BOAT: Beaney's Lane

Location: Beaney's Ln, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2, UK
  • Overall Rating: 2
  • Location: The Ridge, Hastings, East Sussex.
  • OS Explorer Map 124, 'Hastings & Bexhill, Battle & Robertsbridge'.
  • Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ810127
  • Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 88' 50" E000 57' 10"
  • Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ818137
  • Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 89' 40" E000 58' 40"
  • To see: 1066 Country, the town of Hastings, including it's harbour, castlecaves, the old town, and the East and West Hills with their funicular railways. The town of Battle, with its Abbey and the actual site of the Battle of Hastings, is a 15 minute drive to the north of the town.
  • ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!
UPDATE 21/03/2016: Due to the action of empty-headed filth that are not fit to breathe the same oxygen as the rest of us, the fly tipping and illegal offroading became so bad on this byway that a (no doubt soon-to-be permanent) temporary TRO has been placed upon this green lane and as such it is closed to motorised traffic. Way to go.

Before the fly-tippers got to it, Beaney's Lane was a great greenlaning experience, passing through woodland just north of the seaside town of Hastings.

However, the problem must have become so bad that it has forced the council to erect really quite dramatic signs and a barrier across the green lane at around a third of it's total length when travelling north (see picture below, and position on map). The barrier, consisting of metal posts and a concrete platform with a very substantial drop on the northern side of it, is indeed so formidable that there is a very good chance that those without a suspension lift will find it hard to get past, and those even slightly worried about damaging their vehicle had better go elsewhere. Also, due to the size of the step up onto the concrete platform when driving south-bound, without sand ladders there is only a very remote chance of ever passing the barrier at all, so don't try it!

That said, if you have the right sort of 'kit', this byway does not seem to be subject to a TRO or closure order (updated: see above). Starting on The Ridge just east of the Conquest Hospital, Beaney's Lane strikes north, passing a private residence and then continuing on down a gravel surface as far as some industrial land to the west. Passing a chain-link fence and the evil, anti-social leylandii that have encroached onto the byway on one side, and encroaching, more suitable native hedging on the other, eventually the barrier blocks progress. If you can get over it, the byway surface from that point changes to forest floor and curves gently to the north-east, heading ever downhill.

The track ends where it meets Stonestile Lane. At it's western end, the byway is blocked by another barrier, but since it is very easily circumnavigated it's barely worth a mention. A great lane and pleasant woodland drive which would have scored far higher if it had not sadly been wrecked by fly-tipping scum.

The formidable barrier: worse than it looks.

View Beaney's Lane in a larger map

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Now the subject of a Temp TRO closure (cars and bikes) due to being carved up by folk going off piste.

Dempo said...

Thanks for the update!

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