BOAT: Irelands Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Kent Street, Hastings, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 124, 'Hastings & Bexhill'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ798153
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 90" E000 58' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ973148
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 60" E000 54' 90"
• To see: Roman Bloomery.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

A short byway this one, and barely worth the bother. 

That said, we drove it from its eastern end on Moat Lane. There's quite a nasty little pothole on the right-hand side when negotiating the slope down from Moat Lane, but its not all that bad and we were soon past it. Carrying on downhill in a westerly direction, this lane can get pretty wet so, in Reeds Wood at least, the surface is lightly rutted mud and leaf mould. The trees and mature hedging that line both sides of the byway never encroach and so pose no threat to the paintwork.

On passing out of Reeds Wood, after a few more metres the greenlane surface abruptly changes to a tarmac surface and serves as a driveway for Ireland's Farm, whereby any attraction for the greenlaner is destroyed despite the pleasant views afforded from the lane across the farm's fields. Be careful when turning back onto the A21: it's an extremely busy road.

In Beauport Park on the other side of the A21, and accessed by a footpath, lies a Roman Bloomery (iron-working site). The bath-house is apparently up for sale if you want it (who wouldn't?!).

To East Sussex County Council this is Westfield Byway 48.

View Irelands Lane in a larger map