BOAT: Tennyson Trail

• Overall Rating: 0
• Location: Freshwater, Isle of Wight.
• OS Explorer Map OL29, 'Isle of Wight'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SZ350856 or SZ370851
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 67' 00" W001 50 60" or N50 66' 50" W001 47 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU481881 
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 69' 10" W001 31' 90"
• To see: too much to list.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

What an awful, heartbreaking loss to the greenlaning community this is. Due to the actions of some utter filth which were severe enough to make the national press (Daily Telegraph, Dec 28th, 2002) we have lost access to this '5-rated' byway. According to the Isle of Wight 4x4 Club, it is now illegal to drive a motorised vehicle on this awesome, 10-mile-long trail unless you hold a disabled 'blue' badge, or a taxi license, or drive a ‘community vehicle’ (whatever that is. Sunshine Bus maybe?).

Thus, this wonderful, 10-mile-long byway between Freshwater and Carisbrooke is now subject to a TRO. And that's not all: every byway on the Isle of Wight is also subject to a TRO between 30th Sept and 1st April to mitigate damage to the surface of the green lanes, no doubt instigated as a reaction to the activities of these fools. If you are going to visit, do so in summer and prepare to be very disappointed!

The idiots, it seems, have won this fight.

A loss keenly felt.