A hire car was recovered from the hill path above the village on Saturday, having travelled approximately 400 metres along it before becoming grounded at the second gate.
The driver, from the Netherlands, told Mr Ross that his navigation had shown it as a through route. Mr Ross confirms that it does, on some systems, and that this is the fourth such recovery this year and the second at that gate.
The recovery
The vehicle was removed by tractor in eleven minutes. Mr Ross charges £180 for this and describes the rate as “the same as it was, which is the problem”.
The car was undamaged apart from the underside, which was.
“They are never being stupid. That is the thing folk get wrong about it. He had a screen telling him it was a road and no reason to think otherwise until the ground told him. I would probably do the same in his country.”
Mr Ross
The gate
The gate has been raised at the community council on three occasions. A sign was proposed in 2023, approved in principle, and has not been erected because it was not clear who would pay for it or who owns the post.
The path is now shown as a road on at least two navigation systems. The community council has written to both. One has replied to acknowledge the letter.
The driver returned on Sunday with a bottle for Mr Ross, which was accepted, and stayed for a cup of tea, which lasted two hours.
