Green Road Driving
On unsealed roads and tracks
Recreational vehicles in the countryside such as 4 Wheel Drives (4WDs) or motorbikes raise emotive issues about noise, pollution, erosion and conflicts with other users.
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
The NERC Act commenced on 2 May 2006 and affected Green Road Driving. For more details about the NERC Act, please see our Green Road Management page for more details, including claiming Byways Open to All Traffic status and Traffic Regulation Orders.
Routes where mechanically propelled vehicular rights have been extinguished
36 Dual Status Routes (opens Document Library), which are classed as Unclassified County Roads and a footpath or bridleway, lost their mechanically propelled vehicular status on 2 May 2006. These include Garburn Pass, Park Head Road and Walna Scar as well as three Grizedale routes.
The Act provides five exemptions to the extinguishment of mechanically propelled vehicular rights. The onus is on the user to prove that rights should not be extinguished, based on one or more of the exemptions. Until then, mechanically propelled vehicular rights remain extinguished. There are more details in NERC Act Details (PDF format, opens in new window).
Routes whose status is unchanged
74 routes remain, made up of:
- 14 Byways Open to All Traffic (opens Document Library) - account for 19km or 17.5 per cent of the remaining network
- 60 Unclassified County Roads (opens Document Library) - account for 94 km or 83 per cent of the remaining network
Maps and code of conduct
You can download leaflets and detailed maps of Green Road (opens Document Library)
Want even more visitor information?
Visit Golakes (opens in new window), the official website of the tourist board for The Lake District and Cumbria. Browse and book accommodation and attractions online and see what's on in the area.
