UCR: Court Drove

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Overton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU508507
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 25' 30" W001 21' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU501527
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 27' 10" W001 28' 30"
• To see: long barrow, tumulus.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code! 

We chose to drive this long UCR from its southern end. Starting at Overton CE Primary School, the byway strikes out north on a mixed surface of compacted mud here and lightly rutted earth and grass there, but it's never even the remotest challenge despite it's use by heavy farm vehicles.

Over the railway bridge that crosses the London -Salisbury mainline, the lane twists and turns, following the field boundaries. It is remarkable how well maintained this lane is, as at no stage is in any less than (roughly) 3m wide!

After around a third of it's total length, the UCR is crossed east-west by a BOAT called Harrow Way. It is open to traffic, however it does carry a (well signposted) TRO effective between November-May  to protect its surface during the wet winter months. It's very long, and very awesome, but please don't attempt to drive it between those dates.

After crossing the BOAT, Court Drove continues northwards, winding its way past a copse called The Peak before it ends back on tarmac just north of the access road for Willesley Warren Farm which branches off to the east.

For those with an interest in the Neolithic period, a tumulus can be found to the east of the northern of the lane (very near Willesley Warren Farm), whilst the long barrow can be found almost the same distance to the west.

View Court Drove in a larger map