Quads on Lugnaquilla

quadsofflug

Please have a look at

http://www.quadsofflug.com

As you may be well aware quad and scrambler bikes are doing much damage to hill areas in Ireland. This site is hoping to raise awareness of the problem and to try to stop the damage.

Wicklow Mountains National Park are responsible for protecting the Wicklow Hills (not just the National Park), the more pressure they come under the more likely we are too see more serious action being taken to stop this nonsense.

Please helps raise awareness by promoting this site in whatever way you can.

Thank you for your help.

SNAKEDOC

i just had a look at your web site. fair play to you. its idiots like that that destroy our countryside for future generations. I camp on ocasion near lug with the permission of the rangers who are a fine group of people and i'll be sure to keep an eye out for any bikes from now on, keep up the good work

Would be careful about pics, after all I would have thought a farmer going about his work should be allowed to use them (though not sure of the law) without fear of beaing labelled some thrillseeker. But apart from that, fair play, they are a generally use disgracefully and can cause terrible damage.

SNAKEDOC

farmers don't pull dounuts on the summit of lugnaquilla. or drive around with mad colourful lether suits on with helmets and goggles. you#ll recognise a farmer by his hat or green trench coat. thrill seekers dress a bit different:D

loobylou

The website specifically states that legitimate use of quadbikes by farmers IS permitted.

SNAKEDOC

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

thrill seekers dress a bit different

Down in Kerry, the line between boy racer and farmer can be a bit blurred!

Know young fellows who fly around in quad bikes tearing up the countryside and some lovely hills around here and who look just like the crowd that should be banned...but they happen to be farmers working on their own land, albeit with a little bit of a thrill along the way.

Not defending anyone btw, really more the owner of that site. In these litigious times, a pic on that site of a person who happens to be a farmer going about his work could simply result in a defamation case.

SNAKEDOC

i think you can tell the difference between a farmer out on bhis own quad checking cattle or sheep or whatever and a person out just for a laugh. All i'm saying is the line is a bit more clear cut than you think. obvoiusly before running out taking a picture and sticking it on a web site saying "look look they are destroying the countryside" you must take stock of what you saw and take apropriate action. call the duty ranger number one. give a description. if on a public road call the gardai number two. if you are beside a group of lads obvoiusly out to rally the hills make it known to them that the ranger is on his way and photograph them if capable of doing so. when in doubt let the pros handle it. to me anyway it is pretty much like common sense.

SNAKEDOC

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

All i'm saying is the line is a bit more clear cut than you think.

Maybe in Lug - and I appreciate the site is really about Lug - not down around where I live though in South Kerry. Loads of young fellows around here have quads, and obviously loads of them are farmers. And lots of them will be validly out working, but will tear it up a bit and will fly around the place. Know one hill where I walk a lot that has been carved up, and its a shame, but on the other hand I can say hand on heart that it was all done by fellows at work because I happen to know them all and they have sheep out there.

Slogger Jogger

Just read an article in today's Irish Times to say that the Minister of the Environment has banned quad bikes (except for agricultural use) in a list of areas inc. Blackstairs, Wicklow mountains etc. Thats all well and good but how do they enforce such a ban.

Cookie_Monster

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Just read an article in today's Irish Times to say that the Minister of the Environment has banned quad bikes (except for agricultural use) in a list of areas inc. Blackstairs, Wicklow mountains etc. Thats all well and good but how do they enforce such a ban.

they don't just like the way bike and horses and what not are banned from way-marked paths, like the wicklow way, yet there is zero enforcement of this except by some dedicated walkers who try their best to inform those they meet

FrostyJack

In a related topic :

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/climbers-leave-a-holy-mess-on-croagh-patrick-2280591.html

They should build an incinerator at the top and anyone who leaves rubbish there should be thrown in it, then the rubbish

Evil Phil

Mountaineering Ireland wrote:

If you have any photos or details of where this activity continues please email access@mountaineering.ie.

Taken from their article here.

jwshooter

i live under the blackstairs , i have made many complaints to coillte who owned some heather on the white mountain . every friday nite its a party up there . the locals are going mad
the bikes are parking in the coillte forest and then racing about onto the hill
we dont have the time or money to stop them ,was my answer by the forester in charge .

Cookie_Monster

jwshooter wrote: »

i live under the blackstairs , i have made many complaints to coillte who owned some heather on the white mountain . every friday nite its a party up there . the locals are going mad
the bikes are parking in the coillte forest and then racing about onto the hill
we dont have the time or money to stop them ,was my answer by the forester in charge .

:mad:

500 quid fine every time they are caught will give the money to enforce it...

joewicklow

Its not just Lug in Wicklow either. Silsean and the track to Moanbane are also destroyed by Quads.
The quads were doing donuts around the summit of Silsean, its going to take years for the ground to go back to the way it was.

Cookie_Monster

Quads banned article today

quadsofflug

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/mindless-quad-bikers-ripping-up-our-mountain-beauty-spots-2283223.html

dave45dave

Whingers the lot of you. Been a quad owner myself id rather ride my quad on the roads , but as this ***ked up country goes , nobody will insure us. Id say this goes for a lot of quad owners. Ban wont stop the 10 to 15 of us that go out.

Cookie_Monster

dave45dave wrote: »

Whingers the lot of you. Been a quad owner myself id rather ride my quad on the roads , but as this ***ked up country goes , nobody will insure us. Id say this goes for a lot of quad owners. Ban wont stop the 10 to 15 of us that go out.

well I really hope you get the €5,000 fine and then you may learn. :mad:

Donny5

dave45dave wrote: »

Ban wont stop the 10 to 15 of us that go out.

Arseholes, the lot of you.

Merch

guess thats the mentality you are dealing with ignorance

dave45dave

dave45dave wrote: »

Whingers the lot of you.

Not sure that's fair. You must be aware of what a quad bike can do to the landscape, that is a bit of a childish comment.

dave45dave wrote: »

Been a quad owner myself id rather ride my quad on the roads

That's fair enough.

dave45dave wrote: »

as this ***ked up country goes , nobody will insure us.

Not sure that is a Government decision, presumably one taken by the insurance companies because of all the claims lodged by quad bike owners messing and getting injuries, or of course causing damage to land.

dave45dave wrote: »

Ban wont stop the 10 to 15 of us that go out.

Again, that's just childish again. Can't stop us or nuttin anyway...sniffle...

The 10 or 15 of you going out won't stop us taking photos, contacting the authorities and making complaints, giving statements etc. etc. and doing all those things that concerned citizens should do to uphold the law of the land and to ensure those who break it get a fine. Do these things come with a criminal conviction by the way?

Good luck with driving quads along roads, but don't expect people who like the flora and fauna of this country to be happy with the sight of these things tearing up our hillsides.

dave45dave

Dont think this new law is worth the paper its written on , all im saying is people have hobbies and there trying to stop this. How do they plan on catching people on quads and scramblers. Im not trying to be a gob****e or anything im just stating facts.

dave45dave

dave45dave wrote: »

Dont think this new law is worth the paper its written on , all im saying is people have hobbies and there trying to stop this. How do they plan on catching people on quads and scramblers.

Of course, whether you think it's worthy or not is irrelevant, unless you're President McAleese. My hobby was setting fire to the sides of mountains and hiding bags of rubbish in woods so I do sympathise with you and your protests. Again, people wondered how they'd stop us, it took a few concerned photo happy citizens, a few Judges who love the peace of the country and gave whopping fines, but in some areas the message is slowly getting through...

Evil Phil

Donny5 has been banned for a week for his last post.

duckysauce

dave45dave wrote: »

Dont think this new law is worth the paper its written on , all im saying is people have hobbies and there trying to stop this. How do they plan on catching people on quads and scramblers. Im not trying to be a gob****e or anything im just stating facts.

:rolleyes: they are not stopping your hobby , they are stopping the hills getting ripped up to bits, you are free to on your bikes just not in certain areas.

quadsofflug

dave45dave wrote: »

all im saying is people have hobbies and there trying to stop this.

Nobody's trying to prevent you engaging in your hobby, just restricting where you can engage in it. The problem is, you engaging illegally in your hobby is interferring with my enjoyment of my hobby. Lots of people have hobbies that are restricted, if I go out and buy a fishing rod I can't just fish wherever and whenever I like.

It's up to you to find a way you can legally engage in your hobby. Look at what these guys are doing www.leinster4x4.ie. They've leased forestry from Coillte so they can engage in their hobby, they can drive around to their hearts content without disturbing anyone or anyone disturbing them. Why can't quad and scrambler bikers do something similar?

dave45dave

Im not even going to answer that last stupid question. Its not like your going to get knocked down walking up and down hills.

dave45dave

dave45dave wrote: »

Im not even going to answer that last stupid question. Its not like your going to get knocked down walking up and down hills.

Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha. Very good!

I take it someone is pretending to be a quad bike driver and faking stupidity. Noone could be this dumb, it must be trolling.

Evil Phil

I'm locking this for a few days to give everybody a chance too cool down. Here's a few things to ponder while you do:

1. It's the "anti-quad" school who have been the moderator headache in this thread.
2. This is the outdoor pursuits forum not the hill walking forum, so I'm glad we've a quad-biker involved in the discussion. It is a shame I seem to be the only one.
3. Anymore personal abuse in this thread and the poster(s) responsible will be banned permanently. Hill walkers, I'm looking directly at you.

quadsofflug

dave45dave wrote: »

Im not even going to answer that last stupid question. Its not like your going to get knocked down walking up and down hills.

You've lost me I'm afraid!

If you mean it's fear of getting knocked down that preventing me enjoying my hobby - it's not. It's that I find it heart breaking to see a place I love being mindlessly destroyed - like going to your favorite picnic spot and finding it covered in rubbish.

The only question I asked was why can't quad bikers get together and organise somewhere that they can go legally instead of breaking the law. I can't see what's stupid about that. There are some places already in existance, there's that place beside the M6 and I believe there a new track in trim. And surely there must be a lot of underused sand and gravel pits all over the country these days. It seems more sensible to me to spend a few quid to get somewhere legal to go than to risk a 5000 euro fine and having your quad taken from you. But maybe I'm missing something?

gsxr1

That would be grown over in less than a year. FACT. I know because I mark enduro race tracks annually. The same tracks each year. When we come back each year, its like there was never a bike there. ever
The countryside is Massive .. So a little tiny bit of growth is dug up!!! What is that. 1/5 acre LOL Smaller than the car park that was dug out of the mountain so you could park and walk.

.. live and let live for a change...
dry up. the land will.


like 500 people walking the same trail does no damage. :rolleyes:

sooo sick of crap from the ever righteous walking brigade..

gsxr1

.....

gsxr1

gsxr1 wrote: »

That would be grown over in less than a year. FACT. I know because I mark enduro race tracks annually. The same tracks each year. When we come back each year, its like there was never a bike there. ever.

Which is fair enough. On the other hand I have seen a few quads tear a track along the side of a hill in winter that fills with water which runs along it, stripping it, and leaves a scar that cannot be so quickly replaced. Would you accept that this happens?

gsxr1 wrote: »

The countryside is Massive .. So a little tiny bit of growth is dug up!!! What is that. 1/5 acre LOL Smaller than the car park that was dug out of the mountain so you could park and walk.

Fly tipping covers such a tiny area of land too. Less than 1/5 acre a time on average I'll wager.

gsxr1 wrote: »

dry up...
sooo sick of crap from the ever righteous walking brigade..

Steady on.

gsxr1 wrote: »

like 500 people walking the same trail does no damage. :rolleyes:

That is valid. Not sure anyone here likes to see 500 people marching along a trail though. I don't.

gsxr1 wrote: »

Do you really think the garda are going to enforce this. If they could. Do you really think they would catch them. No.

I trust you are not supporting anyone breaking the law?

gsxr1 wrote: »

And its never going to stop.

Um, the recent legislation suggests they may be taking steps to do just that. I thought they'd never stop us smoking in pubs, I got that wrong.

gsxr1

Deleted User wrote: »

Which is fair enough. On the other hand I have seen a few quads tear a track along the side of a hill in winter that fills with water which runs along it, stripping it, and leaves a scar that cannot be so quickly replaced. Would you accept that this happens?



Fly tipping covers such a tiny area of land too. Less than 1/5 acre a time on average I'll wager.



Steady on.



That is valid. Not sure anyone here likes to see 500 people marching along a trail though. I don't.



I trust you are not supporting anyone breaking the law?



Um, the recent legislation suggests they may be taking steps to do just that. I thought they'd never stop us smoking in pubs, I got that wrong.

I accept i was a little harse on my last posts . Wine induced . sorry for any offence caused.

I do accept that
trench marks would be left behind by something like quads, but are hardly noticeable to anyone after time. These guys are more than likely following a trail that existed anyways. I know it pisses walkers off as it makes a mess in the short term.
I do believe these anti motorsport groups have got their priority's all wrong. close to me is a bog that has been completely destroyed by peat harvest, most to be sent to the UK for gardens. Not one bit off wildlife or vegetation is left to see for miles.
When this is going on it seems a shame that a few lads on quads who do little or no long term damage are being targeted.


I dont really care for bylaws put in place, so large groups or organisations such as walkers can have everything up there to themselves. As an offroad rider I feel this is the case.
I cant speak for the bog in question, but we use the forests(which is all going to be harvested in years to come anyway.)
I know that the garda dont care for these bylaws as I have been stopped on the way out of the forest. Covered from head to toe in mud, Asked for tax and insurance and let told to clean off my lights and reg. and sent on my way. Thats it.

the forestry dont care. As long as no one gets hurt up there. People riding and walking up there has no effect on their job at all. I do take exception to riders who speed on fire roads . And our group is quick to remind others to slow down .


instead of setting up websites and clubs to fight these guys. Why not approch them and set a side an area that they can use. Keep the noise in the one place. Somewhere out of sight. they would follow

Im telling for a fact. They wont go away and no one will be able to stop them. They have fast vehicles that are designed to move through that ground . Who can catch them? rules or no rules. They wont care. Its their sport and they will find a way to keep going. This may be wrong and unPC.
If I where to set up a rule that states you are not allowed on a public hill, would you follow it. Im guessing no.

compromise is the only way walkers are going to deal with this.

cavedave

Is banning and opening a hunting season on quads the best path?

Climbers have a governing body and between the MCI and other climbers there is fairly good self regulation to stop destruction of the countryside. Climbers do not bolt every available space because the MCI who they respect tells them not to. And because other climbers seriously frown on unnecessary bolting.

Cavers in a similar way don't access certain caves where the land owners do not want them. This again is done through the national body (the SUI) and other cavers who frown on people who act in ways that give the sport a bad name.

If the quad bikers set up an organisation that advised them on suitable locations and if the they started enforcing reasonable behaviour amongst each other might this not be a solution?

gsxr1

gsxr1 wrote: »

I accept i was a little harse on my last posts . Wine induced . sorry for any offence caused.

No offence taken.

gsxr1 wrote: »

I do believe these anti motorsport groups have got their priority's all wrong. close to me is a bog that has been completely destroyed by peat harvest, most to be sent to the UK for gardens. Not one bit off wildlife or vegetation is left to see for miles.
When this is going on it seems a shame that a few lads on quads who do little or no long term damage are being targeted.

I agree with the first paragraph. On the other hand, I do not agree that a few lads on quads who do little or no long term damage are being targetted. For myself I am just dealing with the quads that tear around hilldsides doing long term damage.

gsxr1 wrote: »

I dont really care for bylaws put in place, so large groups or organisations such as walkers can have everything up there to themselves. As an offroad rider I feel this is the case.

I suspect a lot of walkers feel the opposite, that roads like the old Kenmare Killarney road were churned up by scramblers for years and not one thing was done about it, and even now there are few places you can go where you can guarantee that you won't be greeted by the sight of tracks signalling that quads have torn it up first.

gsxr1 wrote: »

I cant speak for the bog in question, but we use the forests(which is all going to be harvested in years to come anyway.)
I know that the garda dont care for these bylaws as I have been stopped on the way out of the forest. Covered from head to toe in mud, Asked for tax and insurance and let told to clean off my lights and reg. and sent on my way. Thats it.

To be honest, the thought of quads whizzing around commercial forests doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, as I like to walk on open hills and mountains, for me it is the ideal location for them, and as you correctly say these places will not exactly be preserved forever.

gsxr1 wrote: »

Who can catch them? rules or no rules. They wont care. Its their sport and they will find a way to keep going. This may be wrong and unPC.

I guess that's what sites like the one the subject of this thread are for, the aid any prosecution and get evidence for the authorities.

gsxr1 wrote: »

compromise is the only way walkers are going to deal with this.

Well you and I have already agreed one, leave me the open hills, you keep the ugly forests!

dogmatix

cavedave wrote: »

If the quad bikers set up an organisation that advised them on suitable locations and if the they started enforcing reasonable behaviour amongst each other might this not be a solution?

This would be a good idea - if I knew scramblers and quads would be frequenting area-A on the weekend, I would happily plan my hike for area-B.

A possible problem with this is that the quad/scrambler activity appears to attract a certain significant anti-social element, at least in those areas close to Dublin. I could not see that sub-section of quad/scrambler users taking any notice of such plans and they would continue to go where ever they wanted.

And of course on the other side, there would be always some walkers would would make a point of walking in area-A because they feel they have a right to do so.

But if the quad/scrambler fraternity where to set up their own organisation and plan something like the above it might eventually work. It would be better then the current situation anyhow.

gsxr1

dogmatix wrote: »

This would be a good idea - if I knew scramblers and quads would be frequenting area-A on the weekend, I would happily plan my hike for area-B.

A possible problem with this is that the quad/scrambler activity appears to attract a certain significant anti-social element, at least in those areas close to Dublin. I could not see that sub-section of quad/scrambler users taking any notice of such plans and they would continue to go where ever they wanted.

And of course on the other side, there would be always some walkers would would make a point of walking in area-A because they feel they have a right to do so.

But if the quad/scrambler fraternity where to set up their own organisation and plan something like the above it might eventually work. It would be better then the current situation anyhow.

most scramblers are of the mountains by 12-1am to be home for dinner and the motogp.

cavedave

How were mountain bikers looked upon ten years ago? I vaguely remember warnings that they
1. Destroyed the land
2. Were a dangerous menace to walkers
3. Stole children's dental enamel

Now mountain biking gets loads of people into the outdoors, has clubs that organise paths. It has parks set up around the country. They are so much part of the mainstream they used them on that tourism add with the CGI whale.

I don't think mountain bikers ever had the same level of reputation scramblers have now. And mountain bikers like the rest of us are far from perfect. But I still think there might be hope to make quad bikers/scramblers respectable.

quadsofflug

gsxr1 wrote: »

I do accept that trench marks would be left behind by something like quads, but are hardly noticeable to anyone after time. These guys are more than likely following a trail that existed anyways. I know it pisses walkers off as it makes a mess in the short term.

I'm afraid I can't agree with you about it being short term damage. Look at this photo...



The damage in the foreground was caused by bikes, there was no track here before bikes started going up Lug a few years ago. This is not short term damage, it will never recover, it's eroded right down to the rock. the track you can see on Lug in the background is exactly the same - it will never recover either. This is not the same kind of damage you see after an enduro event. I completely agree that the damage caused by those event soon disappears and have no problem with them whatsoever. However the summit of Lug is a very different place to the forests, growth is very slow up there and vegetation recovers much, much more slowly - its just not a suitable place for vehicles of any kind.

They have now started a parallel track coz the existing one has become too eroded, the same thing will happen to that. Will they then start a third track - when will it stop? Remember there was no track here at all four years ago.

More photos on www.quadsofflug.com

gsxr1 wrote: »

I do believe these anti motorsport groups have got their priority's all wrong. close to me is a bog that has been completely destroyed by peat harvest, most to be sent to the UK for gardens. Not one bit off wildlife or vegetation is left to see for miles.

That sounds like a perfect place for quad and scrambler bikes to go I personally feel the same way about forestry - I couldn't care less what you do in there. I'm not anti-motor sport, I just feel that not everywhere is suitable for it. There are plenty of places suitable for motorsports but not vulnerable open hillside.

gsxr1 wrote: »

They wont go away and no one will be able to stop them. They have fast vehicles that are designed to move through that ground . Who can catch them? rules or no rules. They wont care. Its their sport and they will find a way to keep going. This may be wrong and unPC.

There's at least one prosecution pending in the Slieve Blooms at the moment - so much for you'll never catch us.

It's NPWS not the gaurdai who are responsible for enforcing the new laws and they do care! In the UK it's been hill walkers reporting where the vehicles are on the hills and which direction they're going that have resulted in prosecutions. If the rangers know where the bikes are all they have to do is wait at the bottom for them to appear and nab them as they come back onto the road.

So hill walkers, mobiles to the ready! Details of who to call are on quadsofflug.com or the NPWS website.

dogmatix

cavedave wrote: »

How were mountain bikers looked upon ten years ago? I vaguely remember warnings that they
1. Destroyed the land
2. Were a dangerous menace to walkers
3. Stole children's dental enamel

I have vague memories of this too - but I don't think it was ever seriously accepted, probably because the evidence was never that strong. This is not the case with regards to scramblers and quads.

Personally I don't and have never had any problems with mountain bikers (and pony trekkers).

Mickeroo

Mountain bikes are nowhere near as destructive as quads. Both quad biking and mountain biking are something I have enjoyed in the past, but they are both sports which are much more enjoyable, IMO anyway, on purpose built trails.

I see a previous poster remarked that the country side in Ireland is "massive", the sad fact of the matter is that this country is starved of any natural lansdscape, we have some of the smallest and least biodiverse areas of wilderness in europe, technically really we don't actually have any wilderness as all our "wild" areas and national parks are products of deforestation and over intensive agriculture, be it connemara or the burren.

Wanting quads out of areas like Lugnaquille is not walkers being self righteous or wanting the mountains all to themselves, at least in most cases anyway, its people wanting to preserve what little wildlife and wide open spaces we have left and also preserve a vital aspect of our countries heritage. I have loved the mountains since I was a child and I love everything to do with them, the mountains in Ireland,though small compared to other countries, are a beautiful and unique environment that should be cherished and respected by everyone who uses them be they walkers, climbers or bikers.

pberetta

ASK ANY ONE THATS LIVING AROUND LUGG, HILL WALKERS ARE NOT THAT POPULAR THEY BUY NOTING IN THE LOCAL SHOPS WANT TO USE THE TOILETS IN THE PUBS AND STILL BUY NOTING BRING THERE PACKED LUNCH AND DONT ALWAYS TIDY UP TRESSPASS AND THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGTH OF WAY THROUGH FARMERS LAND I USE MY QUAD TO LOOK AFTER SHEEP ON LUG AND WALKERS LOOK DOWN THERE NOSE AT YOU SO DONT THINK YOUR ARE GODS GIFTS AND OWNED THE PLACE

dogmatix

pberetta wrote: »

ASK ANY ONE THATS LIVING AROUND LUGG, HILL WALKERS ARE NOT THAT POPULAR THEY BUY NOTING IN THE LOCAL SHOPS WANT TO USE THE TOILETS IN THE PUBS AND STILL BUY NOTING BRING THERE PACKED LUNCH AND DONT ALWAYS TIDY UP TRESSPASS AND THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGTH OF WAY THROUGH FARMERS LAND I USE MY QUAD TO LOOK AFTER SHEEP ON LUG AND WALKERS LOOK DOWN THERE NOSE AT YOU SO DONT THINK YOUR ARE GODS GIFTS AND OWNED THE PLACE

1. Using a quad for work purposes can't be argued with. No problem there. You will always get a minority of people in any activity who will look down on others.
2. I would disagree with the generalisation about walkers being litterbugs - my own experience is the opposite.
3. I was not aware of there being any shops in and around Lug to support - apart from the glenmalure lodge.

Donny5

dogmatix wrote: »

I was not aware of there being any shops in and around Lug to support - apart from the glenmalure lodge.

Maybe he's talking about the Glen of Imaal side.

Alun

Donny5 wrote: »

Maybe he's talking about the Glen of Imaal side.

There's not a huge amount over that side either .. there's Fenton's pub in Seskin (if they actually decide to open), a shop in Knockanarrigan (I think?) and a shop and 2 pubs in Donard, and that's about it as far as I can see.

hmmm

Alun wrote: »

There's not a huge amount over that side either .. there's Fenton's pub in Seskin (if they actually decide to open), a shop in Knockanarrigan (I think?) and a shop and 2 pubs in Donard, and that's about it as far as I can see.

Fentons is always packed with hillwalkers, he could make more money on sunny weekend days if he had 2 people serving. Donard tends to be lifeless, but it's too far out of the way anyway for walkers. It's not like the pubs there have made any effort to get hillwalkers into their premises.

It's a real pity going to Wales & Scotland (and the Lake District) and see the effort the local communities go to to encourage walking tourism, and then compare that to what happens over here. The Glenmalure lodge is one of the few places in Wicklow that seems welcoming to walkers and they do very well out of it (at the weekends at least ). There's a pub in Roundwood where the owner seems to actively go out of her way to scowl at hillwalkers and as a result has driven two clubs with several hundred members elsewhere.

dizzle with ur frizzle

wats wrong wi the odd one or two lads on quads up lug for a day out, not riping up the hills, jus takin it easy, gettin a break from all the hassle and dat from the recession, ive always been mad bout hills and views and wildlife. if i went up i wudn be riping it up.

dizzle with ur frizzle

pberetta wrote: »

ASK ANY ONE THATS LIVING AROUND LUGG, HILL WALKERS ARE NOT THAT POPULAR THEY BUY NOTING IN THE LOCAL SHOPS WANT TO USE THE TOILETS IN THE PUBS AND STILL BUY NOTING BRING THERE PACKED LUNCH AND DONT ALWAYS TIDY UP TRESSPASS AND THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGTH OF WAY THROUGH FARMERS LAND I USE MY QUAD TO LOOK AFTER SHEEP ON LUG AND WALKERS LOOK DOWN THERE NOSE AT YOU SO DONT THINK YOUR ARE GODS GIFTS AND OWNED THE PLACE

this person is dead right, i was up one day on my quad. i took my time, wen i got to top i stopped, said hello to a walker, he didn say hello back but looked, are all walkers this up tight thinkin they are better then me cause i had a quad, tell uz walkers one thing, if i was up lug in snow and bad conditions, and came across a hill walker that had fell and had hit his/her head and hurted themselves badly, but had no way of getting help, well id be first to get u down off lug.. bet uz wud only be happy to jump on then.. so before u all criticize people for being up on quads, just think that maybe some day u might be happy to see some one a quad.... yes i do agree that some spots are slightly damaged, but wat wud be worse, a man talkin a spin across lug or him goin into a town, robing a car, driving it up under lug, in a forest, setting it on fire, prob setting alight to wood and animal habitat.. so its like this, some people like walking, some like goin for a spin, a bit of lee way is neede here:mad:

duckysauce

dizzle with ur frizzle wrote: »

this person is dead right, i was up one day on my quad. i took my time, wen i got to top i stopped, said hello to a walker, he didn say hello back but looked, are all walkers this up tight thinkin they are better then me cause i had a quad, tell uz walkers one thing, if i was up lug in snow and bad conditions, and came across a hill walker that had fell and had hit his/her head and hurted themselves badly, but had no way of getting help, well id be first to get u down off lug.. bet uz wud only be happy to jump on then.. so before u all criticize people for being up on quads, just think that maybe some day u might be happy to see some one a quad.... yes i do agree that some spots are slightly damaged, but wat wud be worse, a man talkin a spin across lug or him goin into a town, robing a car, driving it up under lug, in a forest, setting it on fire, prob setting alight to wood and animal habitat.. so its like this, some people like walking, some like goin for a spin, a bit of lee way is neede here:mad:

Thats why there is a mountain rescue team , this thread is also a year old.