BOAT: Tinkers Lane

Location: Bentworth, Hampshire, UK
  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Location: Bentworth, Hampshire.
  • OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
  • Starting OS Grid Reference: SU664401
  • Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 15' 60" W001 05' 20"
  • Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU676384
  • Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 14' 20" W001 03' 50"
  • To see: The Sun.
  • ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!
Update 18/09/2016: According to Mark, who kindly commented below, this byway has had it's access restrictions lifted and, apart from some tight foliage in places which is guaranteed to make the paintwork 'sing', is basically clear. Remove one problem, add another...

Update 04/01/2014: According to a gratefully-received observation from 'Producktionsweb' below, this byway is now operating as a 'test subject' for permit-controlled access. The internet does not seem to yield any further information and we have not yet been able to visit for verification. Can anybody flesh out this with detail? Comment below!)

A brilliant byway, this one, and an excellent of what green-laning is all about. Tinkers Lane starts out as a UCR that serves as a driveway for a couple of cottages in the picture-postcard village of Bentworth. On passing over onto the BOAT (designated by a footpath crossing the byway) the grass soon begins to take over the middle of the gravel surface of the lane and the byway starts earnestly downhill on a mixture of gravel and mud. This well maintained, easy going green lane never has more than one or two puddles and no encroaching foliage to scratch the paintwork.

Heading south-east along a field boundary demarkated by hedgerows, it really is a pleasure to drive since it offers a great view over the Hampshire countryside and of the lane itself (see photo, right).

On reaching the nadir of the shallow descent the byway rounds a bend to take up a more southerly track and at the same time starts to climb gently uphill again towards its ending in the amusingly-titled hamlet of Wivelrod.

When in the area it is simply unforgivable if you do not sample the real ales on offer at The Sun, which, with its roaring real fire, is surely one of our favourite pubs in Hampshire.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 26.

Statistics:
Total distance: 2.17 km (1.3 mi)
Total time: 10:54
Moving time: 09:36
Average speed: 11.91 km/h (7.4 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 13.53 km/h (8.4 mi/h)
Max speed: 29.70 km/h (18.5 mi/h)
Average pace: 5.04 min/km (8.1 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 4.43 min/km (7.1 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2.02 min/km (3.3 min/mile)
Max elevation: 253 m (829 ft)
Min elevation: 205 m (671 ft)
Elevation gain: 65 m (213 ft)
Max grade: 8 %
Min grade: -9 %
Recorded: 21/05/2013 15:42


View Tinkers Lane in a larger map

4 comments:

Producktionsweb said...

Sadly this appears to be currently closed 19/12/15 as it now operates a permit scheme and gates are locked with a chain and padlock so you can't get past the first short stub. This has about 3 months of permit scheme left on it as a test I believe.

Shame as this is one of the few local lanes I haven't tackled and apparently one of the better ones

Dempo said...

Well, this is the first I've heard of it but I haven't been that way for quite a long time now. It was indeed a cracking byway! I have updated this post with your findings.

Mark said...

All clear now - done it twice in two weeks - the lower section needs cutting back as it's overgrown and your get the screeching noise on the paintwork.

Dempo said...

Thanks Mark! I've updated this post with your findings.

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