Glass? Crag?

[Ian Hunt]

Once the truck's completely sorted I plan to change the tyres for some slightly less road biased and join one of the above & have a dabble at some gentle, local (Peak District) green lanes (ok.. to be honest I have tried out a couple in the old bus already).

I've been looking round "Wayfinder" and it's really useful, although it seems that most have defected to "Trailwise"... I think I need to join Glass or Crag to get full access to the latter.

So... which one? Any benefits or advantages between them? I understand that Glass is the original organisation & it appears that Crag is the young pretender and was set up a few years back by folk that disagreed with Glass's organisation or ethos.

I'm really keen to drive a few of them but don't want to attempt anything that a standard TII won't manage, or find myself in a 'situation' with other right of way users or land owners. I've lived in the Peak for years, I rock climb, go walking, cycling, and see how fragile the landscape can be, have seen damage caused by the 'irresponsible' and consequently heard the inevitable negativity towards 4WDs that I'd rather avoid.

Climbers, walkers, bikers etc suffer from access issues too & I know of certain landowners that still try to make things difficult even following the right to roam etc.

Basically I'd like to glean as much info as poss before playing out; avoid confrontation, and not get too stuck (as I might have my young daughter along for the ride!).

So, back to my original question.... Which is best? & why? etc

Cheers all,

Ian

 

[Terranosaurus]

I'm a GLASS rep so will inevtably say join GLASS but tbh I don't think theres much in it really. GLASS is the bigger organisation which is a full member of Lara and thus has abit more clout but the important thing I'd say is to join one or the other.

The proper Wayfinder has gone and been replaced by Trailwise which as you say doesn't have full functionality for non members but is still pretty good. The remaining Wayfinder was set up by one of the IT guys involved in the original who as these things do decided he knew best for whatever reason and st up a second site. The base info was the same but updates since vary - best bet is use both and see what info there is to be had as both rely on users and users in different areas prefere one or the other and thus each can be more upto date than the other in different places.

 

[makeitfit]

Hi Terranus, how can Glass help us reopen the gap road.
Some twonk in power has closed it for good It used to be open twice a year for a month at a time. Now it's gone
How come no one gets to know about this krap till it's too late:doh
Also seems the sarn has gone the same way now just because some windmills are being built.
I feel a protest coming on:naughty

 

[Terranosaurus]

Just had a quick look on the GLASS site and the simple answer looks like it can't be reopened.

It appears to be another victim of NERC and specifically the Winchester case - the upshot of which is it actually lost its vehicular rights of way in 2006 and the old TRO with it opened for a month here and there was just a carry on from pre NERC and not necessary a it was closed all along.

Sorry for the bad news but thats how it goes - its our damn government that introduced NERC and thats what closed it nothing could be done locally once NERC was passed and the Winchester case that basically killed out best chance at an exception to NERC was te last nail in the coffin.

I'm not sure if its too late but the only remaining option may be to prove motorised vehicular use prior to 1930 - but thats going to be a difficult one.

 

[Terranosaurus]

As for Sarn - from GLASS forum by regional rep

"As far as I know it's open June 1st until the day before August Bank Holiday this year, so 3mths legally.

I think I have a council email address for NPT buried away somewhere if you need to double check.

This is for the lower BOAT from Aberdulais to Banwen if no muppets have trashed it further over the winter. Above this is now Restricted Byway if I'm right, being re-actively monitored by Dyfed Powys Police."

 

[Ian Hunt]

GLASS is the bigger organisation which is a full member of Lara and thus has abit more clout but the important thing I'd say is to join one or the other.

Hi. Came across LARA whilst googling; 'Land Access and Recreation Association'
Why not join LARA? Is that an option I'd not even thought about?

Seems crazy to have organisations competing if they have a similar or the same agenda.... It's a minority interest, after all. Split factions sounds like a death knoll; as an outsider looking in...
I hope not..........

 

[lacroupade]

I joined CRAG twelve months ago and won't be renewing my subscription.

Put simply, the ONLY communication I've had in that time is a request for next years subs. Not so much as a stinking newsletter. and their website is woefully out of date.

:nono:nono:nono:nono

 

[Ian Hunt]

I joined CRAG twelve months ago and won't be renewing my subscription.

Put simply, the ONLY communication I've had in that time is a request for next years subs. Not so much as a stinking newsletter. and their website is woefully out of date.

:nono:nono:nono:nono

Any experience of GLASS or LARA?

Ian

 

[lacroupade]

Any experience of GLASS or LARA?

Ian

Only what I've heard - Terra can give you better insight into whatever they do to keep their membership informed

 

[Terranosaurus]

LARA is an umbarella body for various user groups so GLASS and TRF (Trail riders federation) are members of LARA - not sure if you can become a personal member but you wouldn't get anything from it even if you can. There are also a number of professional bodies that are members of LARA IIRC.

GLASS wise, quarterly A4 colour magazine, Website is regularly updated, forum is pretty active and local meets - but as with many clubs you get out what you put in. They are all run by volunteers and we all have a finite amount of time available to do stuff.

 

[Ian Hunt]

So far, it looks like GLASS is the winner.
I'm slightly surprised. If CRAG is a more recent alternative, I'd have expected them to be really on the ball with regards to communication, material, publishing etc etc.
At first glance I thought they looked preferable, I figured the 'access rights for all' stance, seemed more encompassing & politically smoother than the '4wd' bias of glass.
Anyway... gonna be a couple of weeks to a month till I make a choice. So further info and opinions would be great.

Ian

 

[Terranosaurus]

Why not go along t your local meet for each body and decide from there - you don't need to be a member to attend.

 

[Ian Hunt]

Why not go along t your local meet for each body and decide from there - you don't need to be a member to attend.

Sounds like good advice, might just do that if I'm around when they meet.
Otherwise I'll make my decision over the next couple of weeks or so based upon what I hear.

Ian

 

[extreme-4x4]

i wouldnt waste my time or effort on any of the anal organizations .... none have any clout none of them have as far as i have seen have any balls or real interest in putting up a real fight to save lanes.

councils say they are closing the lane and they just back down

we have someone very high up in crag here as a member . ( i wont name names ) its not his fault ...... but ask this question .

out of how many lanes that got closed last year. how many got saved.

work it out yourself

 

[Terranosaurus]

We saved half a dozen in the North York Moors National park and won 1 back in the Yorkshire Dales (the most anti 4x4 national park) - they're at it again on that one - apathy won't help you hae to work the system not fight it.

 

[extreme-4x4]

We saved half a dozen in the North York Moors National park and won 1 back in the Yorkshire Dales (the most anti 4x4 national park) - they're at it again on that one - apathy won't help you hae to work the system not fight it.

how many have been lost , and how many won !

and the ones they save they just try to close again the next year