Hants & Berks LRO

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HBLRO participates in the HCC 'Hampshire Paths Partnership' which is aimed at developing co-operation with voluntary organisations to assist in the mammoth task of maintaining access to our historic rights of way. More information about this and other rights of way related matters can be found at Hantsweb


National Green Lane Clearance Day
Twice per year we take part in the 'National green lane clearance' scheme. Regional green lanes that have become over grown are targeted for a good old tidy up.
Click here for reports and pictures

Green Laning trips
We regularly host green laning trips in the Hampshire & Berkshire area
Click here for reports and pictures

Green lane
News, comments and Notices

Green Laning.....

Congratulations you have arrived at the Hants & Berks Land Rover Owners green laning page.

I would imagine that you are surfing the web looking for routes, hints and tips for your up and coming green laning adventures, if so please read on...

It's worth noting straight off the bat that here in the South East there are some 34,000km of recorded Public Rights of Way. The travesty is that less than 5% of this is available for motorised users. It is therefore our duty to ensure that we make the most of this small amount in order to keep the lanes from becoming over-grown and impassable, and to demonstrate that there is a requirement for them to be preserved in there current legal state for our motoring pleasure.

A little back ground for you. Most of the routes are several centuries old and are in short what's left of the original 'ways' that our predecessors used to crisscross the UK. Some would also have been former cattle droves, abandoned turnpikes, winter routes (for when the main route was impassably muddy) and so on. More recently these routes have been classified into either footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways or byways open to all traffic.

The routes that we are permitted to drive on are the 'byways, open to all traffic' (or BOATs for short).

So before you start charging all over the countryside there are a few things that you need to know/consider.

Firstly you will need to plan your trip. The place to start is with an Ordnance Survey map (we find that the 'Explorer maps' are the best version) of the area you are intending to visit. You will need to study the map carefully and must be able to identify which routes fall into which category as driving on any route other than a BOAT is against the law.

The BOATs are usually marked with green 'plus' signs strung together (like this: +++++++). Please note however that whilst on your map the route may be shown as a BOAT the routes legal status may have changed since the printing of the map. Definitive maps showing the current status of your local routes are held by your local County Council.

Once you have chosen your route the next step is to check your vehicle over. Take a visual tour of your vehicle making sure that all is in good order, nothing is hanging off and the overall condition is good. It is important that your low/high gear ratio mechanism is in good order as we recommend low ratio when on the routes. Also check your 'diff-lock' (if you have one) is functioning correctly. A visual check on your coolant level is also a good idea as your speed will be low most of the time so airflow through the radiator will be slow and you may find your engine runs a little hotter than it usually does during normal road driving. Tyre pressures can be left at normal road levels.

Once you are happy that your ride is in good order we suggest that you load up with the following: a pair of wellies, some drinking water, a coat, a shovel, tow rope, your mobile phone and a few tools. It is also very important that you have a good spare tyre (that is at the correct pressure), jack and wheel brace. We also suggest that you have a few quid in your wallet and remember to check your fuel level as garages become a little more scarce in the countryside. It's also a good idea to stow away all 'loose' items in the car as things can sometimes get a little bumpy and you do not really need all your kit flying around when you are trying to drive!!

So now you're at the start of the lane. Select low ratio and off you go. Keep your speed down, keep your thumbs out of the inside of the steering wheel, give way to other users sit back and enjoy the ride. Oh and don't forget to take a look up every now and then as you will be passing through some of the most beautiful land in your local area.

Now for some boring stuff:

By definition BOATs are free to use by any member of the public. You do not need to be a member of a club or organisation to drive on them. However many of the laws applied to 'normal' roads also apply to BOATs. Your vehicle must be road taxed, have a current MOT and you must hold a UK driving licence appropriate for the vehicle you are using, you also need to have insurance. When your vehicle is in motion you need to be wearing your seat belt. The police also have 4x4 vehicles and enjoy green laning almost as much as we do, so do keep your eyes peeled and remember to give them a friendly wave if you happen to spot them.

Remember: when driving 'our' byways you become part of a 'community' of drivers who enjoy the pleasure of 'green-laning' and to ensure that you do not spoil it for the rest of us you need to abide by the law and you really should also abide by a voluntary code of conduct called the 'Drivers country side code of conduct'. Please remember that driving responsibly and treating other users and the land with respect will result in all of us being able to continue to have all this fun well into the future.

We also recommend that you 'green-lane' with more than one vehicle. However if you are going 'solo' tell someone which direction you are heading, what lanes you are planning on using and an approximate return time.

Hants & Berks Land Rover Owners · A member of The Association of Land Rover Clubs and Motor Sports Association