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.

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!

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: Ashley Wood Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Ashley, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 131, 'Romsey, Andover & Test Valley'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU399296 or SU400295
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 06' 40" W001 43' 20" or N51 06' 40" W001 42' 90"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU392319
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 08' 50" W001 44' 00"
• To see: Roman road, Roman settlement.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This byway has no name that we can discover, so if you know the correct title please comment below. For now Ashley Wood Lane shall suffice.

Starting from the southern end, this byway begins in one of two places: either as the metalled driveway serving some cottages and a ridiculous palatial mansion or as a sylvan drive through a small copse that thankfully screens the wanton excess on display. After a short distance and on passing the gates serving the mansion (with stone cubes on top, strangely) the two options converge and the track strikes northwards between hedgerows and fields on a surface of gravel and, later, lightly rutted earth with a grassy middle. It's very easy going and suitable for all vehicles. The byway pretty much continues in this vein for its entire length, climbing very gradually on a remarkably straight course that follows the base of a shallow valley. After a fair stretch it ends on a country road called Chalk Vale.

For those interested in history, the route of a Roman road running from Winchester to Salisbury can be seen under the metalled country road . There's nothing to see above ground but it is still awesome regardless! There is also a roman settlement called Ashley Wood Camp to the west of the green 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.

To Hampshire County Council this is Byway 8, Byway 9 and Byway 31, combined for convenience.

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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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UCR: Lippen Wood

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: West Meon, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU635245 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 01' 60" W001 09' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU632246
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 01' 70" W001 10' 10"
• To see: site of a Roman villa (no public access).
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This incredibly short UCR is a pointless drive. It is also unremarkable except for the fact that it is situated in very pleasant woodland and the site of a Roman Villa, of which nothing remains above ground and we were unable to access the site anyway since it was fenced off, sits just to the south of the lane. There are far superior greenlaning options in this section of the world, so look elsewhere!

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UCR: Allens Farm Lane

• Overall Rating: 5
• Location: Exton, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU595209 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 98' 40" W001 15' 30"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU606208
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 98' 30" W001 13' 80"
• To see: Old Winchester Hill.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Allens Farm is a great UCR. It's certainly far more of a challenge than other lanes in this area. Starting at its western end by turning east off of Beacon Hill Lane at Warner's Cottage, the lane plunges very steeply downhill on a gravelly surface and in woodland just after leaving the driveway of the cottage. This is by no means tricky, but adds some character to the lane to contrasts the easy going, flat lanes that otherwise populate this area.

As the lane bottoms out it follows a field boundary, bordered by hedges that can sometimes get a little tight but certainly never worryingly so. To the north an occasional view  is offered of the beautiful Beacon Hill through breaks in the hedgerow. On this relatively flat section it could get a bit muddy in very wet weather. The lane ends where it becomes the metalled access road for Allens Farm.

However, and make no mistake here, if you simply drove home after finishing this great little lane, you'd be missing out utterly. Firstly, if you have any sort of passion for either history or the countryside it is imperative that you go and check out the awesome Bronze Age hill fort and the spellbinding views across Hampshire up on Old Winchester Hill, just to the east, and when you're done go and have a well earned pint in The Shoe, in the hamlet of Exton. The Shoe is our favourite country pub in the entire of Hampshire, despite its opening hours (midweek) of 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm. The pub itself is relatively unremarkable albeit offer decent food, however its quiet beer garden has the River Meon flowing through it, can apparently boast a kingfisher (and certainly a family of grey wagtails) and on a warm summer's day is literally unbeatable.

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UCR: Dean Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Dean, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU564216 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 10" W001 19' 80"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU562205
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 98' 10" W001 20' 10"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Dean Lane is a very straightforward UCR that runs south from Belmore Lane, alongside the horse gallops on Stephen's Castle Down. It's a compacted chalk and gravel surface that holds the odd puddle after wet weather, and the hedges that line the lane remain out of the way for the entire length. A Discovery 4 would not need to worry about its paintwork at all!

Where the hedgerows open out, the lane offers a pleasant view over Stephen's Down, which follows the line of the lane above and to the west (see picture). The lane ends somewhat randomly where it reaches a terrace of cottages, which are part of the complex of the beautiful Dean Farm. A decent yet unremarkable lane in an area full of decent yet unremarkable lanes.

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UCR: Little Woodcote Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Upham, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU547220 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 50" W001 22' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU550228
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 00' 20" W001 21' 70"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Make sure to turn LEFT here!

The UCR we have called Little Woodcote Lane (if you know its correct name, please leave a comment at the bottom) starts where it leaves a country lane on a bend near Little Woodcote Cottage. Throughout, it is a nice, wide lane and offers a solid earthen surface that in places has been patched up with builder's rubble, and as such it is incredibly easy going. 

Heading generally northwards, the lane twists along a field boundary, and then turns quite sharply to the north-west as it plunges into a copse. At this point, as the photograph illustrates, be sure to turn left as the track on the right is not a byway and ends after around 50m. In this area some retard has also decided it was a good idea to dump a load of used tyres. The mentality of this banal behaviour really does escape belief, but it is unfortunately a fact of life. Signs at each end of the lane, however, give details of the police's ongoing investigations into fly-tipping in this area, which is reassuring.

Whilst in the copse, the lane twists sharply 90 degrees alternatively left and right for a total of four times, and then ends where it meets Belmore Lane. This is quite a nasty junction as it is difficult to see traffic approaching from the east, so take care. A good lane, if only it were longer.

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UCR: Woodcote Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Upham, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU538209 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N50 98' 50" W001 22' 70"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU543217
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N50 99' 20" W001 23' 70"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This area of Hampshire boasts a decent collection of UCR's, and Woodcote Lane is no exception. A nice wide lane on a firm, unrutted earthen and occasionally grassy surface, even a shiny Discovery 4 would be safe on this lane!

Starting just north of the hamlet of Upham, this very easy-going lane strikes north from a country road and heads north-east in almost a straight line, following the contours of a low hill to it's east. At a couple of points it offers a great view over rolling countryside to the west. Woodcote Lane ends, aptly given its name, at Woodcote Farm. If only it were longer, but with that said it is very easy to combine driving this lane with Little Woodcote Lane for a more enduring experience.

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UCR: Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 4
• Location: Owslebury, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 132, 'Winchester, New Arlesford & East Meon'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU533238 
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 01' 10" W001 24' 10"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference:  SU536226
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 00' 00" W001 23' 70"
• To see: not much.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

This UCR is a lane of three halves, if such things are possible!

Starting at it's northern end, just north-east of the hamlet of Baybridge, this lane heads south on a decent, unrutted, earth/leaf-mould surface between a narrow strip of trees and shrubs that, although they have begun to encroach onto the lane, it's new growth. It's a little tight, but no damage short of the odd scratch on the paintwork is likely, as long as you take a sensible line (see photo)!

After around 500m the lane suddenly bursts out of the undergrowth into what looks at first glance like the garden of Lower Whiteflood Farm! Drive over the grass between the fences, and I should barely need to mention greenlaners should take extra care here and crawl along as ducks, livestock, dogs and even children are very likely to be lurking. 

The lane continues past the farms and plunges back into the trees, but from this point on the lane is far more open, and with a green, leafy canopy offered by the beech trees and an easy going earthen surface, the last 'half' of the lane is a pleasure to drive down to it's terminus on a small country road near Well Copse. A great lane, it would have scored higher still if it had anything of historical interest (or a decent pub) nearby.

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BOAT: Jennie Green Lane

• Overall Rating: 3
• Location: Lower Wield, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU640395
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 09' 05.04" W001 05' 10.46"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU655384
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 07' 58.48" W001 02' 37.89"
• To see: The Yew Tree pub.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

Update 19/12/2017: This byway is now permanently closed to all motorised vehicles. The ignorant minority who insist on driving the byways in unsuitable conditions, in this instance, won, and for that we all pay the price.

Update 04/08/2016: The much needed remedial work has been carried out on this byway and it is now in far better shape than it has been historically. The TRO has been lifted and access is once again permitted.

Update 10/05/2014: Unsurprisingly, given the state of the surface, this byway is now subject to a TRO and therefore closed to traffic. The TRO came into force from 01/05/2014 and runs until 11/07/2014. More info: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/pnadetail?noticeUID=2874 and http://www3.hants.gov.uk/pnadetail?noticeUID=2718

It's far worse than it looks, trust us!

Jennie Green Lane runs from Lower Wield to Medstead in Hampshire. We drove this byway starting at its northern end in Lower Wield. The lane at the start is very hard going indeed. It's very wet and muddy and as a result, whether from green laners or from agricultural vehicles (or both) it has become extremely rutted. The ruts are deep, and once the wheels have settled into a rut there is no getting out, and should you encounter an obstacle there is no going around it. Anything shorter than a Defender will ground out it's axles, and anything with all terrain tyres or less has a fair chance of getting stuck and wheel-spinning aimlessly, causing more damage. To this end, due to the risk of getting stuck, damaging your vehicle or damaging the lane further, this half of the lane should not be driven until restorative works have been carried out.

This second half of the greenlane (after around 800m) is in far better condition. You can get some idea of it from the video below. The ruts end after Dirty Lane crosses Jennie Green Lane from north to south, where the lane turns hard to the south in an oak copse. The going is fairly easy as the surface changes from heavily rutted mud to a mixture of earth and gravel. The lane, lined with hedgerows, passes Gaston Grange to the north and eventually reaches and crosses Trinity Road. For the next 700m the lane is surfaced with tarmac as it is essentially a long driveway for some private houses in the tiny hamlet of Holt End, however the lane soon reverts to earth after passing the last of these houses. It's still pretty easy going and eventually, when it passes Redwood Farm, it turns into a hard surface again. The lane ends where it meets Abbey Road, just north-east of Medstead.

We've no idea who Jennie Green is/was. To Hampshire County Council this are Bentworth and Wield Byways 19, 27 and 28 and part of Byway 23, combined here for convenience.

Statistics:
Total Distance: 2.53 km (1.6 mi)
Total Time: 14:51
Moving Time: 14:29
Average Speed: 10.22 km/h (6.3 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 10.47 km/h (6.5 mi/h)
Max Speed: 27.00 km/h (16.8 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 197 m (646 ft)
Max Elevation: 218 m (717 ft)
Elevation Gain: 26 m (85 ft)
Max Grade: 6 %
Min Grade: -2 %

BOAT: Yew Tree Lane

• Overall Rating: 1
• Location: Lower Wield, Hampshire.
• OS Explorer Map 144, 'Basingstoke, Alton and Whitchurch, Odiham, Overton and Hook'.
• Starting OS Grid Reference: SU637396
• Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 09' 09.53" W001 05' 23.88"
• Finishing OS Grid Reference: SU641397
• Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 09' 13.58" W001 05' 03.69"
• To see: The Yew Tree pub.
• ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!

In the absence of any obvious official name for this byway, I've named this name after the local pub, The Yew Tree, which is well worth checking out. However, there's no point driving this very short, rutted, muddy lane which simply cuts a corner between two country roads, unless you have a compelling reason to do so. There are far better lanes nearby!

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