One for the UK members: It's years since I've been (intentionally...) off-roading on a bike. Like many, in my early teens I sneaked off down the road to hit the fields and swamps on my DT100, and then went further afield when I hit a road-legal age, and then started to take it pretty seriously with a contrasting pairing of a Honda TL150 and a CZ250GP until mid-20s.

I'm toying with the idea of some gentle off-roading with my DT2. Problem 1: where can I ride it?

And/or should I just go out and buy an unfashionable-age bitsa bike that I don't really care about...?

As I understand it, designated byways may be used (although the vehicle must still be road legal). If you are friendly with a local farmer, he may let you use his land.

Years ago I used to enjoy tootling around/green laning on my DT100 and TS185, but I'm afraid to say that the motocross riders started ruining it for most other users of the byways. Gr8auntiepat says that they are still a pain in the proverbial now.

Yep, I actually live in the sticks and I'm the first to complain about quads, road-legal moto-crossers and wannabe World Enduro competitors.

Really depends where you live. "Greenlaning" is always the buzz word but some counties have more of this going on that others.

TBH I wanted to do a bit more of this sort of thing myself but just can't seem to find the time :( That being said I've had a lot of fun just bumbling about on C-roads and unclassified public roads out in the countryside - ideal dual-sport / light ADV territory.

I'm in Cheshire. Surrounded by lawyers and tut-tutting ramblers.

Very different from the days when you could simply ride out, see a decent looking hill, turn left and try to get to the top of it via swamps, streams, rocks and gates.

This is a useful site www.bywaymap.com
I've used it to find byways to ride on my XR.
Doesn't look like there are many near you.
I find people are ok as long as you slow down early and smile when you pass them and a "Good morning!" loud enough they can't ignore it.

Off road riding is a pain in the hoop where i live. I have to go to Back cowm quarry to pay to ride . Basically there's more in the south and West than lots of other places in the UK. Derbyshire has a fair amount but not without trouble . The filth come sniffing about and are looking to nail your ass . Know your rights and stick to your guns if you go anywhere . There's plenty think they know the law you'll come across ,but make sure you do know it as often as not the cops don't
Check out Lamb Chop rides youtube channel. Go through his episodes .He does plenty off roading but again he's in the South, but, they're all legal byways .

This seems to be a universal sign of the times as access is much different in the USA now than in the 80s-90s. Back then the landowners were willing to share if you didn’t tear things up.

All sounds familiar to me. I'm lucky to be surrounded with hundreds of acres of pine & spruce forestry - through which go logging / fire roads. These would be ideal for riding along, but no not allowed! Besides the health & Safety ticket, there's also walkers, cyclists and horses, all of which are perceived as rightful users and up here in the north of Scotland have the "right to roam". Motorbikes are always seen as bad, dangerous etc.Not helped by a few local nuggets bringing their bikes on and tearing it up. On-road's a different story and we're spoilt for choice with tons of singletrack roads some of which are just stone roads winding across the hills - Ideal!