BOAT: Inchreed Lane

Location: Hadlow Down Rd, Rotherfield, East Sussex TN6, UK
  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Location: Crowborough, East Sussex.
  • OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
  • Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ533272
  • Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 02' 30" E000 18' 50"
  • Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ524272
  • Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 02' 40" E000 17' 10"
  • To see: pillbox.
  • ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!
Update 13/01/2014: from 28/12/2013 this byway is subject to a 6-month TRO and is as such closed to all traffic except pedestrians! We can only presume this is due to erosion on the banks of the ghyll caused by the recent flooding, which is therefore impeding safe progress. We shall see whether or not it re-opens to everyone in the future, but for now: avoid.

A great green lane this one, and it comes highly recommended by us!

Starting at the western end, the byway leaves Hadlow Down Road on a south-easterly track. At this end, to no doubt prevent scum from fly-tipping, the lane is protected by two vertical railway sleepers spaced just far apart enough to squeeze a Land Rover Defender through, but certainly nothing wider. Once past this obstacle, the byway starts in earnest on a mixed surface of stones, rubble, leaf mould and mud. It's not hard going as it's never remotely rutted, it's well drained and the hedgerows and mature trees that line the lane are well cut back.

Cruising downhill the track turns to the east, and at its nadir, the byway crosses the ghyll which lends its name to the lane on a seemingly ancient stone bridge. On crossing the ghyll at this pleasant spot the green lane turns the corner sharply to the south, heads uphill, and almost as immediately turns back to the east and continues past a farmhouse to its termination on Steep Road, just south of Derridge Corner Wood. At this end of the lane the junction is managed (and therefore protected) by the same railway sleepers found at the western end, and also a large stainless steel gate which on the day we visited was unlocked, making life simple.

As a final note, your intrepid explorers cleared up a decent amount of dumped refuse which we took to the recycling banks in nearby Crowborough. If you care about both the countryside and our chosen leisure pursuit we humbly request that you do the same!

A great green lane this, and a pleasant drive. It only misses out on a 5 as it is not quite long enough to join the elite. For those with an interest in the Second World War, a brick-built pillbox can be found just past the barriers at the western end of the byway.

This is East Sussex Country Council's Byway 'Rotherfield 8'.


View Inchreed Lane in a larger map

1 comment:

Railway Sleepers in Essex said...

This is a very nice way and keeping it clean is further most important thing.

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Please keep it clean!

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