleside Quarry, its not bad up there, bit rough though.

Could you please send me some details on castle side quarry .cheers Dave

Do a 4.5'' lift!

Had a look up to castleside quarry, loads of fun.

It is ok up there, but not a very big area...

Probs be up there tomorrow if you fancy another look up.

Did you get through that water / swamp in your second last pic?

I was a bit stuck as that picture was taken, i was progressing slowly by going back and forth but gave up and got my mate to winch me out. I didn't follow the water right from the normal drop in place i came in from the side and tested it out only to find it was very claggy under the water. I enjoyed some of the drops/climbs on offer although i was suffering with clearance issues. I did the drop from the top of the shale area and just after going over the end had it stuck on it's diff looking down a nice steep hill, but got it going again but did'nt really want to power it free so took the slowly slowly approach and crawled down the drop. I added that slab under my front wheel before i did the drop in the last picture as i was convinced it was going to tip me over....I need to remove the anti roll bars because the body is just following the front axle into all the potholes.

We havent managed to get through it yet, had a couple of goes at it but its just too thick and you end up pushing the mud rather than making a track. Just been up there and its very slippy with the recent rain, found a section that we hadnt been in before though... so will have a look in there next time.

Ive got some pics uploading... will put them in my thread though, not to clutter yours.

The latest installment of operation Castleside Quarry...Found some new bits which were quite good/scary.......

What is it about mud that makes you want to go through it?????


Found a new drop that has only been used by motocrossers!!!


What happens when a large thing (the Beast) doesn't quite fit into small thing....eek!



That last picture has made me calm down a fair bit as i really thought it was going down the bank and has made me think about the danger attached to off roading.

jimny 1 green oval 0 :laugh:

must be mad trying to go down there