Green Lanes - Our Heritage
This is what is left of the ancient Millenium Way 1 mile south of Sky Hill
This is what remains of The Millenium Way just 1 mile south of Sky Hill. The original track lies under this text.
This is damage alongside the Millenium Way on Skye Hill. As you can see areas like this have been badly damaged by off-road motorbikes. What has happened to this ancient track symbolises what has been allowed to happen to many other green lanes across the Isle of Man.
The aim of this website is to draw attention to the damage being caused to our Island’s green lanes and greenways by motor vehicles, such as scramble bikes, quads and 4x4 off-road vehicles being driven where the tracks are not suitable for the purpose.
Many of these lanes have ancient origins and are part of our heritage, having originally served as drovers’ tracks for the movement of animals, people and goods by packhorse and cart. They are the original grass tracks across the hills and along the valleys, but their soft surfaces were never intended to bear the burden of modern vehicles. The result has been a rapid deterioration and destruction of these ancient byeways and the surrounding landscape as riders damage them and then leave the designated routes to explore parts of the Island, such as hill tops, where bikes are not permitted .
Measures are being taken throughout the UK to combat this issue, with restrictions and closure of green lanes to motor vehicles. As a result, more off-roaders are visiting the Isle of Man, which is seen to be unregulated in this regard.
Ordinary people who want to walk or ride the green lanes on horses are being denied the right to use these lanes because many have been seriously damaged and rendered unsafe for horses.
Unless we act soon our precious heritage and landscape will be ruined, and the ability to enjoy our hills for peaceful purposes other than off-road vehicle driving will disappear, as well as the opportunity to develop a sustainable, low-impact tourism economy.