BOAT: Hook Park Road/Church Road

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Warsash, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119, 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU509052
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 84' 50" W001 27 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU499047 or SU500054
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 84' 00" W001 29' 20" or N50 84' 70" W001 29' 10"
• To see: estuary of the River Hamble.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

© Copyright David Martin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

There isn't really a great deal to relate about this byway. It's basically just an unadopted road/driveway running between 'The Nook and Cranny' pub and a ton of utterly-tasteless-yet-absurdly-expensive, inappropriately sited houses (you know the sort). Unbelievably, somebody hasn't built a golf course on the place, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time!

Starting in the east at 'The Nook and Cranny' then, this byway continues on a stone-covered or, at worst, unrutted compacted earth surface in a westerly direction. Almost totally unremarkable in every way, the byway curves ever southwards and passes the ubiquitous, now omnipresent equestrian facilities on the northern side whilst a high hedge obscures the view to the south.

Shortly after passing a footpath which leaves the byway to the west, another byway called Church Road leaves to the north. On our visit to this byway, Church road was almost totally impassable due to overgrowth and is therefore best avoided. Even trail bikers would have had a deal of trouble forcing through. We have no idea of the manner in which it crosses the small brook as we could not fit down it to find out! Anyone who has driven Church Road when it was in better condition please comment below! We continued south-westwards therefore and discovered that the byway soon ends back on the tarmac in the midst of the aforementioned 'retirement castles'.

Despite the estuary of the River Hamble being absolutely beautiful, there is nothing to recommend this byway from a greenlaning point of view and there are far better experiences to be had elsewhere on map 119.

To Hampshire County Council these are Byways 12a, 28a, 511, 512 and 519, grouped here for convenience.