Salisbury Plane Sustrans tracks - surface ?

"David Lowther" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I would like to hear from anyone that knows what the surface
of the Sustrans traffic free* route on Salisbury Plane is like.

* Does that include tanks :-)

900KB pdf route map:
http://www.dlowther.demon.co.uk/temp/plane.pdf

GPS route in GarTrip text format (plain text OS grid refs):
http://www.dlowther.demon.co.uk/temp/plane.txt

I'd like to know things like:
o Are these hard packed chalk tracks
o Are there any sections where the track is grass.

BTW: Anyone know how to find out when the tracks are
open / closed (assuming they are closed when there's serious
military stuff going on) ?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Dave.

I drove this very route just last weekend. The track from the Bustard
northwards is metalled in places but has patches of large aggregate
surfacing. the track running east/west is all stoney track. Easy on any
sort of bike with some off road ability. Generally apart from actually
getting onto the plain there are few inclines.

Mostly the plain is open at weekends and bank holidays. I think they
publish in the local paper what the access restrictions are but I can't find
anything on the web. If you're local of course you'll see the flags from
some distance away. Be aware that even when there are no flags flying you
can still run into the occassional armoured vehicle!

In my opinion that area of the plain is [censored] cycling. The scenery is pretty
bland and it is always windy! However you do get to see road signs you
don't see too often (danger from explosives, etc). On a motorbike it's
great fun but I guess here that's largely irrelevant.

Matt

"Matt" wrote

Quoted message said:

"David Lowther" wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I would like to hear from anyone that knows what the surface
of the Sustrans traffic free* route on Salisbury Plane is like.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I drove this very route just last weekend. The track from the Bustard
northwards is metalled in places but has patches of large aggregate
surfacing. the track running east/west is all stoney track. Easy on any
sort of bike with some off road ability. Generally apart from actually
getting onto the plain there are few inclines.

Mostly the plain is open at weekends and bank holidays. I think they
publish in the local paper what the access restrictions are but I can't
find anything on the web. If you're local of course you'll see the flags
from some distance away. Be aware that even when there are no flags
flying you can still run into the occassional armoured vehicle!

In my opinion that area of the plain is [censored] cycling. The scenery is
pretty bland and it is always windy! However you do get to see road signs
you don't see too often (danger from explosives, etc). On a motorbike
it's great fun but I guess here that's largely irrelevant.

Thanks very much for the info.

Dave.

"Matt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I would like to hear from anyone that knows what the surface
of the Sustrans traffic free* route on Salisbury Plane is like.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I drove this very route just last weekend. The track from the Bustard
northwards is metalled in places but has patches of large aggregate
surfacing. the track running east/west is all stoney track. Easy on any
sort of bike with some off road ability. Generally apart from actually
getting onto the plain there are few inclines.

<snip>

Matt,

Thanks for the detailed info.

Dave.