On ‘Snap Lane’ in Wiltshire, UK (2010)
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Trail Riding – What Is It ? For the benefit of readers not familiar with trail riding, I have shamelessly nicked the definition below from the website of the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), an organisation involved in preserving access to, and helping to maintain standards of, public rights of way throughout England and Wales. I am an active member of the TRF, follow its code of conduct and also edit the monthly newsletter for the Oxford Group (when I’m in the country that is). “Trail riding is exploring the ancient unsurfaced network of roads. Trail riding can reasonably be described as ‘pony trekking on motorcycles’. We ride only on those routes – public roads – which we are legally entitled to use, preferring to avoid tarmac surfaces where possible. Because these routes are legally ‘carriageways’, just like tarmac roads, we make sure that our machines are legal too, with number plates, silencers, tax and insurance, just like any other road going machine. The only difference is that our models are usually chosen for lightness and simplicity, and equipped for rough going rather than motorways. Trail riding also tests your ability at map reading and much of the pleasure of the hobby is the careful planning of a route from one point to another, using as many unsurfaced roads as possible. Experience at riding on such ‘Green Roads’ also pays dividends in improving overall riding ability, as you soon appreciate the importance of precise throttle control and careful braking on slippery surfaces.”
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I got into trail riding in 2006, when I bought a little dirt bike, joined the TRF and attended a couple of off-road courses. Since then, I have spent many happy hours on both my BMW R1150GS and my Suzuki DRZ400S exploring the green lanes in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. I have been able to make many friends through this most enjoyable activity and have also tried to give back to the community by organising trail riding orientated events, rallies and meetings.
3rd European Adventure Rider Rally in the Pyrenees, Spain (2007)
The following links will take you to ride reports showing the variety of trails, the beauty of the countryside and the camaraderie amongst the riders.
At the UKGSer.com East Midlands Do (2008)
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Trail Rides in the UK
White Horse Historical Tour, July 2006
Mystery Tour, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Hampshire, March 2007
White Horse Historical Tour, May 2008
A weekend of GS Trail Riding, June 2008
Ladies Offroad Picnic Recce, Leicestershire, July 2008
Two couples getting dirty, West Berkshire & Wiltshire, August 2008
Ladies Offroad Picnic Recce – the sequel, Leicestershire, September 2008
Snow Ride in Wales, February 2009
Two couples getting dirty – the sequel, West Berkshire & Wiltshire, July 2009
Bonfire Camping Weekend in Yorkshire, November 2009
May Bank Holiday Ride-out, West Berkshire & Berkshire, May 2010
Wiltshire Wonderland II, July 2012
“And we were flying along… ” ADV Weekend in Wiltshire, July 2013
Clogfest in Wiltshire, August 2013
The Dirty Girls
1st Quarry Weekend, Herefordshire, March 2008
2nd Quarry Weekend, Herefordshire, July 2008
Dirty Girls do North Wales, January 2009
3rd Quarry Weekend, Herefordshire, March 2009
Dirty Girls do the Isle of Man, August 2009
Wiltshire Wonderland, July 2011
Dirty Girls do Oxfordshire, September 2012
UKGSer.com Events
My first UKGSer Do – East Midlands Do, Leicestershire, September 2006
Plain Fun with Paul – Hog Raost, Hampshire, July 2007
Look nice! – East Midlands Do, Derbyshire, September 2007
Peaks, Pleasure & Pain – East Midlands Do, Derbyshire, September 2008
Pumpy’s Ride – Llangollen, North Wales, May 2010
What’s a veggie doing at the Hog Raost? Hampshire, July 2011
UK Adventure Rider Rallies (UKAR)
1st UKAR in Rhayader, Mid Wales, April 2007
2nd UKAR in Tanhill, Yorkshire, June 2007
3rd UKAR in Rhayader, Mid Wales, September 2007
4th UKAR in Graigfechan, North Wales, April 2008
5th UKAR in Rhayader, Mid Wales, June 2008
6th UKAR in Rhayader, Mid Wales, September 2008
7th UKAR in Graigfechan, North Wales, March 2009
8th UKAR in Rhayader, Mid Wales, September 2009
9th UKAR in Graigfechan, North Wales, March 2010
10th UKAR in Llangedwyn, North Wales, March 2011
March Moon Meeting in Llangedwyn, North Wales, March 2012
March Moon Meeting in Llangedwyn, North Wales, March 2013 – The White One
Hard As F*ck, Graigfechan, November 2013
March Moon Meeting in Graigfechan, North Wales, March 2015 – The Wet One
European Adventure Rider Rallies (EAR)
1st EAR in the Alps, France & Italy, July 2005
1st EAR in the Alps, France & Italy, Take II
2nd EAR in the Dolomites, Italy, June 2006
2.1 EAR in Poland, October 2006
3rd EAR in the Pyrenees, Spain, May 2007
4th EAR in the Pyrenees, Spain, May 2008
5th EAR in the Dolomites, Italy, June 2009
7th EAR in Portugal, June 2011
Trail Riding in Europe
The Anthill Tour – Portugal, October 2013
Not for the faint-hearted… Portugal, April/May 2014
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday? Portugal, April/May 2015
Tarmac Travel
9 Countries, 16 Border crossings and 3,500 miles, September 2004
France, Pyrenees & Picos de Europa, August 2005
France, Belgium & Germany – Friends Hopping Tour, August 2008
Dirty Girls do Wiltshire – July 2011
Trail Riding – What Is It ?
For the benefit of readers not familiar with the activities of the Trail Riders Fellowship, trail riding is exploring the ancient unsurfaced network of roads.
Trail riding can reasonably be described as
‘pony trekking on motorcycles’
Pumpernickel on Tour 
Hi Ella
We are sitting here (Adrian & Mick) at Dakar Motos drinking beers and thinking of where you are? Looked after your Spot Unit on the site to see if we could find you, is it to be found here?
Thumbs up and have a hell of a lifetime trip… See you on the east coast!
A & M