UCR: Castle Road/Mount Edgcumb Road

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hadlow Down, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ580387
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 12' 63" E000 25' 75"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ581392
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 13'05" E000 25'87"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Although shown as UCRs on the map, these two short byways running over Rusthall Common are totally metalled and hold nothing whatsoever of interest to the greenlane driver. Move along.

FORD: Fleet Water Ford

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Newtown, Hampshire
• OS Explorer Map OL22, 'New Forest'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU277107
• GPS Co-ordinates: N50 89' 60" W001 60' 60"
• To see: New Forest, duh.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This ford, where a stream called Fleet Water crosses the road leading into Minstead, is only an actual ford when it is in flood, and thus should be avoided! At all other times, the stream passes under the road in a concrete pipe. Not worth going out of one's way for.

FORD: Acres Down Farm

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Newtown, Hampshire
• OS Explorer Map OL22, 'New Forest'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU270099
• GPS Co-ordinates: N50 88' 80" W001 61' 70"
• To see: New Forest, duh.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Crossing the access road to Acres Down Farm and Forestry Commission land, this very shallow, concrete-bottomed ford often runs dry in very hot weather. Not worth going out of one's way for. Instead, go and look for goshawk on Acres Down itself!

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BOAT: Huntsbottom Lane/Woodlands Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Liss, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU785274
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 10" W000 88' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU784270 or SU787268 or SU792268
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 80" W000 88' 30" or N51 03' 60" W000 87' 90" or N51 03' 80" W000 87' 20"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

No matter which way one approaches this byway, the small section away from the tarmac is so overgrown that there is just no point even trying.

Move along.

UCR: Tipsall Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hill Brow, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU792258
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 02' 70" W000 87' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU784235
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 00' 60" W000 88' 30"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Talk about a disappointment!

This byway starts off so positively as a very pleasant drive on a sandy surface past Canada Cottages and on through forestry land. Starting from the northern end, one follows the instruction of the finger posts with 'Public Way' engraved upon them, and the track heads downhill though coppice and pine plantations.

BUT... immediately on exiting the forest (at the third junction with a bridleway), it becomes so overgrown as to be totally impassable to anything but pedestrians. Hugely frustratingly, it continues in this manner for no more than 200m or so where it opens out onto the wide-open driveway of Tipsall House. The greenlane enthusiast has been robbed of a lovely byway simply because of a lack of maintenance!

Further south, after the junction with Slade Lane, the UCR continues westwards for a fair distance again, but, in the same irritating vein, it is so overgrown as to be impassable for almost its entire length, until it emerges from the undergrowth onto the driveway of Durleighmarsh Farm. It's almost irrelevant to the enthusiast therefore!

Until this byway receives some much-needed maintenance, it is best avoided. Sigh.

BOAT: Chapel Common Road

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: High Cross, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU809286
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 05' 51" W000 84' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU812280
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 60" W000 84' 20"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway is little more than a country road that has seemingly fallen into disrepair. It's metres wide, completely covered in tarmac with liberal potholing, and is so easy going that the saloon cars of dog-walkers can cruise down it in comfort. It can be recommended for little more than a pleasant drive through the woods (especially in autumn: sec picture, below), even if some it is  bizarrely protected by razor wire and security fencing. It seems they REALLY don't want you in that woodland, which obviously raises questions about what they are actually up to in there... Move along!

They REALLY don't want you in there!

UCR: Kiln Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hambledon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU619119
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 40" W001 12 00"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU620125
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 90" W001 11' 90"
• To see: The Chairmakers pub.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This UCR is way too overgrown to bother driving. There is not even room for a trail bike in places, so damage to one's vehicle is guaranteed. Although the OS map technically shows a ford at the far more accessible northern end of the byway, at best it's barely a trickle so who cares?! And besides, within Kiln Farm dwell weird staring people who come out of their gate and glare! I doubt even they know why they do it... So get yourself into The Chairmakers and have a well earned pint and some top nosh instead of bothering with this byway.

In short: these are not the byways you're looking for. Move along.

UCR: Russell's Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hambledon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU623150
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 93' 20" W001 11 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU625143
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 50" W001 11' 20"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Like Roy, we don't know who Russell is either. But we christened this otherwise un-named byway after him as the house at it's southern embouchement saw fit to as well! But this UCR is way too overgrown to bother driving. There is not even room for a trail bike in places, so damage to one's vehicle is guaranteed. Further, the definitive maps show it to be a path and therefore it is debatable as to whether it even carries vehicular rights.

In short: these are not the byways you're looking for. Move along.

UCR: Roy's Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hambledon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU618138
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 10" W001 12 20"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU613147
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 90" W001 12' 80"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

We've no clue who Roy is.

Despite a promising start (at its southern end at least) this UCR is way too overgrown to bother driving. There is not even room for a trail bike in places, so damage to one's vehicle is guaranteed. Further, the definitive maps show these to be paths and therefore it is debatable as to whether they even carry vehicular rights.

In short: these are not the byways you're looking for. Move along.

To quote 'A Bridge Too Far': 'This is the wide part!'.

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.

BOAT: Old Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Chalton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU696146
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 70" W001 01 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU699146
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 70" W001 00' 60"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

A very short green lane, this one. Running east from its western end, the byway leaves Catherington Lane and runs between some old farm-labourers' cottages and a water reservoir. Starting as tarmac, continuing very briefly on some shingle and soon offering a grass-covered surface at the point where a public footpath leaves across the fields to the south, this byway heads gently and soon more steeply downhill, and becomes narrower all the way.

In fact this narrowing means that, for a 4x4 at least, Old Lane is not really worth the interest of visiting: it's not scratchy but for such a short byway there is just no point trying to negotiate it, especially since the 'dog poo bin' at the very eastern end complicates matters further, and besides, the byway ends in a housing estate (Southdown Road), and who wants to see that?! Pass this byway by, we reckon, and head to green pastures elsewhere.

Just annoying!

To Hampshire County Council this is Horndean Byway 39.

BOAT: The Highway/Upper Valley Road

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Peacehaven, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 122, 'Brighton & Hove'
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ425006
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 78' 80" W000 02' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ435009
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 79' 00" W000 03' 50"
• To see: Hell. Move along. Quickly.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB: This is now a RESTRICTED Byway. Although I can't guess what the restriction actually is: it still seems positively awash with cars, and Google have clearly driven up it too!

If one is ever unfortunate enough to find themselves in the 'foetid pit of despair beside the sea' that is Peacehaven, one would be forgiven for clamouring to leave as soon as they had arrived. That perfectly good, beautiful and hither-to-unspoiled chalk downland could even conceivably be defiled by such an overwhelmingly vile bungalow-/caravan park-infested sore defies comprehension. If only the National Park had been created many years previously we may have been spared. Rather, the best thing that ever happened to the place is the tornado that tore through it a few years ago. Yet, don't be hasty: even here in the gaping maw of Hell there is a byway of (limited) interest to the greenlaner!

Yes, people, I am not insane: it really is right there on OS 122! On donning my full NBC suit and heading to investigate, I discovered a heavily potholed but serviceably metalled road leading uphill from a derelict concrete expanse. At present it serves as little more than a service road for the inevitable static caravan park that plagues the coasts like some virus; what on earth of worth or value do people get out of staying in such places?! On cresting the hill one discovers it, festering like an open wound on the cliff top, begging for erosion or another tornado to end its wretched existence! 

On skirting swiftly past, the byway starts to head downhill whilst surface deteriorates into crushed brick/tarmac and becomes rather more heavily potholed than it already was. Even though the suspension gets a good workout the going is firm and very easy: third gear did for most of it, and foliage never encroaches. On passing a few nondescript-slash-miserable houses the byway soon turns to the north and continues on a more pronounced decline, before changing into Upper Valley Road and steeply ending back on the A259 not far from where one began. Seriously not worth the effort of getting to, and the one positive of my having driven this byway is that, with it now being adequately explored and my experience documented herewithin, I never have to visit it (or even think about it) ever again!

To ESCC these are Restricted Byway 2 and 18, combined here for convenience.

Why?

BOAT: Palestine/King Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Grateley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• OS Grid Reference: around SU261404
• GPS Co-ordinates: around N51 16' 30" W001 62' 70"
• To see: Hawk Conservancy, Quarley Hill, Roman road, tumulus.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

'God' knows what all this is about... (see what I did there?!). Basically this is a set of byways all in one area that do little more than serve a bunch of bungalows in a place called Palestine, and a farm just to the east called Red Lodge Farm. I have no idea of the history of this place, but with a name like that there must be some! Some byways are gravel, some are earth, all are well tended, and from the point of view of the greenlaner there is nothing of even the slightest interest here. In fact, we've only really included them on this site for completeness.

That said, the very short byway called King Lane serving Red Lodge Farm is, at least, a byway in the traditional sense of the word: its earth and gravel surface was the only one we actually bothered to drive and the statistics below relate specifically to it.

There is a tumulus just east of South View Farm. The surrounding area is far more interesting, with the Hawk Conservancy, Quarley Hill Iron Age hillfort and the Portway Roman road all very close by. Check them out instead!

To Hampshire County Council these are Byways 20, 22, 501, 502, 503, 504 and 505, combined here for convenience.

Statisitics
Total distance: 0.54 km (0.3 mi)
Total time: 01:43
Moving time: 01:33
Average speed: 18.99 km/h (11.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 21.06 km/h (13.1 mi/h)
Max speed: 33.03 km/h (20.5 mi/h)
Average pace: 3:10 min/km (5:05 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2:51 min/km (4:35 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1:49 min/km (2:55 min/mi)
Max elevation: 149 m (489 ft)
Min elevation: 145 m (475 ft)
Elevation gain: 4 m (14 ft)
Max grade: 3 %
Min grade: -1 %
Recorded: 04/10/2013 18:13

View Palestine in a larger map

BOAT: Parnholt Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Furzedown, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU368301
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 06' 90" W001 47' 60"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU391284
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 05' 40" W001 44' 30"
• To see: bluebell woods, tumulus.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This untitled green lane (which whe have called Parnholt Lane)  is basically a tragedy of the needless, overbearing bureaucracy all too common in this country. It's absolutely mind-blowing in spring, as the byway passes through the old beech forest of Parnholt Wood, which is absolutely smothered in bluebells. Anyone with eyes, or at least a nose, cannot fail to be awestruck by the spectacle.

But its a dead end: you can drive down it but you'll have to turn around at the end and drive back, as the restricted byway (a RUPP) is closed to motorised traffic and gated off to the north and east (no gate as far as we know seems to yet exist on the southern piece of RUPP, curiously, although it is correctly signposted). Rather than re-designate the end of this green lane as a BOAT to keep it as a through route, Hampshire Council (who are usually so good!) just killed it off. So instead of driving it, take a picnic and walk it instead. The bluebells usually (when the seasons are on time) in April Just don't pick the flowers please: it does damage the health of the woodland and they are better off left growing in the ground where they can be enjoyed by all who visit (and the creatures that depend on them)!

For those interested in history, a decent-sized tumulus called Dirty Mount (uhuhuhuh) can be found just to the south of the byway (see map). It's pretty much intact: even the ditch around the circumference is intact, despite being covered with bracken.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 33.

FEAST your eyes (and your nose).

View Parnholt Lane in a larger map

UCR: Clay's Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: East Worldham, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU744384
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 14' 00" W000 93' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU743381
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 13' 80" W000 93' 80"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This incredibly short byway, although technically a UCR, is simply a metalled access road serving Clay's Farm. Only a few feet at the southern end of it is a UCR anyway. Pointless visiting, and the nasty turning back on to the B3004 isn't worth the investment!

Statistics:
Total distance: 0.22 km (0.1 mi)
Total time: 00:35
Moving time: 00:29
Average speed: 22.49 km/h (14.0 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 27.37 km/h (17.0 mi/h)
Max speed: 39.60 km/h (24.6 mi/h)
Average pace: 2.67 min/km (4.3 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 2.19 min/km (3.5 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1.52 min/km (2.4 min/mile)
Max elevation: 180 m (590 ft)
Min elevation: 176 m (577 ft)
Elevation gain: 2 m (7 ft)
Max grade: 5 %
Min grade: 4 %
Recorded: 21/05/2013 16:14

View Clay's Lane in a larger map

UCR: Thatched Cottage Drive

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Bradley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU633421
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 17' 50" W001 09' 60"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU63418
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 17' 20" W001 09' 40"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This incredibly short byway, although technically a UCR, is simply somebody's metalled driveway with a few feet of unsurfaced byway at the northern end. Pointless visiting, although amusingly it does carry a 30mph speed limit (as if!).

Statistics:
Total distance: 0.21 km (0.1 mi)
Total time: 01:09
Moving time: 01:07
Average speed: 10.87 km/h (6.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 11.17 km/h (6.9 mi/h)
Max speed: 28.80 km/h (17.9 mi/h)
Average pace: 5.52 min/km (8.9 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 5.37 min/km (8.6 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2.08 min/km (3.4 min/mile)
Max elevation: 185 m (605 ft)
Min elevation: 178 m (582 ft)
Elevation gain: 0 m (0 ft)
Max grade: -3 %
Min grade: -6 %
Recorded: 21/05/2013 15:25

View Thatched Cottage Drive in a larger map

BOAT: Pine Avenue

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Ore, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 124, 'Hastings & Bexhill, Battle & Robertsbridge'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ826113
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 87' 20" E000 59' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ829118
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 87' 70" E000 59' 90"
• To see: 1066 Country, the town of Hastings, including it's harbour, castle, caves, the old town, and the East and West Hills with their funicular railways. The town of Battle, with its Abbey and the actual site of the Battle of Hastings, is a 15 minute drive to the north of the town.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

There are quite a few byways in the middle of the historically significant seaside town of Hastings, but like most of the others there's not much to see here with regards to green laning. Indeed this byway, between The Ridge and Pilot Road, is just an unmetalled suburban road giving access to the houses that line both sides of the lane. A Ford Fiesta could quite happily navigate this lane despite the potholes. Go elsewhere!

As an interesting historical aside, according to my grandfather Canadian troops were billeted here. In 1944 a 'doodlebug' flying bomb came down here and a fair few were killed. Also apparently a aircraft crashed here in the war.

These are East Sussex County Council's Hastings Byway 226, 229 and 229a, treated as one and the same for convenience.

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BOAT: Byway 22.

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Hadlow Down, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ528244
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 90" E000 17' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ529247
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 00' 20" E000 17' 80"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This very short, unnamed green lane running between School Lane and Stockland Lane is very narrow and, although it is not subject to a TRO, is effectively closed to motorised traffic (you'd ruin a 4x4 if you tried to squeeze down this byway) once you get past the riding school. Even if it were cleared it is so short as to provide little interest to the green laner. I can't even be bothered to give it a name! Move along.

This is East Sussex County Council's Byway Hadlow Down 22.

View Unnamed Lane in a larger map

UCR: Lower Neatham Mill Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Holybourne, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU737411
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 16' 40" W000 94' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU742408  
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 16' 10" W000 94' 10"
• To see: Watercress Line, Alton.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway is a metalled country lane that just happens to be classified as a UCR and is included here only for completeness. It is a dead end as it has been bisected and blocked by the A31 dual carriageway, and only a pedestrian subway has been provided to get from one side to the other. Avoid it and visit Alton instead, perhaps for a trip on the Watercress Line steam railway.

See? It's blocked off.

View Lower Neatham Mill Lane in a larger map

BOAT: Westend Lane

• Overall Rating:1
• Location: Upper Froyle, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU754426
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 17' 80" W000 92' 30"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU752431  
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 18' 20" W000 92' 50"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

I've named this lane after the cottage that lies upon it, in the absence of any official name. As far as I am aware this short green lane is not subject to a TRO or other restriction, but it is blocked at around two thirds of its total length by fallen tree that has obviously been placed over the lane by somebody. Lacking a decent tow rope we were unable to shift it (it's rather too heavy to move by hand, even for two strapping chaps!) so as such the byway remains blocked for now (14/10/12). If it becomes clear please let us know!

This is Hampshire County Council's Byway 28.

View Westend Lane in a larger map