BOAT: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Horsham, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 134, 'Crawley & Horsham'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ166279
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 93" W000 33' 81"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ162282
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 18" W000 34' 32"
• To see: the market town of Horsham, Horsham Museum, The Malt Shovel pub.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Glorious ancient woodland

 This byway starts where it heads northward from a ninety-degree right-hand bend in Coltstaple Lane, just south of Horsham. Travelling due north through pleasant ancient woodland, the surface of this wide track is never anything other than perfectly maintained loose gravel. We barely saw a pot-hole, which is better than can be said for many of the metalled roads in Sussex...

 That is the 'hard' part; the 'easy' part (it's all relative, naturally) is found on turning almost due west and leaving the woodland to erupt onto the 'Horsham Gold & Fitness' golf course. Here, the byway is used by golf carts and those six-wheel John Deere buggies (other brands available) that the golf course uses to maintain itself, and as such it is nothing short of immaculate. The only puddle I saw was in some light ruts in a small spinney towards the end of the track, which is clearly never frequented by the buggies.

Take care not to just drive straight through the golf course; if someone is teeing off you could end up with a 'bullet-hole' in the side of your car. Stop and look, and be courteous to (and patient with) the golfers as you pass, no matter how hideous their clothing!

The byway soon ends on the dualed A24, but you have got to take it easy here. It's not quite a blind bend but it is a dual carriageway, and therefore southbound vehicles will be approaching at quite some speed. It's a nasty junction, so take care.

Other than the ancient woodland at the start, there really isn't a great amount to see on this byway, exacerbated by the fact that what was once lovely fields has now been turned into a green desert otherwise known as a golf course (at least it's not a housing estate...), and so there isn't much to recommend a visit. That said, the pleasant town of Horsham is just to the north, with plenty to see and do. We recommend a compulsory apres-lane tipple in The Malt Shovel nearby, a CAMRA pub of the year.

The best way to ruin a good walk...

BOAT: Nutcombe Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Froxfield Green, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU710223
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 60" W000 98' 90"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU715216
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 00" W000 98' 30"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB: this is an challenging byway and you may not be able to complete it without damaging either your vehicle or the byway itself (or both1). Avoid unless you really do know what you are doing!

Innocuous thus far...

Make no mistake: this byway is a awkward b**t*rd! Like it's brother North Stroud Lane (which lies just to the north), it lulls one into a false sense of security before throwing up the most almighty obstacle just before the end!

We drove it from the north. Leaving Ramsdean Road at Rookery Farm, the going is relatively easy to start with. The surface is, for the first few yards, concrete as it serves as a driveway for a farm yard, but this soon ends on passing by. The surface then changes to earth with (initially) light ruts and plunges into woodland.

The going is easy enough and gently downhill, and very soon a footpath joins this byway as it takes a jink to the east. The declination increases here, and actually becomes relatively steep as it battles with Criddell Stream for dominance of passage. It can get very wet and soft here after heavy rains, and the steam itself has been known to flood the byway so we recommend that, should you want to actually drive this byway, that you only do so in summer and after a dry period to avoid damaging the surface as well as your vehicle.

On passing the stream, the byway enters Nutcombe Copse and begins to climb back up towards it's ending on Ramsdean Lane. However, before one gets that far there is an extremely tricky, technical section to pass. On the climb, the byway has carved something of a holloway out of the terrain with the result that, on the western side, a bank of four to five feet high has been carved out. Couple this with some absolutely vicious tree roots protruding from said bank, and that fact that the wildly undulating surface inevitably forces ones vehicle to lean towards the threats, means that there is a very good chance that a sizeable dent may appear on one's vehicle. On passing the 'cliff' there is an extremely harsh 'lump' to get over which also takes quite some negotiation. Use a spotter, take it slowly, and use appropriate caution. The picture below says a thousand words!

Once past that lot, the byway almost immediately returns to the concrete on a driveway serving New Barn and Holly Cottage, and ends soon after on Ramsdean Lane. Phew!

We named it Nutcombe Lane after the copse it passes through, but don't actually know if that is the correct name or not. If you know better, please comment below!

Tree roots and 'cliff' are on the left. Note the incline.

To Hampshire County Council, this is Byway 17. This byway is also featured in Land Rover Owner International magazine's November 2012 issue as byway number 24.

UCR: Cheesecombe Farm Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Hawkley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU745278
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 50" W000 93' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU748285
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 05' 10" W000 93' 40"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB: We drove this byway in relatively dry conditions. In the wet, it would be a trial, and damage to the byway from rutting etc. would be certain. We therefore propose a voluntary 'light usage' policy where people avoid it after heavy rains or in winter.

Starting at the south-western end of this byway, the unclassified country road leaves Cottage Lane in a north-easterly direction on a surface of compacted earth interspersed with areas of rubble which fill the pot holes, no doubt because it is used as a farm track. The foliage that flanks the byway will offer the odd bit of resistance at points but throughout the lane borders are relatively tame.

Heading gently downhill, eventually a footpath leaves the byway to the north. It is here where the tricky part begins. The byway plunges suddenly, and steeply, downhill on a surface of chalk and leaf-litter and in the wet would be as slippery as greased rugby ball. One can imagine the damage tyres spinning frantically for grip would do... There are also a couple of large fallen trees to negotiate. These have been chainsawed and removed, but their stumps still lay on the track and present an obstacle. Slow and steady does it.

One of the 'quagmires'

Continuing its descent, the byway turns sharply to the north and continues towards its nadir at Oakshott Stream. The stream itself is bridged, but there are the odd patches of thick, dark, cloying, peat-like mud which, although a hard bottom of rock is present in each, does remain wet even in dry periods and therefore these are an obstacle. Please don't exacerbate ruts: drive it in the dry!

After crossing Oakshott Stream, the byway heads uphill, slowly at first, but then, on a right angled turn, continues very steeply indeed and this forms that last major obstacle of this byway. Soon afterwards the green lane disembouches onto the tarmacadam of the driveway serving both Buttermilk and Cheesecombe Farms. No prizes for guessing that they have sizeable dairy herds.

Take it slow, take it easy, don't do it after wet weather and enjoy.

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.

UCR: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• 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: nature!
• 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 'Green Lane' after the first cottage we saw.
Perhaps 'Whiteflood Lane' would be more apt as there are two farms nearby with that word in their title but, to be fair, we were FAR too excited by the sighting of a little owl to give a stuff what its real title is. If you know better please comment below!

Starting at it's southern end, this UCR leaves Longwood Dean Lane on a northerly track along a tree-lined, tarmac driveway through some very pleasant countryside indeed. On passing the first cottage on the right (a beautiful house indeed) the byway is crossed by a footpath called the 'King's Way' and it is here that the UCR proper begins on a relatively hard, un-rutted surface. It's well kept: the undergrowth rarely if ever poses a threat to paintwork and it's easy going on the suspension. (How we wish we could always say that about UCRs!)

Continuing northwards the byway follows a field boundary before, without fanfare, arriving at another cottage called Lowe Whiteflood Farm where, to the left, Baybridge Lane departs for its short distance towards the village of Baybridge itself. It's fine to leave the byway at this point if you so desire as you wouldn't be missing much, but your intrepid explorers of course do not have such a luxury: we must press on!

And indeed the byway does press on for a short distance further in a similar manner, only this time only slightly more overgrown, towards its eventual embouchement back onto the tarmac of Belmore Lane at Whiteflood Farmhouse to the east of the village of Owslebury. It's not a great byway, but it does score higher due to the sheer amount of wildlife we spotted whilst driving it: a green and pleasant land indeed!

BOAT: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Clanfield, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU683180
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 95' 70" W001 02 30"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU692165
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 94' 40" W001 01' 60"
• To see: The Rising Sun pub.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

We drove this byway from the northern end. Starting where it leaves the country road between East Meon and Clanfield, the byway immediately plunges into trees. Their foliage does encroach onto the byway in places but it is never too far and seldom so bad that it becomes a stressful experience. The one proviso is that there is a very large fallen branch on the western edge of the track towards the end of the byway. When we visited it was completely hidden by stinging nettles and it claimed its due by leaving a large hole in a wheel arch. See the map for its precise location, and take care at towards southern end.

The surface of the byway is firm enough: compacted earth on top of chalk and is almost completely unrutted. Being an drove road, the byway does occasionally cause one to adopt an unusual attitude but it's never even close to being dramatic; indeed, it's an easy drive.

Continuing around the curves in a southerly direction, the byway is crossed by a footpath on reaching North Cottages, the denizens of which clearly value their privacy judging by the sign they have erected on a nearby tree! On crossing the byway the foliage closes in just a little (scratches and that 'nails on a balckboard' noise may result!) but it's clear enough and the green lane is relatively straight for the remainder of its run. It returns to the tarmac on Hambledon Road in Clanfield.

Celebrate a successful expedition by raising a glass of ale at 'The Rising Sun', a delightful pub just round the corner from this byway in Clanfield.

To Hampshire County Council this is Horndean Byway 702.

BOAT: Coldhill Lane/Tagdell Lane/Ham Lane/Crouch Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Horndean, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid References: SU686137, SU691140, SU692134 or SU684131.
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 91' 90" W001 02 60", N50 92' 20" W001 01 80", N50 91' 60" W001 01 60", or N50 91' 30" W001 02 80".
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Crouch Lane

This little asterisk of byways provides options. One can chose a starting point amongst any of four possible beginnings. The also seem to have an array of possible names, according to Google anyway: the eastern half of Coldhill Lane is called Crouch Lane. We chose to start our odyssey on this complex web of interweaving byways from the western end of Tagdell Lane (SU686137).

Leaving Lovedean Lane, Tagdell Lane (alliteration) passes some fly-tipping (may the very souls of the filth responsible be damned to Hades) and climbs steeply uphill for a short distance. The foliage is seemingly kept well cut back and never threatens the paintwork, but on cresting the summit the surface of exposed chalk changes to compacted earth and, in places, crushed brick. This surface has some sizeable potholes and occasionally a larger flooded which, when we visited at least, are very shallow indeed and all have a firm bottom; thus the simplest of obstacles.

Ham Lane (southern end)

Continuing down the sinuous route of Tagedell Lane, one eventually reaches the juntion with Ham Lane. This byway, frankly, isn't really worth the bother: The first third of it serves as a driveway to a few houses and the inevitable equestrian facility, and where the concrete ends the byway continues through some writhing turns on a narrow stretch of woodland and then, without ceremony, the firm-yet-potholed surface starts and lasts as far as the terminus of Ham Lane. By all means drive it, but we weren't in the mood to eek passage along a cow parsley-lined driveway.

Soon after its junction with Ham Lane, Tagdell Lane also ends where it meets Coldhill/Crouch Lane. Here, a left turn will take one on a relatively straight track (Crouch Lane) through woodland back towards the tarmac (via Teagus Farm) whilst instead turning right (Coldhill Lane) will take one on a more twisting and potholed hedgerow-lined route through equestrian fields and on to a driveway serving various houses.

Simple stuff, and an ideal byway for those new to greenlaning to have a taste of what this leisure pursuit is all about!

To Hampshire County Council these are Horndean Byways 13, 47 and 48, grouped together here for convenience.

Coldhill Lane

BOAT: Guildford Road/Golf Road

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Sandwich, Kent.
• OS Explorer Map 150, 'Canterbury & The Isle Of Thanet'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TR350577
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 27' 00" E001 36' 90"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ371545
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 24' 10" E001 36' 90"
• To see: Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, the town of Sandwich, Sandown Castle , Deal Castle, Chequers Kitchen Cookery School & Restaurant.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

The rich people that live here and the golfers really, really don't want you to drive this byway. They feel it is 'exclusive'. So, all the more reason drive it!

Starting at its western end, just outside Sandwich, the byway (which is clearly signposted as such) diverges from the metalled Guildford Road around to the immediate north of the toll house (don't try and drive the metalled road to the immediate south: they'll charge you!). This is protected by a substantial metal barrier but it is usually open when the toll house is manned. There is no legal reason as far as I am aware to pay the £7 (!) toll: I believe that it only applies to driving on the metalled private road that runs parallel to this byway and they cannot charge you for or prevent you from exercising your legal right of access any more than if you were on foot.

The byway continues on a flat, firm, sandy, unrutted surface which, in places, the grass is starting to take a hold of once again, it's very easy going indeed and the only obstacles are occasional overspill from the sizeable, pretentious gardens attached to sizeable, pretentious, characterless houses. I know what you're thinking: there's little to recommend this byway, and you'd be right. But once you've left these houses behind the byway comes into it own for a while. It passes a (very) small nature reserve on a short stretch of the metalled road which runs as far as Dickson's Corner (TR364568, N51 26' 10", E001 38' 70"), where the tarmac ends and the sand resumes its south-easterly thrust.

This sandy track takes you over the approach to the 9th (I think...) green of the Royal Sandwich Golf Course (another reason why we are not welcome here !) so beware of little white balls flying at you from absurdly-dressed, over-privileged bigots flailing around with metal sticks!  The byway then runs parallel to a number of other holes (the same warning stands) before once again running for a very short stretch of metalled road leading up to the a housing development call 'Greenacres'. I presume this name is ironic, as the development must have obliterated a fair acre or two of countryside in the building, leaving very little of the 'green' that was once there before! Here, you must turn left into the car park of Chequers Kitchen Cookery School  & Restaurant (TR368556, N51 25' 10", E001 39' 30") to find the byway once again, which leaves the car park to the south.

© Stephen Craven, commons licence.

The byway continues for a fair stretch between the holes until rejoining Golf Road at the clubhouse of the hugely patriotic 'Royal St George's Golf Course' where it ends. Not really worth the fuss and bother of visiting but it must have been a very wild, beautiful place before the game of golf was invented!

Sandwich is a beautiful, unspoiled, ancient town that is well worth a visit. Of interest to ornithologists is the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, which can be found just after passing the northern toll house; to historians both Sandown and the rather more complete Deal Castle (both in Deal); and for foodies Chequers Kitchen Cookery School & Restaurant.

BOAT: Landport Farm Drive

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Lewes, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 122, 'Brighton & Hove'
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ40061213
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 89' 20" W000 01' 00"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ40611121
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 88' 30" W000 00' 30"
• To see: Lewes, Lewes Castle, Harveys Brewery, lots of pubs!
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

A fairly decent byway, this, just on the northern outskirts of Lewes. We started at the northern end of the byway, in Offham, leaving the sharp bend at St. Peters (Offham) church. The byway heads quite sharply downhill initially but soon twists and turns on its way down a far shallower decline and, whilst doing so, offers fantastic views over the marshes towards Malling Hill. This byway has a relatively muddy surface but, given the fact that the topsoil is relatively thin and there is a layer of underlying chalk, it is relatively well drained and the going is easy enough, if a little slippery in places. However, the odd bramble and briar has strayed onto the track so there is at least some chance of a scratch appearing on the paintwork; only a small chance though.

The greenlane continues its descent, running beside two man-made drainage ditches called Pellbrook Cut and, subsequently, Chalkpit Cut. There is quite a drop down onto the marshes, and were one to drive ridiculously enough to risk rolling their vehicle, the resulting 'uncommanded descent' would suck, so take it easy! At the nadir of the byway, nearly but not quite at the same level as the marsh, the green lane opens out into what was presumably once a small chalk pit (hence the name of the Cut?), and here there is evidence of some illegal offroading having occurred at the hand of the inevitable hands of filth. We  say this time and again, but shall restate it here just in case the message hasn't quite sunk in yet: DON'T DO IT! STAY ON THE BYWAY! To do otherwise is to tarnish the name of all responsible 4x4 drivers and will ultimately result in us getting banned from all greenlanes.

Continuing southwards, the byway starts to climb gently and passes Ousedale House (if southbound, take the left-hand, obvious fork), passes some allotments protected by a chain-link fence and then explodes out into a council estate, where it ends next to a children's play park. For a byway so close to town, it is almost (but not quite) a hidden gem! Were it longer, it would have scored higher than a 4.

The lovely and ancient town of Lewes is well worth exploring, and nearby to the byway lie Lewes Castle and the site of the nationally important Battle Of Lewes (1264). The museum in the castle has more information and is well worth checking out. The town also has a great many pubs, almost all of which are just awesome so we shan't recommend any particular one: try your luck! Ale aficionados can do far worse than have a tour of Harveys Brewery but, be warned: the waiting list for a tour is over two years long!.

To ESCC this is Hamsey Byway 23.

UCR: Larkings Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Cocking, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU892175
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 95' 10" W000 73' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU900177
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 95' 20" W000 71' 90"
• To see: the view!, Cocking railway station, The Unicorn pub, South Downs National Park.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway seems to lack any official name, so we have planted our flag in the name of Her Britannic Majesty and entitled it 'Larkings Lane' after the barn at its western end. The approach to this track is almost indistinguishable from the byway itself as the unnamed country lane running between Cocking and Heyshott is in such a state of disrepair as to be practically a green lane in itself! However, this byway is clearly signposted with a finger post reading 'Public Way'.

 Leaving the country lane on a bend and heading every so slightly up hill, this actively-used farm track is well kept: the hedgerows on either side are cut back sufficiently to never be a threat and the surface is, for the most part, well drained and alternates between gravel and compacted rubble.

Heading eastwards as we did, the green lane follows the field boundaries and is crossed by a footpath and two bridleways. All of which are used by farm machinery but carry no vehicular access for the likes of us, so don't be tempted to drive them (they don't go anywhere anyway!). On reaching the second bridleway our byway rounds a bend to the north and, after a pleasant tree-lined run ends abruptly in the village of Heyshott. A very easy-going lane and only really worth driving for the outstanding view it offers of Heyshott and Graffham Downs.

The former course of one of the trio of 'Midhurst Railways' (in this case the Chichester-Midhurst branch) can be found just west of Cocking, and the gorgeous T.H. Myers-designed station building there is still in existence, albeit as a private dwelling. They just don't build them like that these days! The village of Heyshott, at the end of the byway, is as charming as the hilariously-entitled village of Cocking at the beginning of the green lane, save for the shockingly vile, horrendous 1970's housing estate that has been smashed into the heart of the village. What the planning authorities were thinking is beyond rational thought... Lament it's creation over a fine ale in the Unicorn pub.

BOAT: Stephen's Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: High Cross, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU709274
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 20" W000 99' 00"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU706268
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 60" W000 99' 50"
• To see: tumulus.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Just a trickle...

This unnamed byway (helpfully called 'Track' on Hampshire County Council's definitive map) has been christened 'Stephen's Lane' by us after the small area of woodland found at its southern end. If you know of a more appropriate name for it, please comment below! (Who Stephen was we don't know...)

We started at its northern end. Striking out in a southerly direction as the light was starting to fade we found this well-maintained byway to offer a thin surface of mud and loam with an underlying hard layer of flint and occasional rubble, making the going good and easy with no chance of us causing new ruts in the wet. We mention the moisture here because when we drove this byway in December 2013 we had all been living through the wettest winter since records began in the late 1700's, and therefore greenlaning was a really bad idea in almost every instance with floodwater and fallen trees sometimes barring the way. However, your intrepid explorers simply had to go and survey the record-breaking scene so we selected a number of byways to drive on that day that we knew had a very solid, decent surface immune from the threat of damage by our wheels. As we mentioned, this was one of them.

That said, at the nadir of the green lane's descent (around half-way along), there was (as shown in the photo) quite simply the biggest and deepest amount of standing water I've ever seen on a byway. It was basically a temporary lake! This part always holds its water and there is always just a little puddle or something for a good while after rain, but wow. But... we didn't buy the snorkel and wading kit for aesthetics, so after depth- and surface-checking with a large stick we forged a path through and climbed out towards the end of the lane on Privett Road, near the aforementioned Stephen's Copse'. Relatively unassuming in the dry, this track came into its own during our visit and so scored higher than it otherwise would have.

A tumulus and a long earthwork feature of uncertain origin can be found just to the west of the green lane for those with an historical interest.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 49. This byway is also featured in Land Rover Owner International magazine's November 2012 issue as byway number 20.

Statistics
Total distance: 0.69 km (0.4 mi)
Total time: 04:07
Moving time: 03:50
Average speed: 10.07 km/h (6.3 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 10.83 km/h (6.7 mi/h)
Max speed: 13.95 km/h (8.7 mi/h)
Average pace: 5:58 min/km (9:36 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 5:32 min/km (8:55 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 4:18 min/km (6:55 min/mi)
Max elevation: 240 m (788 ft)
Min elevation: 228 m (749 ft)
Elevation gain: 9 m (28 ft)
Max grade: 7 %
Min grade: -8 %
Recorded: 30/12 15:58

View Stephen's Lane in a larger map

BOAT: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: High Cross, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU724276
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 00' 44" W000 96' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU714281
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 80" W000 98' 30"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

No prizes for guessing how this 'green lane' got it's name! Starting at its eastern end, this dead straight lane wavers not from its westward intent over its entire (short) length. It's rare to find a straighter byway!

Although well maintained, it is not without its perils however. When we drove this byway in December 2013 we had been living through the wettest winter since records began in the late 1700's, and therefore greenlaning was a really bad idea in almost every instance either with the ground far too soft to support us without damage, or floodwater and fallen trees barring the way. However, your intrepid explorers simply had to go and survey the scene, so we selected a number of byways to drive on that day that we knew had a very solid, decent surface. This was one of them, and its flint and compressed stone surface, lying under perhaps a millimeter or two of mud, did not let us down and neither did we cause any new ruts.

That said, at the nadir of the green lane's descent, there was (as shown in the photo) quite simply the biggest and deepest amount of standing water I've seen. It was basically a temporary lake! This part always holds its water and there is always just a little puddle or something for a good while after rain, but still... we didn't buy the snorkel and wading kit for nothing, so after depth- and surface-checking with a large stick we forged a path through (see video) and climbed up to the end of the lane at Ragmore Farm, at the junction between Ragmore Lane and King's Lane. Relatively unassuming in the dry, this track came into its own during our visit and so scored higher than it otherwise would have.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 43.

Statistics
Total distance: 1.33 km (0.8 mi)
Total time: 13:45
Moving time: 06:35
Average speed: 5.80 km/h (3.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 12.12 km/h (7.5 mi/h)
Max speed: 22.92 km/h (14.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 10:21 min/km (16:40 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 4:57 min/km (7:58 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2:37 min/km (4:13 min/mi)
Max elevation: 287 m (942 ft)
Min elevation: 255 m (836 ft)
Elevation gain: 7 m (22 ft)
Max grade: 3 %
Min grade: -9 %
Recorded: 30/12 15:41

View Green Lane in a larger map

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BOAST: Holtham Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Newton Valence, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU727320
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 30" W000 96' 20"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU728306
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 07' 10" W000 96' 20"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

We drove this lane from north to south. Leaving a country road just south of the village of Newton Valence, the byway proceeds as an earthen holloway with an underlying firm chalk surface, so the going is easy, even though the very occasional holly branch will make the paintwork protest. Climbing uphill towards Cuckoo Copse the gradient shallows out almost completely, the greenlane leaves the woodland behind and takes a right-angled curve to the south to proceed between high hedgerows. At this stage the surface is in very good nick, well drained as it is on a firm surface with a grassy centre.

Following the field boundaries, the byway then curves back slightly to the east before taking another relatively sharp turn to the south east, finally cresting a hill next to the 'trig point' 220m AMSL and ending back on the tarmac just south of Goleigh Farm.

Please note: the byway opposite the southern end of this track is subject to a TRO and as such you cannot continue down it in a four-wheeled motorised vehicle.

To Hampshire County Council these are Byways 12 & 21, combined here for convenience.

Statistics:
Total distance: 1.71 km (1.1 mi)
Total time: 07:29
Moving time: 06:59
Average speed: 13.69 km/h (8.5 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 14.67 km/h (9.1 mi/h)
Max speed: 22.01 km/h (13.7 mi/h)
Average pace: 4:23 min/km (7:03 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 4:05 min/km (6:35 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2:44 min/km (4:23 min/mi)
Max elevation: 261 m (857 ft)
Min elevation: 190 m (623 ft)
Elevation gain: 72 m (235 ft)
Max grade: 17 %
Min grade: -3 %
Recorded: 30/12 15:27

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BOAT: Yew Tree Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Ball Hill, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 158, 'Newbury & Hungerford'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU429639
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 37' 30" W001 38' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU428631
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 36' 60" W001 38'50"
• To see: River Enborne.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

The inclusion of this byway is a bit of a cheat, to be honest, as the majority of it is in West Berkshire! However, it features a ford, so it would be rude to ignore it.

Starting in Berkshire then, on the eastern side of a generic bungalow on Enborne Street, the green lane strike out due south on a firm, grassy surface, and almost immediately plunges into woodland. Beware the ditch running alongside the byway to the east: I wouldn't relish having to extract myself from is having attempted to 'save the paintwork'!

The muddy surface is lightly rutted, and the undergrowth has started to encroach a fair bit, but it was only a single summer's growth when we drove the greenlane and was perfectly passable with only the odd chance of a scratch. Progressing on southwards, the byway eventually meets the River Enborne, which it fords. It's easy going: the river was very shallow when we visited in early October and the river bottom is gravel so it's not really an obstacle. The footbridge to the west is well out of the way. However, the northern bank is pretty steep and passes between two willow trees, and thus takes a little negotiation, but the southern bank is very easy going. On egressing the ford, the byway continues initially as a gravelled, and then a metalled track accessing a garden centre. Well worth the drive, but only scores a '3' due to it being a bit overgrown.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 43, and was reviewed in the July 2013 edition of LRO Magazine as Greenlane 13

Statistics
Total distance: 0.85 km (0.5 mi)
Total time: 06:51
Moving time: 05:50
Average speed: 7.47 km/h (4.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 8.76 km/h (5.4 mi/h)
Max speed: 24.37 km/h (15.1 mi/h)
Average pace: 8:02 min/km (12:55 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 6:51 min/km (11:01 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2:28 min/km (3:58 min/mi)
Max elevation: 171 m (560 ft)
Min elevation: 153 m (502 ft)
Elevation gain: 16 m (53 ft)
Max grade: 7 %
Min grade: -8 %
Recorded: 04/10/2013 15:47

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UCR: Back Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: West Marsden, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU763130
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 91' 20" W000 91' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU763156
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 93' 50" W000 91' 60"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

We drove this long, yet unremarkable, byway from its eastern end, starting where it leaves another unnamed country road just south west of West Marden, heading north-west for a few yards until it turns to the west. For a very short distance here it remains metalled as it serves an equestrian facility, but on passing the latter the surface soon becomes (and stays, for the most part) one of coarse gravel with patches of bare earth. The foliage lining the green lane is always well cut back and never presents a threat to paintwork.

Proceeding westwards between hedgerows, the byway soon crosses a footpath, the junction with which is marked on the fingerboard as a 'Public Way' in our direction (quite the most unhelpful term ever, for all user groups!). Shortly after the junction 'Northern Petroleum Plc' have gone bananas with signs cautioning, warning and designating all over the place at the site of a (now disused) quarry. Who knows what all that is about?! On passing the quarry the byway plunges downwards into Bottom Copse. It remains very easy going however and after a couple of jinks the green lane, after passing through a collapsed gate, once again serves as a driveway for several cottages. Just before the end of the byway, a metalled driveway leaves southwards (I'm not sure whether or not its private, best to avoid just in case) and our byway subsequently terminates similarly to how it began: back on tarmac and forming a junction with the unnamed country road it left further to the east. Worth a drive if you're passing.

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UCR: Huckswood/Cowdown Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Chalton, Hampshire and on into West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU739155
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 93' 50" W000 94' 90"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU763156
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 93' 50" W000 91' 60"
• To see: Roman building.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Oh, were that it was like this for its entire length...

Quite a stressful green lane, this one, if you value your paintwork! We drove it from the western end, in Chalton, Hampshire. It all starts easily enough: the surface of compacted earth is solid enough and the hedgerows that border the byway keep themselves to themselves. The greenlane heads uphill and after a short distance another private lane (sealed with a metal barrier) diverges to the north. On this track, although there is nothing to be seen above the surface, there is archaeological evidence of a recorded Romano-British settlement. You know, just for info. Read more here.

The byway continues uphill past a disused chalk quarry, and on passing it the hedgrerows close in dramatically. It really does get tight: this greenlane dramatically needs a clearance program. Dents shouldn't be a factor but scratches all over the paintwork are unavoidable. You have been warned.

The byway levels out and eventually passes over the border between Hampshire and West Sussex. And at this border the status of the UCR technically changes to a 'soft lane' (no idea what that term means) whgilst the name changes from Huckswood Lane to Cowdown Lane. On the OS map it looks like am 'Other road, drive, or track (fenced)' but it is most certainly not a road (or fenced)! Vehicular rights are also not exactly black and white, but it is signposted (if memory serves) as a soft road so that implies it's fine to drive it.

The byway carries on almost due east and is soon crossed by a bridleway, the junction with which provides a momentary respite from tree-dodging before the foliage closes in with gusto and stays that way. Eventually, after what seems an age of squealing bodywork, the byway bursts out into the open air when it reaches Cowdown Farm. It progresses through the farm buildings and ends on the B2146 just north of Compton, West Sussex. Phew, it's over!

Statistics:
Total distance: 2.46 km (1.5 mi)
Total time: 16:40
Moving time: 15:39
Average speed: 8.83 km/h (5.5 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 9.41 km/h (5.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 18.00 km/h (11.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 6.79 min/km (10.9 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 6.38 min/km (10.3 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 3.33 min/km (5.4 min/mile)
Max elevation: 165 m (541 ft)
Min elevation: 119 m (389 ft)
Elevation gain: 74 m (243 ft)
Max grade: 0 %
Min grade: 0 %
Recorded: 06/06/2013 18:25

...but it's not. See? And it gets worse still, we promise.

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BOAT: Netherley Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Blendworth, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU722142
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 30" W000 97' 40"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU720138
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 00" W000 97' 60"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This short yet steep byway climbs upwards from the junction between South Road and another unnamed country road (the byway itself appears to be unnamed, so if you know of the correct name please let us know!). Passing through a copse, inside which headroom is a little restricted in places, the green lane steeply climbs the side of Netherley Down on a surface of gravel and chalky earth.

On cresting the top of the hill this short byway turns to the west and passes along a field boundary, offering pleasant views southwards towards Rowlands Castle and the south coast, and it soon ends just east of Blendworth, 166' higher than when it started, and forming the eastern spur of a crossroads between New Barn Farm Lane, Rowlands Castle Road and Woodhouse Lane. Worth a visit if you're passing for sure, but too short to go out of your way for.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway Horndean 51.

Statistics:
Total distance: 0.47 km (0.3 mi)
Total time: 03:49
Moving time: 03:25
Average speed: 7.45 km/h (4.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 8.33 km/h (5.2 mi/h)
Max speed: 13.50 km/h (8.4 mi/h)
Average pace: 8.05 min/km (13.0 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 7.21 min/km (11.6 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 4.44 min/km (7.2 min/mile)
Max elevation: 168 m (550 ft)
Min elevation: 117 m (384 ft)
Elevation gain: 51 m (166 ft)
Max grade: 0 %
Min grade: 0 %
Recorded: 06/06/2013 19:08

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BOAT: Coulters Dean Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Buriton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU748194
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 97' 00" W000 93' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU738195
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 97' 00" W000 95' 00"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Coulters Dean Lane is far easier than Milky Way, which line just to the north of this byway! The two should really be driven in conjunction. We started this short byway from its eastern end, in the farmyard of Coulters Dean Farm. The lane passes through and proceeds on a gravel/chalky earth surface and soon passes underneath some 'overwhelmingly attractive' electricity pylons (if a better argument for localised, community energy generation exists we'd love to hear it).

The byway is pretty undulating, with some steep gradients, but it is a very easy drive on an east-west alignment, and the foliage is kept cut well back. There really isn't much else to say about this green lane, though: it's just up and down in a straight line! It soon finishes on a crossroads with New Barn Lane and Kiln Lane, just after passing over Buriton Tunnel , an underground reservoir (just to the north) and a bungalow in construction (how is planning permission still being given out for bungalows? Do we learn nothing?!).

This byway is part of the South Downs Way, and as such is popular with many other types of user groups. Take care, and use caution, courtesy and common sense if you encounter them!

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 25.

Statistics:
Total distance: 1.05 km (0.7 mi)
Total time: 05:02
Moving time: 04:47
Average speed: 12.56 km/h (7.8 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 13.20 km/h (8.2 mi/h)
Max speed: 25.20 km/h (15.7 mi/h)
Average pace: 4.78 min/km (7.7 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 4.55 min/km (7.3 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2.38 min/km (3.8 min/mile)
Max elevation: 209 m (687 ft)
Min elevation: 191 m (625 ft)
Elevation gain: 27 m (87 ft)
Max grade: 5 %
Min grade: -6 %
Recorded: 06/06/2013 18:05

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BOAT: Copyhold Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Weston, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU729212
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 98' 60" W000 96' 20"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU731214
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 98' 80" W000 96' 00"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Down in the hollow way.

UPDATE 22/04/2015: Perhaps we were too hasty! According to the observations of a Mr. Smith (see, below) this byway has been re-opened. 

UPDATE 10/05/2014: As of 28/04/2014 this byway is subject to a TRO for 21 days from that date, and after that, according to Hampshire County Council, an application will be made for a six-month extension. It look like this green lane has been lost to us. More info: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/pnadetail?noticeUID=2892 The following review is now out of date, therefore.

A very short byway, this one, but it's always the small ones that have the worst bite! Starting from the driveway serving a pretty cottage called Copyhold Barn, the tarmac ends abeam their garage and, after a brief stretch of gravel, the green lane passes through what looks like their flower beds and plunges down a dip and through a slightly overgrown hedge into a deep hollow way.

Down here, at the time we drove the lane, the wild garlic (Allium ursinum) has gone crazy and the smell is almost too much. Delightful. However, down here is also where the byway presents its biggest challenge. From the look of it there used to be some sort of bridge or revetment shoring up the green lane surface as a stream passed under it, but due to the force of floodwater this has since been swept away and there is now what can best be described as a bomb crater in its place. Ground clearance is certainly an issue: in our 110', although we didn't ground out (by millimetres) the rear NAS step did scrape all the way down and we bent our electric pickup next to the towbar. If one was driving this byway southbound, due to the topography of the bomb crater, it may well be impossible to get through without a suspension lift. Take extreme care, even though the stream is dry in summer. After the bomb crater its more or less plain sailing, with a bit of a climb back up to Weston Lane where the byway ends. Do not drive this green lane unless you are confident in your abilities and those of your vehicle.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 46.

Statistics:
Total distance: 1.29 km (0.8 mi)
Total time: 07:49
Moving time: 05:51
Average speed: 9.92 km/h (6.2 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 13.27 km/h (8.2 mi/h)
Max speed: 37.80 km/h (23.5 mi/h)
Average pace: 6.05 min/km (9.7 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 4.52 min/km (7.3 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1.59 min/km (2.6 min/mile)
Max elevation: 162 m (531 ft)
Min elevation: 134 m (439 ft)
Elevation gain: 37 m (122 ft)
Max grade: 8 %
Min grade: -4 %
Recorded: 06/06/2013 17:22

The bomb crater. Far worse than it looks on here!

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FORD: New Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: King's Somborne, Hampshire
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU367313
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 00" W001 47' 70"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

A shallow, concrete-bottomed over a tributary of the River Test at the junction of New Lane and Winchester Road. Can run dry in very hot weather.

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