2013 Suzuki Jimny Off Road Drive (Sheepwalk Lane, Surrey)

2013 Suzuki Jimny SZ4
Engine - 1328 cc Inline 4
Horsepower - 80 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Dimensions - 3,675 mm L x 1,600 mm W x 1,705 mm H
Curb weight - 1,090 kg
Off road drive on Surrey byway Sheepwalk Lane, passing under two of the Lovelace Bridges. The trail starts at Ranmore Common Road opposite the junction with High Barn Road (51.238137, -0.396720), intersects White Down Lane, and finishes at Honeysuckle Bottom near the sawmill (51.240755, -0.433682).
Recorded with GoPro Hero7 Black secured using GoPro Suction Cup mount

[@philippienaar2065]

Going to try this in my Mini - will post here for a recovery! 😂

[@mikeb53]

Nice lane. Definitely worth shifting to low in sticky thick mud if you got it.

[@AndyT001]

Thanks, and good advice. It was useful to get the heads up on the lane from the Land Rover drivers at the beginning.

[@oddities-whatnot]

I have a fairly uncommon Subaru Impreza RC and it comes with a high/low range gear selector behind the normal gear lever. It was useful at my previous job, the staff carpark was appalling. Basically a bit of waste ground was turned into a steep sloping uneven car park covered in a thick layer of gravel and stones. In the wet or icy conditions it was terrible to get off because the way everyone parked, if you were on the side away from the entrance you had to go all the way down to the bottom end and round the two rows of cars in the middle and back up again to the exit. Low range gearing was very useful on that.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Whats it like on the motorway getting to these places miles away ? I presume sticking at 60mph its not revving much even in fifth.

[@AndyT001]

I'd say it's ok, 60 MPH is a bit over 3,000 RPM, 70's feels like more effort at almost 4k. Best fuel economy I've worked had from it was 38 MPG, mostly doing 60 on the motorway - not going to rival a diesel Panda 4x4, but cheaper to run than a Defender!
The steering takes some getting used to at first, feels quite loose compared to most things I've driven and there's a lot of vibration through the wheel at about 40-45, but faster than this it settles down. They got pretty scathing reviews when new, but I've taken mine on several trips now and actually been pleasantly surprised by it, haven't found it too tiring on long runs.

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@AndyT001 cheers for replying. I had the diesel Panda 4x4 and off road it was great but was very noisy on the motorway, revved higher than your car at 70 believe it or not. Shocking gear ratios, should have had a much longer fifth for motorways.

[@francisarthusopaiva3088]

Did you need to use 4 low sometime or just 4wd? Ive heard jimny is slow with 4wd on, is it true, man?

[@AndyT001]

I did use 4 low for the very muddy sections. 4 high is no slower than 2wd, but it locks the power split 50:50 front and rear so should only be used on low traction surfaces. 4 low gives lower gearing and provides better control at slow speeds, best for crawling on very rough trails and keeping the speed very slow on steep descents.

[@francisarthusopaiva3088]

@@AndyT001 tks, i know about 4wd, i have one but i want jimny now. Im lookking for information about that

[@paulsoutdooradventures1790]

I’m from guildford and trying to work out where u stated from entering sheeps walk lane from wot road as Google maps is just showing a house at one end I’m also wondering if there are any other good little tracks to have a go at around the area to

[@AndyT001]

I started from Ranmore Common Road, just east of where it meets High Barn Road (coordinates 51.238133,-0.396638 on Google Maps). Followed through the woods to the road crossing with White Down Lane at 6:50 (coordinates 51.235637,-0.405033 on Google Maps). From here I continued on the main trail which eventually becomes Sheepwalk Lane. It passes under the old bridges not far beyond the house you can see on Google Maps, and ends at Honeysuckle Bottom, near the sawmill.
London Lane was another good one not far from here. From Honeysuckle Bottom, turn left onto Green Dene, and about one and a half miles down the road you'll get to Combe Lane Car Park. From here London Lane descends through the woods to Shere. Might be sensible to check the lower part out on foot before driving as it was quite rutted when I drove it in summer, and looked like it could get more challenging after wet weather.