BOAT: Church Acre Drove

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Pevensey Levels, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 123, 'Eastbourne & Beachy Head, Newhaven, Seaford, Hailsham & Heathfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ646074 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 84' 30" E000 33' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ637069
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 83' 80" E000 32' 30"
• To see: the Pevensey Levels, RAF Pevensey, Pevensey Castle, Pevensey Court House Museum and Jail, Herstmonceux Castle and Science Centre and Norman's Bay, The Smugglers Inn.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This is why you won't get through!

Update 13/01/2014: Although the overgrown foliage meant that it was impossible to get through anyway, this byway is now subject to a TRO for 6 months from 23/10/2013 to allow a water main to be installed, and as such is closed to motorised traffic.

This BOAT is a real disappointment in terms of greenlaning, especially since it passes through one of the most beautiful and historically important parts of the world: the marshes of Pevensey Levels. It starts off very easy going on a firm, grassy surface (at least in summertime! Other lanes in this area are heavily rutted through winter use when the marshes are obviously a lot damper.), and it is a very scenic lane. At approximately its halfway point it becomes too overgrown to continue (when heading westbound). As such, it's best to avoid this lane until a programme of dramatic clearance has been undertaken.

However, from a historical perspective this lane is very well placed, as follows:

• the remains of RAF Pevensey, a large radar installation, is just metres from the eastern end of this lane. Indeed, the whole of Pevensey levels is littered with pillboxes and other detritus of World War Two.
• Pevensey Castle, one of the original Saxon shore forts and a Roman Fortress to boot, can be found a couple of miles south-west of this lane.
• The village of Pevensey, including Pevensey Court House Museum and Jail and a pint at the historical The Smugglers Inn.
• Herstmonceux Castle and Science Centre lie a few miles to the north-east.
• Norman's Bay, the site of the Norman landing in 1066, is to the south.

Statistics:

Total Distance: 1.14 km (0.7 mi)
Total Time: 5:40
Moving Time: 3:49
Average Speed: 12.05 km/h (7.5 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 17.83 km/h (11.1 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 4.8 m (15.8 ft)
Max Elevation: 5.3 m (17.3 ft)
Elevation Gain: 0.6 m (2.1 ft)
Max Grade: 1 %
Min Grade: -3 %

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