Ramblers VS the Army

[Evilgoat]

Like this one is gonna last long :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6097866.stm

[muckmoses]

Havent you worked it out yet? The country side was put there for Ramblers and Ramblers only?

No one else is allowed to use the country side, farmers, game keepers, no one.

[Frankie-Boy]

My vote goes to the Army, I can just see new targets, ones with bobble hats.

 :(biglaugh):

[Skibum346]

Oooh... I can just see the range officers in action...

With a magazine of 30 rounds... LOAD!
Prone position.... DOWN!
Targets will appear at random, be moving, will accelerate when fired upon and fall when hit.
WATCH & SHOOT... WATCH & SHOOT!

 :(biglaugh):  :(biglaugh):  :(biglaugh):  :(biglaugh):

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Don't these people ever give up? Are they aware that the land that the MOD looks after is known to be some of the best preserved and ecologically diverse in the UK, and has won awards to thar effect? And why is that? Because hordes of tartan flask carrying, red sock and bobble hatted killjoys haven't been able to access it.

[Devon-Rover]

lol. I found that story to be of certain interest.
Yes i use the moor for walking or when i'm out training groups in navigation etc..etc..
But the army actully don't spend a lot of time out there. see the Firing notices and that theres is a huge amount of time where the moor is accesable for one and all. The moor shows very little damage from the presence of the MOD being there. The only evidence of them being there is the red and white marker posts, the military ring road and the flagpoles. Thats it, It's doesn't look like the somme. The whole damge thing is utter rubbish.
Yet again the ramblers association thinking that the land should be free to them whenever or where ever they feel like it. It is complete rubbish.
They cannot comprehend the fact that the army need the area to train so to be ready for any terrian or wilderness on the planet. Without the army being able to train in such areas we wouldn't have such an effective army who can defend the country in times of war.
The sterotypical rambler on the moor is very much few and far between. As it is a true wilderness out there. Miles from any civilisation and where the weather will change very quickly, It can be very bleak and desolate out there. And it's only during the summer months that you'll see a few of them on the outer fringes ( within an hour of a carpark)
You can walk around the interior of the moor for a day and you wouldn't meet many people, the hills are empty. So anyclaim they have that they have a greater usage is make bellive.

Along side that the MOD and having their training area on the moor brings lot so of money into the local economy, they employ local persons to help with the running of the training areas. I know a few chaps who go out and raise the flags and the lights, who then spend hours out there making sure no bobble hatted idiot (His words not mine) wanders into the training area. The lads out on leave will spend their money n the shops and local pubs / clubs. again adding to the local economy. Without the army training on the moor the local economy will suffer.

Also the lease is with the duchy of cornwall. And although the amount of money is unknown it is a fair amount. And know if we think hard enough we'll realise that the duchy of cornwalls lands are owned by a certain duke of cornwall. Yes prince charles. He makes millions through the duchy and the lands they rent out to farmers and the military. So who know thinks that they will refuse a lease to such a good provider of money and local income and who the boss is a royal?
Sorry but the RA no matter what their campaign is on a losing battle.

The ranges website can be found here. http://www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk/ And have a look and judge for yourself.

BTW lord shag-pyle I like your avatar picture. If he was alive today he would have wanted the army to continue training.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

BTW lord shag-pyle I like your avatar picture. If he was alive today he would have wanted the army to continue training.

Cheers matey, it's my rebellious streak coming out again. I dare say if he was alive, he would be shaking his head in bewilderment at was is happening in this country at the moment.

Imagine it.

"No, I'm sorry Sir Francis, you can't have any more trees for your ships, Ye Olde Greene Partye have lobbied against it, but they have found you a canoe made from woven grass and snot to use.
Yes, I know that the our fellow europeans are sailing up the Channel, but hey man, perhaps they are just coming to say hello and be friendly. I mean we are all one Union now.
By the way, are your bowls made of ecologically friendly softwood? You can't use ebony or oak ones, you might strain your back if you pick them up! And anyway bowls encourages competitivness, which is just like, uncool man. The Privy council have decided to ban it."


Can you just nip down to Buckland Abbey and beat a resounding tattoo on Drake's Drum to wake him up? His country needs him.

[datalas]

From the Article ... "It's a splendid area. There are superb views across to Exmoor, but if the army is firing across the range you cannot go there."

Seems fair enough to me, we just remove the restriction and let them go there when the army are using it as a firing range,  thye claim they want freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility and risk...

[mmgemini]

BTW lord shag-pyle I like your avatar picture. If he was alive today he would have wanted the army to continue training.

Cheers matey, it's my rebellious streak coming out again. I dare say if he was alive, he would be shaking his head in bewilderment at was is happening in this country at the moment.

Imagine it.

"No, I'm sorry Sir Francis, you can't have any more trees for your ships, Ye Olde Greene Partye have lobbied against it, but they have found you a canoe made from woven grass and snot to use.
Yes, I know that the our fellow europeans are sailing up the Channel, but hey man, perhaps they are just coming to say hello and be friendly. I mean we are all one Union now.
By the way, are your bowls made of ecologically friendly softwood? You can't use ebony or oak ones, you might strain your back if you pick them up! And anyway bowls encourages competitivness, which is just like, uncool man. The Privy council have decided to ban it."


Can you just nip down to Buckland Abbey and beat a resounding tattoo on Drake's Drum to wake him up? His country needs him.

Brilliant.
Keep it up.

Drake knew how to treat the Spanish like Nelson knew how to treat the French.

They are both needed right now in England.

[barmiebrumie]

I'm with datalas -- let them walk there at all times    them bobble's could be nice colourfull targets in someones sights :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

Hang on, belongs to the duchy of cornwall, that's HRH Prince Charles isn't it? can't imagine he'll have that much truck with ramblers.

[Devon-Rover]

On that point. The view point best used to see exmoor is not technically inside the range. It is called cosdon hill But if your lazy enough it's easyier to drive out on the road ( that the army put there) and then walk for almost a KM on a track ( that the army put there) ( both of which are inside the range) to then walk over a ridge. and up the slightly less steeper side.

But if they wanted too they could walk up a steepish hill 360 meter height gain for a2KM and reach the top and still have the view firing or not.

the other is Yes tor High Willhays group. which is within the firing range boundaries. But again it is fairly easy to walk up as when there isn't firing you can drive your car to within 1.5 KM of the tor and walk up a track. to the top. Agan the road and the track was layed down by the army many years ago.

The army tracks make the life of the many farmers who make a living out of the moor and iot's grazing animals (in between the army training without a problem) and the MRC Dartmoor when they have to go rescue some bobble hatted idiot ( again there words) who has gone out and got lost. I have found these tracks a good send when i was out recovering a group who was a little worse for wear and the weather had closed in. Again i thank the army for A providing the tracks for me to get the landy out there B providing an OP for the group to shelter in.

The army also use the Okehampton Training camp as a base for the annular Ten Tors walk. Those not familiar with it see the Ten Tors website and follow the links.
I'm not 100% but should the army pull out then the camp will close and the event will not continue as it isn't through the armys support that the event is able to continue.
This would be a great loss and the benefits to the many thousand young people who take part every year will be lost.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

Hang on, belongs to the duchy of cornwall, that's HRH Prince Charles isn't it? can't imagine he'll have that much truck with ramblers.

I feel a creative urge coming on.

Picture the scene

A bright sunny winters day and the Royal shooting party have just returned to Sandringham/Balmoral.
They are discussing the 'bag' for the day.

HRH Queen: Have you had a good day?
HRH Phillip: Of course we have, we bagged a few of those bl**dy pests!
HRH Queen: Do you mean rabbits?
HRH Phillip: Rabbits? Is that what they were? I've never seen rabbits wearing woolen bobble hats!
HRH Charles: Honest Mother, I told him look out for the ramblers, not rabbits, but he wouldn't have it. He kept on about them having big buck teeth.
HRH Queen: Oh God, he shot Janet Street-Porter!
HRH Phillip: And your problem is what exactly?
HRH Charles: He has got a point, Mother.
HRH Queen: When she's been stuffed, where shall we put her?


Wishful thinking.

[Skibum346]

HRH Queen: Have you had a good day?
HRH Phillip: Of course we have, we bagged a few of those bl**dy pests!
HRH Queen: Do you mean rabbits?
HRH Phillip: Rabbits? Is that what they were? I've never seen rabbits wearing woolen bobble hats!
HRH Charles: Honest Mother, I told him look out for the ramblers, not rabbits, but he wouldn't have it. He kept on about them having big buck teeth.
HRH Queen: Oh God, he shot Janet Street-Porter!
HRH Phillip: And your problem is what exactly?
HRH Charles: He has got a point, Mother.
HRH Queen: When she's been stuffed, where shall we put her?

Class...!

Just looked at the firing schedule.... each of the ranges is used about 4-5 times in the last quarter of the year... for live firing. OK, there may be other training taking place but that doesn't restrict the interfering rabbits....erm... you know who I mean!

Jeez...

MAybe it's an alien entity has taken over the body of a rambler who is also in Greenpeace... this is their plan to take over the world without being noticed.     :(thinkhard):

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

What is the most excritiatingly horrid sound?

Janet Street-Porter dragging her front teeth down a blackboard.

That, or Janet Street-Porter openeing her mouth and talking.

[Manicminer]

Don't these people ever give up? Are they aware that the land that the MOD looks after is known to be some of the best preserved and ecologically diverse in the UK, and has won awards to thar effect? .

There is an old MOD firing ranges not far from here and it's the worst polluted site in the area.

[jjsaul]

Don't these people ever give up? Are they aware that the land that the MOD looks after is known to be some of the best preserved and ecologically diverse in the UK, and has won awards to thar effect? .

There is an old MOD firing ranges not far from here and it's the worst polluted site in the area.

linked or just coincidence though?

[Manicminer]

It was used from the late 1800's up until the 1960's and the MOD just pulled out without doing any clean-up as would be required by the Environmental Agency these days.
It's full of unexploded artillery, handgranades, mortars,etc. Phosphorous shells are common.

[Skibum346]

It was used from the late 1800's up until the 1960's and the MOD just pulled out without doing any clean-up as would be required by the Environmental Agency these days.
It's full of unexploded artillery, handgranades, mortars,etc. Phosphorous shells are common.

It's a fair comment but there is a diffirence between the efforts of today as witnessed by the previously quoted awards, and the practices of, even taking the latest date... a diffirent era.

Skibum

[Skibum346]

Must campaign for a mud club spell checker!   :oops:

[lenster]

spent six months in the late eighties on patrol around the falklands. when i could i put my boots on and yomped across the islands. the local military issued me a map of the mined areas that they knew of, left over from the war, they also gave me a piece of yellow ribbon with a tag that read ' if you find a mine do us a favour and tie the ribbon around it!!!' i,ve walked and climbed many hills and mountains around the world, what sickens me most is the attitude of the rambler. their so called freedom to roam has been earned by the blood sweat and tears of hundreds of our county's lost brothers. i bet that they still wear their poppy with pride next month!! so if when your out getting your defender dirty, do your country proud: run 'em all down.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

I did read somewhere that the Ramblers Assoc was an offshoot of the 1930's British Communist Party. I wonder if that has any bearing on the matter?
re the reply about the polluted MOD site, my apologies. I wasn't aware of that. I do know that in the reports from English Nature the MOD do come out well, with one of the best sites being Porton Down. Apparently the flowers grow 'very' well and you really don't want to mess with the rabbits.
Quoting Python, they have 'great big pointy teeth' and make you soil your armour!

[Manicminer]

Maybe the people that *want* to have access to all areas should be rounded up and made to walk in single file across the Ranges. See who bottles out first

[the loon]

Seems fair enough to me, we just remove the restriction and let them go there when the army are using it as a firing range,  thye claim they want freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility and risk...

datalas - ever thought of running for parliment :?:

You already got my vote just with that sudgestion  :lol:

[LandRoger]

If the MOD didnt own Salisbury-plain God knows what it would of become
by now,they (MOD) do loads of conservation work on the plain including
introduceing all sorts of wild birds back onto the plain + plants trees etc,
we dont suffer from the Rambler problem -the plain is not popular with
them-maybe because they have to give way to 80ton Battle tanks 8)
Long may the MOD own the area -they are by far the biggest employer in
the surrounding areas  and keep the plain looking as it should WILD,

[schuee]

In the imortal words of Kenny Everett.

"Round 'em up, put 'em in a field ( on Dartmoor ), and BOMB THE B#**%#*S! ...


 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[att]

Has anybody found a use for a rambler yet :?:

[Mudlark]

From what I remember of the ranges on North Dartmoor they are open every weekend and public holiday plus school holidays to the public without the non firing times throughout the year.

Comparing north and south Dartmoor the north is far cleaner, untrampled and inhabited by many spieces of wildlife. Unlike south Dartmoor where you find litter shoved under, and into crevases of the tors, has rutted paths on the sides of tracks where ramblers 'prefer to walk on soft terrain' and multitudes of disturbed birds nests and dead young of abandoned wildlife.

It goes without saying that ramblers are hated by professional walkers as much as the members of this forum.

[Priglet]

If they want access so badly why don't they join the army and get paid to be up there?? :lol:  :lol:

[datalas]

It goes without saying that ramblers are hated by professional walkers as much as the members of this forum.

we're hated by professional walkers ?  Waaah ...   :sobsob: oh, wait, I see what you mean :)