Ramblers

[LandRoger]

Been out on the Wilshire end of the Ridgeway today, i have never come across so many ignorant people in one day -deliberatley walking in middle of road  sticks held out as wide as possible and walking at a snails pace while looking over shoulder to see our reaction , irate woman dog walker giving one finger salute  claiming that we were responsible for the rutted track  , people  giving us drop-dead looks for no reason  that goes for 95% of ramblers we encountered  ,, our friendly waves and word s of thanks fell on deaf ears , i for one am not having any more they can eat my mud  , no more niceities  spoiled our day - my 13 yearold grandson commented that it was mostly (old people)  who should know better ,

[gords]

...who should know better ,

You would think so, wouldn't you :roll:

So far, we have not come across anyone that bad ... which is lucky as I 99% always have my children with me (6, 4 & 2). I don't really want to have to explain their actions :x

The only thing you can do is be polite whatever and avoid any conversations.

[Eeyore]

Its a darned shame that people feel the need to be so derogatory about things they just don't understand (or rather, don't want to understand). :roll:

The only words of encouragement I can give is to say that if we let them grind us down, then they will have that little bit more control over us.

Keeping our dignity is probably the thing that'll grate with them the most!

Your grandson clearly has a fine head on his shoulders!

Hope your next laning is a happier experience!

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[J B]

you will find this alot on the ridgeway

the ramblers have claimed it for their own, despite it being a byway :roll:

last time i drove it, a jogger ran by giving it large with the expletives, with our kids around aswell :shock:

the ridgeway is a very high profile battle ground between ramblers and motorists

to be honest, they can have it, it offers no more a challange than a nice drive with great views, and youll find better off roading elsewhere, but if its a pleasent green lane your after, then few are nicer on a sunny day, ya see for miles, but the ramblers will try and ruin it for you :twisted:

[strapping young lad]

look

no matter how nice or how hard you try to appease this feeling they will not change their opinion of the 4-wheeled variety traipsing "on their footpath"

they think its not for vehicular use, no matter what you tell them, and even if you prove it they will say its not supposed to be used by nowt other than humans and horses i guess.

next time u see a rambler in a car park, do the same thing, telling them this is for vehicles and not for walking upon ;)

the temptation is to bite which is what they want and it frustrates them even more if you dont and kill them with kindness.

ignore their looks, be patient with their slow walking pace, just prey its gonna pee down like there's no tomorrow and see how they feel when your aircon is keeping you toasty warm.. :)

thinking about it, when the weather isnt favourable most lanes are deserted... funny that, i thought ramblers enjoyed the outdoors whatever the weather....

[muddyweb]

Thankfully, we haven't experienced it too much... our approach with their 'mobile road block' is to pull up and put the kettle on :-)      If they approach you to moan... offer them a cup of tea...     tends to be very disarming ;-)

[Wanderer]

Stick with it Pazuki.
Give them a smile and a wave.

Acting the same way as them only reinforces their idea that we are all louts, hooligans etc etc.

We know that's not the case and if anything it's them that are the louts, hooligans etc etc...

When I've met with grief and smiled and been nice to them you can see them seething when you look in the mirror.

Have a nice day works quite well. :lol:

"Was he being sarcastic or did he really mean it?" It gives them something else to think about while they still have a few more miles to walk to their destination.

[jnoshea]

Thankfully, we haven't experienced it too much... our approach with their 'mobile road block' is to pull up and put the kettle on :-)      If they approach you to moan... offer them a cup of tea...     tends to be very disarming ;-)

Nice tip  :D I can feel myself getting smugly calm already just thinking about it. I do like a nice hot drink out in the countryside.

[hobbit]

Pity you dont know where there car is parked, you could block it and go for a walk

Or really be mean and block a narrow section of a path, making them struggle

But seriously, dont let them grind you down, you have as much right as they do to be there

[C C]

I recall going to a public Inquiry some years ago. It involved an appeal to make a RUPP into a Byway.
The inspector rejected the Byway in the end but that’s another story. I went along out of interest. One thing that struck me as the day went on was the local villagers and some opponents to the Byway gradually realising that the Land Rover club members present were just ordinary family people just like them selves. That they were not some sort yobbish madmen hell-bent of ripping the country side apart.
This is why I think it is very important to present ourselves as reasonable people enjoying the country side just as the ramblers are. Not rising the bait is essential. Muddyweb is spot on with regards to walking roadblocks. How stupid they will look ambling along with sticks akimbo and you are stopping for a brew.

Being something of a walker as well as an off-roader I sometimes meet people whom I have recently passed in the Disco while I getting the dog out of the car and preparing for a walk. It’s amazing how some people respond to a little light conversation about the weather or view etc. They no longer see the yob in the 4x4 but the pleasant man with a dog.

[chris9119]

...who should know better ,

You would think so, wouldn't you :roll:

So far, we have not come across anyone that bad ... which is lucky as I 99% always have my children with me (6, 4 & 2). I don't really want to have to explain their actions :x

The only thing you can do is be polite whatever and avoid any conversations.

gords

thats funny names for your kids ;-))

Chris

[TimM]

Thankfully, we haven't experienced it too much... our approach with their 'mobile road block' is to pull up and put the kettle on :-)      If they approach you to moan... offer them a cup of tea...     tends to be very disarming ;-)

I know James has responded to this already, but I think this is so brilliant it's worth praising again.

Positively evil in the nicest possible way!

 :twisted:  :lol:

[C C]

...who should know better ,

You would think so, wouldn't you :roll:

So far, we have not come across anyone that bad ... which is lucky as I 99% always have my children with me (6, 4 & 2). I don't really want to have to explain their actions :x

The only thing you can do is be polite whatever and avoid any conversations.

gords

thats funny names for your kids ;-))

Chris

Are you realted to 7 of 9

[chris9119]

C C

I'd love to be..... :(biglove):

Chris

[PUX]

Hi i go upto the ridge alot in the wiltshire end mainly near swindon way and find the reason is the tracks are so bad its the farmers now i have nothing against them they have a job to do... but these so called ramberlers need to look beyond there pea of a brain and start to act there age and not resort to these acts of stupidity!!! also i accept that on one or more occassion i have seen idiots up there acting like (Edit) and personnely gone out of me way to tell them to (Edit) off and stop making it hard for us genuine off roaders with respect for the areas we go to have fun and enjoy. sorry rant over i just have had enough off these people makin are lifes hard maybe we should find some stupid laws that will affect them?? see how they like it. But i belive us people are not that petty. :shock:

<Edited by Paul>

[Bulli]

its the same in derbyshire once in a while, a wave and a smile are generally disarming. I rarely feel the need to get into dialogue with anyone.
The only reason that the right to roam exists it due to the mass trespasses of the twenties, i dont think they appreciate that. We should all try to get on...that said if anyone is abusive I will always get out and argue my position..having the map handy is always a good one - look here this is a road.... winds them up no end.