UCR: Bigpath Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Street End, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU556200
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 97' 70" W001 20 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU544217
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 20" W001 22' 60"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

We're not sure what the true name of this apparently un-named byway is, so (predictably) we called it 'Bigpath Lane' after the first cottage we saw. If you know better please comment below!

This is roughly a byway of two halves. Starting at it's southern end, this UCR leaves behind the gallops at Stephen's Castle Down from a reservoir and heads north-west on an earthen surface with only light rutting. Unfortunately, the encroachment of undergrowth is an issue in places and often an errant branch will register its protest at one's passage.

On a remarkably straight track, the byway undulates gradually and then suddenly descends steeply through fields of pigs towards the country road serving Bigpath Farm. About two years previous to this visit, the junction was so severely overgrown that it was impossible to push a path through the undergrowth but it has since been cleared and, although still tight, it is at least passable.

On crossing the road, the second half byway opens up far more. In a marked contrast with the first half of the byway, the wide, hard surface with the odd pothole shows that this half of the byway is in use far more frequently. It's very easy going! Bigpath Lane ends up back on the tarmac at Woodcote Farm, just north of Upham.