I was able to see the fb post for a couple of minutes before it rudely demanded I sign in
I saw a photo of a couple of big trail bikes going through the gate that I know clearly says no mpv beyond the gate.
The trail in question is Holford / Hodders Coombe in the Quantocks and it is a very popular walking trail. For the bikes in question it would most likely be an out and back as every other exit requires some steep and narrow climbing.
I see evidence of dirt bike tyres on the trails all around the Quantock hill, mostly in less walked locations and on occasion have seen riders on both mx and registered bikes, so am aware that there are a few naughty folk out there.
If you can pass silently and leave no mark on the trail, it probably doesnt matter how you ambulate but a group of excited motorcycle riders, moving at a speed greater than a walker, will always cause a reaction .
And eventually a head of steam builds into legislation that seeks to deal with the problem.
Hodders Coombe is an undisputed bridleway with no evidence of vehicular rights.
There are permissive vehicular routes over the Quantocks however.
The Great Road (Track) from West Quantoxhead to Holford is a bridleway which is also a permissive Byway
The same is true of the bridleway from the Great Road south passing Bicknoller post and Halsway post on the way to Crowcombe Coombe gate, and I think this extends as far as Triscombe stone.
I know this because on my second visit to the Quantocks I took a wrong turn and after finding my way back to where I should have been met an AONB Quantocks ranger who kindly gave me a map showing the permissive vehicular routes which I foolishly did not copy before donating it to the Devon TRF archive
I was once accosted near Halsway Post by an angry rambler who warned me of a police patrol ahead who 'would arrest me'. He refused to believe me about the permissive nature of the route but the police knew better and it was gratifying to see the police vehicle reverse off the track to allow my group to pass and get a salute in return for my wave of thanks. I was glad to have done research before riding.
The most traffic I ever saw on the lanes there was when the hunt was out. I decided a week day would be quieter than the weekend and boy was I wrong about that. Landrovers, quads, motos, horse riders and cyclists everywhere regardless of signage. They cause significant disruption and I saw no wildlife all day.
I have vivid memories of a very angry man blocking my way with a chainsaw in each hand like a character in some horror movie and demanding to know where I thought I was going. He mellowed on discovering I was not a hunt follower and I empathised with him over the disturbance the hunt had caused on his land the previous day roving widely without permission. Again I saw no wildlife where it was common to see a herd of red deer most days.
Sadly the majority of the ways there were once Roads Used as Public Paths and since the Natural England and Rural Communities Act of 2006 the vehicular rights thereover have been extinguished so I no longer lead rides on the Quantocks. I do plan an e-bike excursion at some stage in the future as the riding is excellent with so many deep long coombes close together skirting the long narrow ridge of high ground and will post information about this when I get around to it in case anyone wants to join me.
Waste of time posting facebook links not everybody uses facebook so unable to view this not going to sign up just to read someone's rant
Well someone read it and as a result you responded so perhaps not, did not ask or expect anyone to sign up just to read it and dont know why you assumed it was a rant..
Just thought if anyone recognised the bikes they could help the riders understand where they could ride legally and how not to bring out pastime into disrispute.
Seldom use this site anymore and have just been reminded why
-- Edited by jt on Wednesday 8th of October 2025 05:04:46 PM
