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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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.

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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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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BOAT: Ruggles Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Argos Hill, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ563287
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 60" E000 22' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ559277
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 02' 80" E000 22' 20"
• To see: the view.  
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

I'm not sure if the name of this byway is correct as I could not find one on the map, but in absense of a name I have called is Ruggles Lane after the farm it runs past.

Starting at the northern end, leaving the B2101 at the Sheriff's Lane junction, this great byway follows filed boundaries on the western side of the lane. It's a little overgrown with foliage, but there is nothing 'hard': it was all this years growth and nettles/teasels where the worst of it. That said, this green lane is also lined with mature trees that, although they pose nearly no obstacle, must still none-the-less be negotiated.

The byway heads downhill on a shallow gradient and an unrutted surface of compacted earth, affording an extremely pleasant view across rolling fields. A few houses, a green house and an agricultural building pass to the east and the gradient then steepens downwards towards a very shallow ford in the River Rother that is not marked on the OS map. On fording the river (it's barely a stream at this point) the lane then climbs uphill and turns sharply to the west. This byway then ends on Five Ashes Road. A great, simple byway in a very beautiful area.

What green laning is (mostly) all about.

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BOAT: Boxalls Hill

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Beacon Hill, Surrey.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU870365
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 12' 10" W000 75' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU866358
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates:  N51 11' 50" W000 76' 60"
• To see: Waggoner's Wells, ford.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB: this byway (as of 05/05/2014) has had a lot of work done on it, and is now (apparently) a very relaxed and easy-going drive! The original article, although now out-of-date, is still included below for reference. 

NB: this is an extremely challenging lane and you may well not be able to complete it. Avoid unless you really do know what you are doing! If you elect to drive it, please use this lane sparingly to avoid further damage to the surface.

Bad picture, worse surface.

This byway is also featured in Land Rover Owner International magazine's November 2012 issue as byway number 7. We travelled southbound. Due to damage this relatively short green lane was recently subject to a TRO, but this appears to have been lifted after the worst of the damage was repaired (apparently. I dread to think what it was like before!). Starting from the northern end, then, this byway heads downhill from the A287 (Churt Road). It's pretty easy going, on a decent surface of compacted earth that was no doubt improved by the works. The lane flows through aesthetically-pleasing pine woodland and follows the edge of some back gardens, which are fenced off. At the lane's low point can be found a very shallow ford; I'd be hard pressed to think of any challenge it would face even if the area was in flood.

From the ford, however, things change. I'm not sure if the budget ran out but this section of the track has most certainly not been repaired! Heading uphill for a short distance out of the ford, the surface changes to rutted, soft mud, which continues until the hill levels off and follows a field boundary with a pleasant view to the north. On resuming a descent the lane appears to have dried out as the surface changes to one that looks, at face value anyway, to contain more sand than the mud before. Due to this the surface from this point is incredibly bumpy and rutted, and the going is extremely hard with a high chance of becoming cross-axled. This is not helped at this by having to negotiate your way around a mature oak tree (which we managed, barely). After passing the tree the lane bears to the right and here the worst of it can be found. A steep hill descent counts in your favour due to the assistance of gravity (the main reason we got through unscathed!) and here the surface has some literally vehicle-swallowing pot holes, at times one or more wheels may not be on the ground and becoming cross-axled is even more likely. Once this stretch has been negotiated the byway ends on Whitmore Vale Road, which also acts as the Hampshire/Surrey border.

Although the 'hard bit' is only a few yards long it is extremely hard to negotiate it successfully without either damage to the lane or your vehicle (or both). Talking to a fellow green-laner (who owned a pretty swish V8 Discovery with a suspension lift and winch: clearly a 4x4 not short of capability) who watched our descent said that in his vehicle he was unable to get up the lane at all and had given up! Be warned: even with all the 'kit' this lane might just be too much for your vehicle. We would be interested to hear from anyone else who tried to navigate its perils, or, even better, from people with a spade and pick-axe who would be willing to 'iron out the bumps' for the future enjoyment of all.

If, for some mad reason, you are up for a further challenge, cross the road and head for a hill climb on another byway called Whitmore Hanger, or relax and head for a picnic and a stroll at Waggoner's Wells: two large ponds, possibly created to serve a mill of iron foundry that was never built, that offer some decent, child-friendly walks around a scenic wooded valley.

This is Surrey County Council's Haslemere Byway 5.

The, uh..., 'ford'.

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UCR/BOAT: Stoney Bottom

• Overall Rating: 0
• Location: Grayshott, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU862345
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 10' 30" W000 77' 00"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU878350
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates:  N51 10' 70" W000 74' 70"
• To see: Waggoner's Wells, ford.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Due to damage, this greenlane is subject to a TRO and therefore closed to all motorised traffic and even horses! There is a shallow concrete-bottomed ford on Waggoner's Wells Road (the ford is not actually part of the byway).

Waggoner's Wells are two large ponds, possibly created to serve a mill of iron foundry that was never built, that offer some decent, child-friendly walks around this scenic valley. A great spot for a picnic.

This is Hampshire County Council BOAT 14, for reference to TROs.

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BOAT: Rockey Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Thursley, Surrey.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU896385
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 13' 90" W000 72' 00"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU890386
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates:  N51 14' 00" W000 73' 00"
• To see: Vanhurst Copse.  
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB as of 13/07/14 this byway has been cleared the fallen tree which blocked it. Enjoy. 

This is an absolutely fantastic, if technical, greenlane. Starting from the eastern end, the byway begins by leaving the metalled lane of the same name by a large cottage and immediately plunges down a very steep decline. Care must certainly be taken here as the sandy surface is firm in dry weather but it is also a little rutted and as such the descent is a little trickier than it would otherwise be. Encroaching foliage is seldom a problem.

The lane bears to the right as the descent shallows out a great deal, but continues downhill around Vanhurst Copse, a patch of ancient woodland owned and maintained by the Woodland Trust (they are an awesome charity, and one you should seriously consider supporting!). Unmarked on the Ordinance Survey map, but none-the-less very real, at the nadir of this lane lies a shallow ford with a footbridge on its northern side, lined with posts. This ford has a gravel bottom and is never a threat other than after seriously heavy rains, but it is always wise to get out and check your path on foot if there is even the slightest doubt. (Update, 04/01/2014: After heavy rains the ingress/egress of the river has become more tricky: see comment below.)

On fording the ghyll, the lane heads ever-more-sharply uphill and winds around the hill on to a more westerly track, ending eventually on the hard surface of the driveway of Ridgeway Farm. A great lane, if a little short, and it is certainly a challenge!

This byway is also featured in Land Rover Owner International magazine's November 2012 issue as byway number 1. It has also been called Ridgeway Farm Road and Hyde Lane, as well as BOAT 92A by Surrey County Council.

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FORD: Palesgate Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Crowborough, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
• OS Grid Reference: TQ541299
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 04' 70" E000 19' 70"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This ford over the Jarvis Brook, on the outskirts of Crowborough, has a concrete bottom and is always a very easy drive other than when the river is in flood.

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UCR/BOAT: Pisley Lane

• Overall Rating: 5
• Location: Walliswood, Surrey.
• OS Explorer Map 134, 'Crawley & Horsham'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ137401
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 14' 90" W000 37' 60"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ122393
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 14' 20" W000 39' 80"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Holden Brook Ford

Annoyingly, this byway starts on a completely different OS map, namely OS Explorer 146 'Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate'. It starts as a concreted UCR leaving Mole Street to the west, serving as the driveway for a couple of cottages as well as Holdenbrook, Pisley and Fishfold Farms. Back on OS Explorer 134 The greenlane winds its way through some pleasant woodland called (funnily enough) Pisley Copse and then is re-designated as a BOAT on passing Fishfold Farm, although it continues to be concreted.

As the driveway to Holdenbrook Farm divereges to the north west, the lane itself turns to the left and the concrete turns into leaf mould and mud. This trail is in good condition: the majority of the vegetation has been cut back and for the most part the surface is unrutted and easy going, even in very wet weather.

The junction between Pisley Lane and Green Lane.

Speaking of water, and why this lane scores so highly, is that from Holdenbrook Farm the lane begins a slow descent downhill until it meets Holden Brook where it fords this extremely pleasant stream. A footbridge crosses the river on the southern side of the ford and on a summer's day this would be a great place for a picnic and a paddle. However, for the purposes of greenlaning, the ford is usually pretty shallow (although the trail biker in the video embeded below obviously picked the wrong day to try to ford it! Let that serve as a warning to all.) and has a bottom of fine gravel that seems to be more than capable of supporting a 4x4, and we got through it with no trouble. Needless to say, it is highly advisable for you to check the depth of the water and condition of it's surface before you go piling in, and if you get stuck it's not our fault!

Climbing out onto the far bank, the lane turns slightly to the west and then takes a more or less straight track until the byway finishes on Horsham Road. A far better option to continue greenlaning is to take the turning to the south (at TQ124394, see picture above) down another, similar, BOAT called Green Lane.

One final note: Pisley Lane carries on for a very short distance as a UCR over the other side of Horsham Road, but since it's a dead end it is entirely pointless driving it.

This is Surrey County Council's Abinger Byway 542.

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FORD: Rectory Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Shere, Surrey.
• OS Explorer Map 145, 'Guildford & Farnham'.
• OS Grid Reference: TQ071478
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 21' 90" W000 46' 80"
• To see: the village of Shere.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This very shallow ford over the Tilling Bourne has a concrete bottom and is seldom very deep, even after very wet periods. Worth a visit if you're passing but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to drive it. Why not break for lunch in the picturesque village of Shere?

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FORD: Chantry Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Shere, Surrey.
• OS Explorer Map 145, 'Guildford & Farnham'.
• OS Grid Reference: TQ069477
• GPS Co-ordinates:  N51 21' 80" W000 47' 10"
• To see: the village of Shere.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This over the Tilling Bourne crosses a dead-end street and is right at its very tip, so there is no point driving to it and is merely included for completeness (we'd hate for you to think we hadn't turned over every single stone!). This ford is far better used to kick back, enjoy a picnic and have a paddle. Why not break for lunch in the picturesque village of Shere?

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FORD: Lindon Ford

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Bordon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield, Midhurst & Selborne'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU812357
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 11' 50" W000 84' 20"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This concrete-bottomed ford on a one-way street over the River Wey (you can only drive it southbound) runs past a pretty mill on one side and a footbridge on the other. It can be pretty deep in flood, with an average depth of 2 feet even in summer, so take care, but we heartily recommend that you visit this, one of our favourite fords.

Further to the above, don't even try to ford the river after torrential rain. Judge Jonathan Gammon drowned here after following his GPS whilst the ford was swollen, so learn the lesson and don't repeat his mistake.

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FORD: Twyford Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Brichgrove, West Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 135, 'Ashdown Forest'.
• OS Grid Reference: TQ402307
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 05' 90" W000 00' 10"
• To see: Ashdown Forest. 
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This tiny ford over no more than the shallowest of streams is still in a beautiful spot, but I wouldn't suggest going out of your way for it, especially since there are no greenlanes for miles around. Still, you can include it in your programme if you plan on exploring Ashdown Forest.

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FORD: Rookery Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Broughton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley. Stockbridge & Ludgershall'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU317322
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 80" W001 54' 90"
• To see: not much nearby. 
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This is a shallow ford over the Wallop Brook. Before driving this ford (as you should any other), assess its depth. The water in the Brook is usually crystal clear, but if it's not don't be shy of wading in with a measuring stick. As well as its depth of the water, assess the force exerted by it (the faster the stream, the more likely your car is to be washed away), and the nature and quality of the ford surface. Weight this against how likely you are to damage the watercourse, whether there is any evidence of damage from vehicles that have gone before, and make an informed and sensible decision whether to attempt a crossing. If there is even the slightest doubt, turn back.

In this instance, the surface consists of concrete bottom with a footbridge across it's eastern side. Take it slow enough to avoid damaging the ford and your vehicle, but just fast enough to avoid stalling the engine.

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UCR/BOAT: Broughton Drove

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Broughton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley. Stockbridge & Ludgershall'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU317324
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 09' 00" W001 54' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU323344
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 10' 80" W001 54' 00"
• To see: Danebury, Museum of Army Flying.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Starting at the southern end, in the village of Broughton, this lane is accessed via the shallow, concrete-bottomed ford through Wallop Brook on Rookery Lane. The southern half of this byway is classified as a UCR, and it, like the rest of the lane, is in pretty good nick. On a solid earthen surface, and lined with well-maintained hedgerows, this lane is very easy going indeed. In fact we encountered a chap in a Range Rover Sport having a go at it, so how hard can it be!

The UCR winds its way gently uphill, passing a stereotypical rusty corrugated iron barn on the eastern side until it reaches the junction with another BOAT called Stevens Drove, which leaves downhill to the east. Broughton Drove changes from a UCR to a BOAT at this junction.

The byway then slowly crawls uphill along a beech- and yew-lined course, gently twisting and turning as it follows the filed boundaries of Eveley Farm. This easy lane ends at around 81m AMSL where it breaks out of the trees onto Broughton Road. The end point for this byway is also the start point for another, also called Broughton Road, which strikes out to the north east from here. The occasional nice view over rolling hills, and the ease of progress, make this lane worth a drive for sure.


For those even mildly interested in history, or even those simply searching for a nice view, the hauntingly beautiful Danebury Iron Age hillfort is worth every second. Definitely go and see it. Just a little further afield, and much more recent, is the Museum of Army Flying on Middle Wallop airbase, with a decent collection of aircraft. Both lie to the north-west of Broughton Drove.

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BOAT: Studdens Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Cowbeech, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 123, 'Eastbourne & Beachy Head, Newhaven, Seaford, Hailsham & Heathfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ629142
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 40" E000 31' 60"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ622133
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 89' 70" E000 30' 50"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

NB: this byway is now subject to a TRO, being closed for 6 months from 25 October 2013. The closure is apparently required to protect the path surface and protect public safety while surface repairs are made. ESCC has a horrible habit of not re-opening these byways once closed, so time shall tell whether or not it re-opens to us in the summer.

Studdens Lane is quite a long lane, and is a hidden gem of a greenlane. Indeed, it is almost impossible to find at its southern end, as it starts in a farm yard, so it is far better to approach from the north.

Starting down the metalled lane of the same name, the BOAT itself begins just after passing the last cottage on the eastern side of the lane. Descending straight downhill on a winding path, at the nadir of its descent the lane crosses a small, shallow ford over Chilsham Stream (see pic, bottom), with a footbridge on one side. The ford isn't marked on the OS Explorer map, so it was a nice surprise!

On climbing out of the ford the lane heads gently uphill on a twisting, lightly rutted leaf mould surface through very pleasant woodland until, on exiting Scrip Wood, it reaches an epically tight hairpin bend. Indeed, the bend is so tight that I had to reverse my Defender 110 and get round in two goes!

After this bend, the lane changes character completely. Instead of a nice woodland drive, the surface changes to lightly rutted grass and mud, which presented no problem in the dry and were easily straddled. The foliage is well cut back, with a large orchard to the east and a hedge with the stream below to the west. Indeed in places the lane is so wide I was able to pass a man on his tractor with ease!

The lane twists and turns through pleasant countryside and follows the edge of the orchard until eventually it runs between two post-and-rail fences, turns abruptly towards a farmyard and then ends up on Cinderford Lane just west of the village of Hurstmonceux (pronounced "hurst-mon-zoo"!). As mentioned, the lane is pretty hard to find at this end and the byway sign is pretty well hidden.

Despite being a hidden gem, and although it has a ford, this lane scores a 4 instead of a 5 as after exiting Scrip Wood it's a little boring, and the electricity pylons and industrial buildings don't really help. Still well worth a drive though.

A surprise ford!

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BOAT: Smugglers Way

• Overall Rating: 5
• Location: Tilford, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 145, 'Guildford & Farnham, Godalming & Farnborough'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU874430
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 17' 90" W000 75' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU858419
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 17' 00" W000 77' 40"
• To see: Frensham Ponds, Tilford with it's two medieval bridges and historical oak trees, and the River Wey: great for a paddle with the kids.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This greenlane is a really treat, partly because of its length, but mainly due to the awesomely beautiful terrain it passes through. But first! a quick note on the lane itself. We started from Tilford Road. The lane actually runs both east and west from each side of Tilford road, but in-keeping with the format of this site, this article does not deal with the short eastern as it is a dead end and therefore pointless to drive. We will only mention the western section of the lane.

That said, the lane leaves Tilford Road just south of the iconic village of Tilford itself, famous for its medieval bridges, its fabulous, almost stereotypical village green (obviously with cricket pitch) and its famous oaks, one over 800 years old and others planted to mark the reigns of various monarchs.

On a surface of sand interspersed with section of forest floor and gravel, and with the foliage never closing in at all, this undulating lane (quite markedly so towards its western end, and apparently renowned for it) passes through an epically beautiful Scots Pine plantation (see photograph, left). The lane itself is not very well signposted, and you will need to proceed to the left when given the obvious choice (when driving it westbound), as straight ahead is a private driveway down to Meadow End Farm and is not open to the public.

Proceeding on a remarkably straight track, Tilford Common passes by on the south and lush equestrian pasture and dense woodland passes to the north. Otherwise unremarkable, but no worse for it, the lane eventually reaches a seasonal ford as the lane crosses a small tributary of the River Wey. As you can see from the video from the trail-biker I've embedded at the bottom of this post, he found it really quite tough! However in the middle of a heatwave in early October 2011 we found it bone dry. The ford has a hard enough surface for a base as someone has laid some bricks along it, but be warned: proceed slowly over it. We once hit the ford at a paltry 15mph and gave Prometheus' suspension such a jolt it actually hurt us, and I could have sworn I'd broken him!

On rounding the gentle corner after the ford, the lane (as previously mentioned) crosses some pronounced undulations and then ends where it meets Grange Road. A great lane, which is awesome even in isolation, but the fact that it is 500m from the start of the epic Sandy Lane makes it better still. The entire area is popular with families and others pursuing leisure, so take more care than usual on this greenlane. Even so, full marks.

View Smugglers Way in a larger map

FORD: Mill Lane

• Overall Rating: 0
• Location: Odiham, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• OS Grid Reference: SU728520
• GPS Co-ordinates: N51 26' 20" W000 95' 80"
• To see: Odiham Castle.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Update: As of 01/08/2012 these fords are subject to a TRO and are therefore closed to all vehicles. You cannot access them as they are bollarded off. This post is now solely included for reference and as a record of our experiences when they were still open. You can check the list of current Hampshire TRO's here.

DANGER: there is a chance of your vehicle becoming stranded or damaged whilst driving this ford, even in the height of summer! Don't try it after heavy rains.

The first of TWO fords!

Before even thinking of driving this ford (as you should any other), assess its depth by wading in with a measuring stick. Assess the depth of the water, the force exerted by it (the faster the stream, the more likely your car is to be washed away), and the nature and quality of the ford surface. Weight this against how likely you are to damage the watercourse, whether there is any evidence of damage from vehicles that have gone before, and make an informed and sensible decision whether to attempt a crossing. If there is even the slightest doubt, turn back.

In this instance, the surface consists of a gravel surface providing a relatively easy passage via an awesome double ford through the River Whitewater. Take it slow enough to avoid damaging the ford and your vehicle, but just fast enough to create a bow wave and avoid stalling the engine.

When you're done, definitely check out the ruins of Odiham Castle which lie just to the west of the fords.

Updated 11/08/2012: the lane today, after the TRO has been enforced. (Photographs courtesy of N. De Lacey, with thanks.)

The northern end. 

The southern end.

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