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...

UCR/BOAT: New Barn Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Crawley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132 'Winchester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU451354
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 11' 61" W001 35' 68"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU451334
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 09' 88" W001 35' 61"
• To see: a tumulus just to the east of the BOAT section.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

There’s not much to see here.

Half-gravel coated and half metalled, this byway is nothing more than a lightly-potholed farm track. Running from a nasty junction with the A272 in the east, via New Barn Farm, and then on the BOAT south toward Stud Lane and Littleton, it is a pleasant drive between immaculate hedgerows (and not so pleasant-smelling pig fields). There are far more interesting offerings to the greenlaner in this area of the county of Hampshire. Move along.

To Hampshire County Council, this is UCR 15.

BOAT: Stodham Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Liss, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU778265
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 30" W000 89' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU784269
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 03' 70" W000 88' 30"
• To see: ancient earthwork.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Stodham Lane is a very simple, straightforward byway. We drove it from it's western end. Leaving Pruetts Lane, the byway leaves the country road at a very sharp hairpin bend. Heading east on a hard surface of compacted gravel or clay, the going is extremely easy as the surface is well maintained (there is barely a pothole) and the undergrowth on each side is kept cut well back and never threatens the paintwork.

The track twists and turns its way along a field boundary with a shallow ditch on the southern side, and then suddenly heads uphill on reaching 'Sunrise Cottage', and... that's it. There is nothing further that remains to be remarked upon about this byway other than it ends where it meets the B3006 between Hill Brow and East Hill, Liss. Not really worth going out of one's way to visit.

Oh, actually there is one thing for the history buffs: just to the south of the lane lies a large ancient earthwork, although nobody seems to know what it is.

BOAT/UCR: Homelands Lane/Stonylands Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Clanfield, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119 'Meon Valley' or 120, 'Chichester'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU705191
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 96' 70" W000 99 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU683189 or SU690205
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 96' 60" W001 02' 80" or N50 98' 00" W001 01' 70"
• To see: source of the River Meon, Butster Hill and Queen Elizabeth Country Park nature reserves, Butster Ancient Farm, tumuli.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

 

Please note: this is a combined post covering both Homelands Lane and Stonylands Lane which, although separate, cannot be driven in isolation. Also note that we were unable to find the correct name for these byways so we christened them after the farms they serve. If we are wrong, please comment below!

We started our journey at the eastern end of these byways on a UCR common to both, just to the south of Butster Hill which is the highest point on the chalk ridge of the South Downs and the second highest point in the South Downs National Park. Heading along the lightly potholed driveway of crushed asphalt and rubble that serves Homelands Farm and descending gently downhill, Homelands Lane proper soon begins on passing the farm and, once the other byway passes by on the northern side, a simply incredible vista (inevitably marred by electricity pylons) opens up across the sheep-grazed valley to the north. It is the increasingly rare, unspoiled corners of the island such as these, folks, which make living in England great!

On a remarkably straight course forming part of the South Downs Way, the compacted earth surface of the byway is only lightly potholed and although the very occasional branch has designs on the paintwork, it is very well kept and a marked contrast to Stonylands Lane. On passing into Hyden Wood, some of the potholes still contained water and a few larger tree roots make progress slightly more interesting but it is never challenging in the slightest. At this juncture the byway passes the first tumulus, just south of the track. There are a few more just to the north on Hyden Hill and one at the western end of the byway. These tumuli are not particularly impressive but they are certainly excellent picnic spots and whilst you do so, spare a thought for the bronze age warrior buried beneath the soil mound at your feet. Whilst in Hyden Wood the green lane begins its slow descent towards its ending at Hyden Cross.

An alternative route is to turn right onto Stonylands Lane, and you will immediately regret having done so, even on a trail bike. This byway could not be more different from Homelands Lane. A steep descent takes the driver almost immediately into thick, chaotic undergrowth and believe me when I state that it really is hard going. If you have even the slightest inkling towards protecting your paintwork run as fast as you can in the opposite direction: this byway will rip you to shreds. For almost the entire descent blackthorn and hawthorn register their protest all down the side of your vehicle and the light ruts and utterly unnecessary barbed-wire fence (the hedge would stop a charging elephant!) make it absolutely impossible to avoid their clutches. The hell only stops once reaching the switchback turns which, when driving this byway southwards, lull one into a false sense of security given how easy going and carpeted in wild flowers they are. At its northern extremity the mental endurance test that is Stonylands Lane soon finishes on a metalled UCR serving both Stonylands and Preston Farm.

The source of the River Meon bubbles up out of the chalk just to the west of this end of the green lane and is also a stunning place for a picnic. Butster Hill and Queen Elizabeth Country Park nature reserves and the peerless Butster Ancient Farm are all most certainly worth exploring whilst you are in the area.

To Hampshire County Council these are Horndean Byways 43 and 44, combined here for convenience.

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: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 0
• Location: South Street/South Chailey, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 122, 'Brighton & Hove'
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ392181
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 94' 60" W000 00' 20"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: TQ392173
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 93' 930" W000 00' 20"
• To see: Lewes, Lewes Castle, Harveys Brewery, lots of pubs!
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway is currently subject to a TRO and as such is closed to motorised traffic. Motorised traffic, that is, unless you happen to ride a trail bike, in which case it is wide open to you! Apparently this is because there is a bridge in pretty poor nick which a fair bit of work doing to it before it is made safe for heavier vehicles such as 4x4's. As such the byway is closed for 9 months from 12/12/2014. Time will tell if it ever re-opens, but we are sceptical! Avoid for now.

Just down the A275 to the south, 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 Chailey Byway 8.

UCR: Habens Lane/Menslands Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Hambledon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 119, 'Meon Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU637134
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 91' 70" W001 09' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU639142
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 92' 40" W001 09' 20"
• To see: tumuli.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code! 

Starting off as the remains of a metalled road and quickly deteriorating to a flint rubble surface, Habens Lane strikes out uphill in a westerly direction. There is evidence of tyre tracks so, although the byway is by no means regularly used and the foliage is just beginning to encroach, it does see some use. It's pretty easy going, if narrow in places.

The byway soon levels off and turns briefly to the north before turning west again where a footpath crosses the track. On entering the southern tendril of the curiously titled 'Madam's Copse' a junction rears its head. The only realistic way onward for a 4x4 driver is to turn north on to Menslands Lane: Habens Lane passes through a quagmire that someone has quite obviously gotten stuck in previously: it's a right state, and after said quagmire the greenlane becomes blocked by a tree, making it slightly too narrow for a 4x4 to force past anyway. Nothing to see here, move along.

Menslands Lane offers a much easier time of it up through Madam's Copse, turns east and then back north, past the pond that lends its name to the byway. It ends up back on the tarmac at Glebeland Farm. It's not a great drive to be honest and hardly worth the bother of venturing out of one's way, hence the 2.

For those with an interest in history, three tumuli can be found in a field to the south-east of the eastern end of Habens Lane.

View Habens Lane/Menslands Lane in a larger map

BOAT/UCR: Mount Hermon Road

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Over Wallop, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU262401
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 16' 00" W001 62' 60"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU270369
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 13' 10" W001 61' 50"
• To see: Hawk Conservancy, Thruxton, long barrow.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

WARNING: The good old British Army has a training area immediately to the west of this byway. Do not stray into it, obey all signs and do not touch anything unusual!

(We had to guess at the name of this byway: if you know the correct name please comment below!)

This is one of the most westerly byways that falls within the remit of this website! Starting at the northern end, just south of the hamlet of Palestine (!), this long byway begins its journey at roughly 102m AMSL as a well used, well kept farm track; the muddy surface shows evidence of the tractors that use it to access the fields, but it could not be considered rutted.

Proceeding downhill, the greenlane soon reaches a junction: part of our byway heads off the the east and ends on the B3084 but this track is pretty overgrown. You'd have to really push a path through it and it is, as such, not worth the bother. Taking the southerly trail is a much more interesting option, and although the hedge that marks the westerly border of the byway is pretty overgrown it is not too hard to dodge the worst of it by taking a fractionally more easterly line whilst driving the greenlane (don't be tempted to drive on to the fields though: that is tresspassing!). However, the lack of any physical border to the east of the byway provides one with some wonderful views over to the hills to the south-east.

Pushing through the worst of the overgrown hedge our byway eventually reaches a second junction. This time, the path to the east is much better kept: a sparsely-graveled, relatively solid surface proceeds towards the B3084 and provides one with an option: finish here or push on southwards! We (obviously) chose the latter, especially since the western hedgerow has somewhat released its grip on the greenlane after this junction.

Onwards, the byway heads gently up the side of Suddern Hill on a very lightly rutted earthen surface with a strip of grass down the middle, and soon imperceptibly changes into a UCR. It ends on the A343, just est of the village of Middle Wallop. Well worth a drive, but stay well out of the Army's way!

The Hawk Conservancy, a bird-of-prey centre, is just fantastic. It's nearby to the north-east. Also to the north of the byway is Thruxton race circuit, should you desire to travel at a somewhat faster pace than that offered by greenlaning! To the east of the byway, just after the second junction, those with an interest in history may find a large, Neolithic long barrow. It has, however, been mostly ploughed away.

To Hampshire County Council these are Byways 11, 12, and 13, combined here for convenience.

Statistics
Total distance: 3.54 km (2.2 mi)
Total time: 15:35
Moving time: 13:30
Average speed: 13.61 km/h (8.5 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 15.70 km/h (9.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 27.61 km/h (17.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 4:25 min/km (7:06 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 3:49 min/km (6:09 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2:10 min/km (3:30 min/mi)
Max elevation: 155 m (508 ft)
Min elevation: 131 m (429 ft)
Elevation gain: 42 m (139 ft)
Max grade: 6 %
Min grade: -5 %
Recorded: 04/10/2013 18:17

View Mount Hermon Road in a larger map

BOAT: West Street

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Whitway, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU464597
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 33' 50" W001 33' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU460591
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 33' 00" W001 34' 00"
• To see: Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway, hill forts, Highclere Castle.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

When taken in to account with Brick Kiln Lane, these two byways make a cracking drive (hence their '4' rating!). Starting at the northern end, then, this greenlane begins as a metalled country road serving some gorgeous country cottages and, eventually, Ridgemoor Farm. The tarmac soon ends and a twisting, hedge-lined, graveled/flint/chalk surfaced byway begins, heading up a gentle gradient. Sometimes grass has invaded the centre of the greenlane, and sometimes it hasn't, but it's easy going.

After a few hundred metres the two byways meet and cross one another, demarcated by a four-way finger board. West Street climbs sharply away to the south, and soon levels out to pass along well-kept field boundaries. On emerging, the view southwards really opens up to provide a stunning vista of Ladle Hill and its renowned, unfinished Bronze Age hill fort.

The byway soon starts heading sharply downhill for a fair way until shallowing off, twisting around a couple of bends and finally ending back on the tarmac just shy of Manor Farm. The surface is very easy going throughout, the hedgerows are kept well cut back, the greenlane is a very simple drive and it really is most suitable for any vehicle.

If you have brought 'her indoors' along for the journey, she may well be totally stoked out by a visit to Highclere Castle, which lies just to the west of this byway. You don't need telling that this is where they filmed Downton Abbey! For those with an interest in actual history, two highly impressive Bronze Age hill forts (Ladle Hill and Beacon Hill) are within easy striking distance of this greenlane, and both are unrivaled as picnic spots. Finally, the course of the former Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway (now dismantled) can be found paralelling the track to its east.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 39.

Statistics
Total distance: 1.90 km (1.2 mi)
Total time: 07:47
Moving time: 07:16
Average speed: 14.62 km/h (9.1 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 15.67 km/h (9.7 mi/h)
Max speed: 29.27 km/h (18.2 mi/h)
Average pace: 4:06 min/km (6:36 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 3:50 min/km (6:10 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 2:03 min/km (3:18 min/mi)
Max elevation: 204 m (671 ft)
Min elevation: 167 m (549 ft)
Elevation gain: 38 m (124 ft)
Max grade: 13 %
Min grade: -12 %
Recorded: 04/10/2013 16:07

View West Street in a larger map

BOAT: Brick Kiln Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Whitway, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU475592
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 33' 10" W001 31' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU460591
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 33' 00" W001 34' 00"
• To see: Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway, hill forts, Highclere Castle.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

When taken in to account with West Street, these two byways make a cracking drive (hence their combined '4' rating!). Starting at the eastern end, then, this greenlane begins as a graveled/flint/chalk surface departing westwards from an unusual 'island' in a country lane, and soon gets stuck in to a gentle uphill gradient. Sometimes grass has invaded the centre of the greenlane, and sometimes it hasn't, but it's easy going.

After a few hundred metres the course of the byway crossed a brick bridge over the former Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway (now dismantled; the track bed now serves as part of the Brenda Parker Footpath) and finishes its climb before plunging down to where the two byways meet and cross one another, demarcated by a four-way finger board. Brick Kiln Lane climbs away to the west, and soon levels out to pass along more well-kept field boundaries.

The byway eventually then starts heading gently downhill for the remainder of its course until ending up back on tarmac serving as a driveway for a couple of houses (including one called 'Brick Kiln', which gives this greenlane its name) and finishing just shy of the bridge over the A34 granting access to Highclere Castle. The surface is very easy going throughout, the hedgerows are kept well cut back, the greenlane is a very simple, non-technical drive and it really is most suitable for any vehicle in all weathers.

If you have brought 'her indoors' along for the journey, she may well be totally stoked out by a visit to Highclere Castle, which lies just over the bridge to the west of this byway. You don't need telling that this is where they filmed Downton Abbey! For those with an interest in actual history, two highly impressive Bronze Age hill forts (Ladle Hill and Beacon Hill) are both within very easy striking distance of this greenlane, and both are unrivaled as picnic spots.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 38.

Statistics
Total distance: 2.08 km (1.3 mi)
Total time: 10:47
Moving time: 08:08
Average speed: 11.55 km/h (7.2 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 15.30 km/h (9.5 mi/h)
Max speed: 34.23 km/h (21.3 mi/h)
Average pace: 5:12 min/km (8:22 min/mi)
Average moving pace: 3:55 min/km (6:19 min/mi)
Fastest pace: 1:45 min/km (2:49 min/mi)
Max elevation: 224 m (736 ft)
Min elevation: 159 m (522 ft)
Elevation gain: 68 m (223 ft)
Max grade: 10 %
Min grade: -6 %
Recorded: 04/10/2013 16:18

View Brick Kiln Lane in a larger map

BOAT: Grateley Drove/Green Drove

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Grateley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU284429
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 05' 80" W001 59' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU275425
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 18' 10" W001 60' 70"
• To see: Hawk Conservancy, Quarley Hill, Roman road.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This is just about the western-most byway in Hampshire that is still worth bothering with! (Yes, we appreciate that the byways of Palestine are fractionally further west but, from the point of view of the green-laner, they are about as dis-interesting as they come so we are ignoring them!)

We drove from east to west. Starting from the junction between Skew Road and the metalled section of Grateley Drove, the byway leaves the tarmac and immediately enters a gypsy encampent. It is important to note that these people are not pikeys, but gypsies, the differentiation being that gypsies are the old-fashioned, decent sort of caravan dwellers that are, these days, the exception to the norm. Please pass with respect.

The greenlane continues on an earthen surface and very soon the hedgerow closes right in and, inevitably, the paintwork starts to protest at the damage it is enduring. On passing the bridleway at the half-way point, however, the hedges really close in. It's hard going, to be frank, even though the surface is pretty good. If you manage to push through and don't just give up, the byway ends back on the tarmac just south of Quarley Manor Farm. This little one's not worth the trouble.

The Iron Age univallate hillfort called Quarley Hill is just to the north-west. The course of the Portway Roman road, which ran from Silchester to Old Sarum, runs parallel to the south but there is nothing to see on this stretch of it. But what is most cerainly worth going to see is the Hawk Conservancy, a bird-of-prey centre that is just fantastic. It's nearby to the north-east.

To Hampshire County Council these are Byways 8 and 30, combined here for convenience.

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BOAT: Huckers Lane

• Overall Rating: 0
• Location: Selborne, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU740337
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 80" W000 94' 40"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU754343
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 10' 40" W000 92' 40"
• To see: Gilbert White's House.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway, after passing the last dwelling, is subject to a TRO for all motor vehicles and is closed to motorised traffic. Go and educate yourself on the subject of the natural world in Gilbert White's House instead.

To Hampshire County Council this is Selbourne BOAT 68.

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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.

View South Lane in a larger map

BOAT/UCR: Hoplands Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Ashley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU390296
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 06' 50" W001 44' 50"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU368301
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 06' 90" W001 47' 50"
• To see: Roman road, Roman settlement, Ashley Castle, Farley Mount, tumuli.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Starting from the eastern end, this byway rounds a corner and proceeds south-westwards from the country road serving the hamlet of Ashley. Take care not to drive up the bridleway by mistake, but its pretty obvious. Following a field boundary on a surface of gravel and flint, later changing to earth, the hedgerows are well tended and pose no threat to paintwork.

Soon the green lane turns almost 90 degrees around the back of the field boundary on a north easterly track and enters Charlwood Copse. The surface changes back to gravel yet even in dry weather there are a few puddles around lingering from the last wet spell. It's all very easy going however. On crossing the virtual boundary between BOAT and UCR, on the northern bank of the byway and surrounded by wildflowers, we found a memorial to the crew of a German Junkers Ju88 bomber that crashed somewhere immediately nearby during the Second World War. People still lay poppies there. Soon after the memorial the tarmac resumes and the lane becomes little more than a driveway serving Hoplands. It ends where Parnholt Lane diverges to the south. An average lane in a historical awesome area.

For those interested in history, this lane in part follows the route of a Roman road running from Winchester to Salisbury (well, Old Sarum anyway). There's nothing to see above ground but it is still awesome regardless! Further awesomeness is provided by the presence of a roman settlement called Ashley Wood Camp to the north of the eastern end of the lane. Again there is little to see, but if you follow the footpath up the hill it is still possible to see the ditch and bank that encircled the site. Still more historical awesomeness is provided by Ashley Castle and a charming little chapel in the village of Ashley. Only the earthworks and the remains of the gatehouse and an odd bit of wall remain.We're not done yet! On the bridleway up to Beacon Hill, just to the south can be found some tumuli and just off the edge of the map lies Farley Mount, which bizarrely is a monument to a horse! Ok, we're done.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 6 and Byway 32, combined for convenience.

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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).

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BOAT: Irelands Lane

• Overall Rating: 2
• Location: Kent Street, Hastings, East Sussex.
• OS Explorer Map 124, 'Hastings & Bexhill'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ798153
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 90" E000 58' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ973148
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 90' 60" E000 54' 90"
• To see: Roman Bloomery.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

A short byway this one, and barely worth the bother. 

That said, we drove it from its eastern end on Moat Lane. There's quite a nasty little pothole on the right-hand side when negotiating the slope down from Moat Lane, but its not all that bad and we were soon past it. Carrying on downhill in a westerly direction, this lane can get pretty wet so, in Reeds Wood at least, the surface is lightly rutted mud and leaf mould. The trees and mature hedging that line both sides of the byway never encroach and so pose no threat to the paintwork.

On passing out of Reeds Wood, after a few more metres the greenlane surface abruptly changes to a tarmac surface and serves as a driveway for Ireland's Farm, whereby any attraction for the greenlaner is destroyed despite the pleasant views afforded from the lane across the farm's fields. Be careful when turning back onto the A21: it's an extremely busy road.

In Beauport Park on the other side of the A21, and accessed by a footpath, lies a Roman Bloomery (iron-working site). The bath-house is apparently up for sale if you want it (who wouldn't?!).

To East Sussex County Council this is Westfield Byway 48.

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BOAT: Quarry Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Weavers Down, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU836305
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 06' 80" W000 80' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU844306
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 00" W000 76' 60"
• To see: Hollycombe Steam Collection.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Starting from Portsmouth Road (B2070) at Wheatsheaf Common (complete with its tumulus) our byway heads southwards down the drive of a cottage. When we visited (15/02/2013) there was resurfacing work being done by the golf course at this point, but was only scheduled to last a month or so.

Go left here.

Very quickly the lane passes under a railway bridge that carries the Waterloo-Portsmouth main line and continues on a solid, wide earthen/grass lined surface around a corner towards junction presided over by an electricity pylon. Here, take the left-hand (southern) branch (the right simply leads onto the golf course) and travel down it for another 100m or so. Presently the byway reaches precisely 102m above sea level, and marked by a sign the byway turns hard to the east (see picture, right) ahead is a footpath despite the tyre tracks: don't drive on it) and plunges into woodland. The undergrowth at this point is a non event even though it does close in later on, but what does present a challenge here is a pretty deep, well, pond I guess! It had been relatively dry for a couple of weeks beforehand but even so this was still a fair quagmire! It does have a solid bottom, however, and we got through without too much effort.

Go left here too!

 After the 'pond' the byway is somewhat disguised by a field entrance. Tractors clearly go out of one field and into another across the byway and it can get pretty churned up, but its obvious enough where the byway leads along an 's' turn, first left and then right.

The green lane starts then uphill on a comparatively degraded, rutted muddy surface and the going gets a little harder and more technical. This is made harder by the fact that some huge trees have fallen over the track, and although they have been sawn clear there are still mighty stumps
that narrow the lane sufficiently to create a decent narrow obstacle, especially since in places the holly is closing in. Take care, and expect the odd scratch on the paintwork!

After climbing for a further 27m AMSL the gradient shallows out and the lane turns towards the north. Some bamboo from the back gardens that border the byway has gone absolutely mental here (it REALLY needs to be cleared, Mr. Homeowner) to the point where it stretches almost completely across the lane, but our Defender brushed past it with aplomb. The green lane then ends on Midhurst Road, just south of Liphook. Not a bad lane at all! Nearby to the south can be found the Hollycombe Steam Collection, a great day out if you have kids.

This is technically an unnamed byway so we christened it Quarry Lane, y'know, for the kicks. But according to Hampshire County Council this is Byway 44.

The 'pond', looking west.

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BOAT: Queens Road

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Weavers Down, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 133, 'Haslemere & Petersfield'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU811315
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 07' 80" W000 84' 30"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU824318
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 00" W000 82' 40"
• To see: Longmoor Military Railway.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Who would NOT want to drive this?!

Starting from Longmoor Road, which follows what was once part of the course of the Longmoor Military Railway (nothing of which remains at this point), our byway starts southwards and initially is crushingly disappointing. Almost the entire of the southbound course is covered in tarmac with the dreaded speed bumps, and passes by some truly vile housing that made us wish we could drive with our eyes closed! (How they ever got planning permission...). Indeed, we nearly gave up and turned around, but that would undermine our intrepid reputation! Therefore we ploughed on.

The green lane continues following the eastern boundary of the Old Thorns Golf and Country Club and, where it starts a shallow uphill climb, the tarmac ends and a prepared gravel/compacted sand surface begins. There are a couple of crossings for golfers to get from one side of their holes to the other, so take care when driving and keep a good lookout. Needless to say, it's extremely easy going and is no harder to drive than any country road you might come across.

The 'view'.

On reaching a small spinney the gravel/sand relinquishes its dominion and the green lane turns sharply to the north-west. Take care to take the right course here: the tire tracks seem to suggest that not everyone is doing so. To the west (i.e. right) it is a bridleway, and to the south (i.e. ahead ) a footpath crosses the county boundary into West Sussex. Neither carry rights of vehicular access and both are dead ends so don't be tempted: just follow the obvious sign buy turning left and heading on eastwards.

This is where the good stuff starts. The track runs along the top of a ridge through a very pleasant pine forest and offering stunning views over the valley to the south through the trees. The surface is sandy earth and there are quite a few puddles around, seemingly even in dry weather, but its very easy going and would present no challenge to such as a Freelander. But all too soon it is all over; back on the tarmac (to a degree: it's pretty potholed, most of which have been filled with crushed brick) on passing a newly built house. Its then simply a case of following the trail down hill to the Deer's Hut pub, where you can either turn left to rejoin Longmoor Road or carry straight on and finish the last 100m of byway, should you feel inclined to do so. Not a great byway, but not bad either.

According to Hampshire County Council these are actually two separate byways (Byway 50 and 501), but since you quite obviously can't drive one without the other we are treating them as one and the same in this entry.

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