4 wheel drive trip

[Paul Williams]

We are going to be hiring a 4 wheel drive vehicle (sadly not a Subaru) for the whole fortnight of our next visit.
We have done a fair number of trips around the island on previous trips but wondered if our forum visitors could tell us of some safe trips that they have done off the beaten track, by safe I mean for the vehicle ie not roads that you have to reverse back on all of the way and also safe that you are not in a lonely and vulnerable position.
We do have an advanced driver in our group so I am sure he would not take any silly risks.
Regards
Paul

[Steve Wooler]

Tricky one, Paul - if only because most of the 'interesting' tracks are not officially 'public roads' and therefore, if you have an accident or 'incident' the insurance may not cover you.

One thing I love doing is simply taking a turning I've never been down before and see where it takes me. Let's be honest, you can never get truly 'lost' in Tobago and provided you've got an hour or two to spare, just taking turnings at random can lead to some wonderful sights and experiences. This even applies in mundane areas in the 'lowlands' and areas like behind Carnbee and Mount Irvine and all along the Caribbean coast. Yes, they often come to a dead end but sometimes they take you to the most unexpected places. I just wish my memory was better because so often I can't remember the details of where they go a year later.

[David Watkins]

Paul and Steve,there are some lovely places to go off the beaten track,without going on tracks.I am stilling looking for a hamlet,somewhere between Plymouth and Moriah where I had agreat lunch and lime
David

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Paul

I remember a forum post of a couple of years back about the Mot Mot trail that runs from Arnos Vale to Golden Lane / Culloden. It's an interesting drive along a roughly graded track, which is mostly level and not too taxing.

I drove the Mot Mot trail in an old Datsun (sort of got lost heading for Moriah and ended up more or less where we wanted ), but this was several years ago and I have no idea if the trace is still passable.

As I remember, there are no turning or passing places, not that you are likely to see any one else and you certainly won't be making any overtaking manouvers

I think anywhere 'off the beaten track' would mean that you were in a lonely position, but can't see any problems of vulnerability wrt personal safety unless the vehicle breaks down, so there will always be some element of risk I guess.

It's been said many time before, that unless you really want a 4X4 to go off-roading (and the insurance won't cover you for this), then an air conditioned saloon car is much more comfortable to get around in.

Cheers
Steve