Wye Not 2025

The Wye Vallley has history. I’ve led a green laning 4×4 tour there 5 times, yet never completed the route. The nearest we got was 95% – one lane could only be descended not climbed. We’ve encountered trees down, breakdowns, un-driveable slippery climbs, collapsed walls, badger spoils, torrential floods and pretty much everything else nature can throw at us.

This time, determined to reach the bitter end, I ran the tour in the summer. Dry and sunny – THIS time we’d triumph!

Unsurprisingly, the score was 90% – a major landslip blocked the most challenging route which we abandoned, BUT what a trip!

Before 0930 we had enjoyed fixing a broken propshaft and a failed starter motor but headed off with expectation of a great day out. The lanes did not disappoint. 

In the summer the dry ground is so much harder than winter and the trip is in many ways more challenging – we were shaken to pieces. Two vehicles with roof racks meant we needed to clear some fallen trees that we had previously squeezed under, and the summer overgrowth meant that many lanes really were madly overgrown – but it was a superb experience. 

Everyone survived, we all got to do some sawing and chopping and the views were outstanding. A unanimously great day out. ‘That was unbelievable today mate ! Best lanes I have ever done’ was a good summary by one of the crew.

Keep an eye out for dates the next time we run the Wye Valley 4×4 Tour.