millband

Does anyone know of any beaches in northern England or in north Wales which you can drive on? ie safe and solid and not too many kiddies and donkeys . I really fancy a blast on a lonely piece of sand (I'm missing the snow!)

Anyone done it who can comment on the after-effects on the car too? Any damage to brake disks etc?

Cheers!

Steve

Tim Bomford

If you don't mind S.Wales then try Pendine sands I think it is a 7 mile stretch at low tide and cars are allowed.

Tim

GaryC

You can still drive on Southport beach, but Ainsdale is nearer (for you) bigger, and with less people etc

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Daytona Beach was a laugh to drive on, plenty of babes and sun. With my huge, hired 4x4 there was nothing to worry about if I broke it!

Oh sorry, you only want to know about GB. Doh!

F

Murray53

I thought the beach below the high tide mark was open to the public for any purpose, public safety issues aside.

I and some friends used to ride bikes on a beach, transported to the beach in a van. The problem we had was getting the bikes to and from the van, across the higher part of the beach, without being spotted by the police.

However, before going on the beach, consider - sand and salt, a corrosive and abrasive environment.

But have fun anyway.

M

cryptwalk

You used to be able to drive on southport beach m8 which is north way

Dont know if you still can, but its worth a try.

Don't know what effect this would have on your car though.

You could drive on it for miles, so finding a empty stretch should be no problem.

millband

Cheers Guys. I was wondering if anyone had bad experiences trying to get the sand out afterwards (ooo-er!)

Tim - Pendine sands was the site for various record speed attempts wasn't it - where is the access for this if I'm every down that way and want to set a record

Gary - Is Ainsdale the one near "Mad Wharf" on the map? Sounds promising!

MorayMackenzie

I wouldn't drive on a beach again after spending over two hours using a compressed airline, brush and 4 post lift in order to remove most of the sand it picked up... not a simple point a jetwash underneath and hope job. you really don't want sand corroding your chassis, afterall.

JayDee

Used to be able to drive on the sands at Morfa Bychan, Porthmadoc.

But watch what you are doing - I went there a few years ago in the Range Rover and went bowling off down the beach.

I suddenly noticed that the car was leaving 6" deep tracks behind. I had to turn round quickly and smoothly without stopping, otherwise I would have been stuck and lost the car to the waves when the tide came in.

Make sure the sand you drive is decently firm.

JD

RON

I drove on a beach in Ireland once, (not in a scoob) and I only managed to pull it out, with some help from more tourists, after about an hour just as the tide was about 4ft from the car, to say that I was panicing would be a 'very' small understatement.
Ron

Mick

iTrader: (1)

I hired a Toyota Landcruiser in OZ - went to Frazier Island - completely made of sand - brilliant fun but the hire company do show you some scary photos of vehicles with just the roofs showing out of the water and warn you that you are liable for ANY water damage - Makes you slightly less arogant

Mick

millband

OK, OK - so it's a bad idea! Maybe next time I've got a hire car... that'll be next month when I have the courtesy K-reg Justy while my front bumper is replaced (lorry reversed into me at traffic lights - bugger)

Steve

Tim Bomford

Just head to Pendine sands and there is a slip way to the beach. The sand is hard and pebble free but I never had the nerve to get on it!

Tim

GaryC

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by millband:
<B>

Gary - Is Ainsdale the one near "Mad Wharf" on the map? Sounds promising![/quote]

No Ainsdale is the one near "Ainsdale" on the map about 5 miles south of Southport

Ian Griffiths

Southport is alright but its nowhere near smooth enough to do any sort of speed on. Sideways stuff would be well hairy.

If you do go ahead though, I bags a ringside seat for the show

millband

Yes, I spotted that - but I though "Mad Wharf" sounded a much cooler place.

I'm backing off the idea of sand driving now - given all the bonkers peeps on this board, if the only persons to have done it then spent hours cleaning the car and have nothing but scare stories, then it must truly be "a bad thing"

I know when to take advice!

Steve

MorayMackenzie

Steve,

It was fun... don't get me wrong... but the time taken to get as much of the corrosive sand of the chassis as possible put me off doing it again. I also drove a ~400bhp supra twin turbo on the sand that day... interesting.

The really amusing bit was that after I had some fun... powerslides and doughnuts anyone? ... the local hot hatch boys decided to have a go... one guy worked out that the nearest you can get to "doughnut"ing a cavalier is to apply full lock and floor it in reverse... ho hum.

Moray