Lanes in our East Sussex back yard

[Retro Pedro]

Steve, Andy and myself had a last minute laning day (well last minute for me because I only got the green card the evening before) in East Sussex - start point about 20 miles from my back door. Didn't start to well because East Sussex County Council have slapped a few seasonal restrictions on a few of the lanes - closed from October till 1st April. Thought we had got lucky with the Wealden Way only to drive it for a short spell before we came across the replacement bridge over the river that is only wide enough for a bike or horse. Snide move by the council to stop 4x4's using the lane.
From that point we ventured a bit further south to the South Downs and done the Old Coach Road from Alfriston to Firle.
Here's a few (well alot) of pics I took on the way. Excuse the quality because the camera was hung out of the window with pot luck on what got snapped.





























Then headed back nearer home (within 10 miles of the front door) and done a few lanes around the Crowborough/Rotherfield area
































Then we ventured off down to a legendary local lane. Steve and Andy knew better to attempt to drive it so we walked from the bottom end up to the point, if driven, of no return.


















After seeing it for myself, reckon Steve was spot on when he said driving would be an argument waiting to happen.
For protection of the lane, one them that shouldn't be driven until the grounds dried out properly and then to preserve the bottom end drainage trench reckon a waffle board should be used.

[gregster]

Looks good Pete...crackin pics, and great scenery!

[fudge]

looking good
i really need to get back out again

[Retro Pedro]

The latter wooded lanes near Crowborough and Rotherfield are not a million miles away from those World War II bunkers that we spoke about a couple of years back Greg. Then as a treat for Sal, a short drive to Poo Bridge if we want to sort a day out later in the year.

[gregster]

Deffo Pete..must be done!

[snapper]

Some cracking pics there Pete, shame about the bridge though, a sneaky move no doubt by some jobsworth with an agenda ticking two boxes... Box 1 - Save some cash. Ticked we'll put a smaller bridge in. Box 2 - Would like to restrict use of the lane to me mates on walking BBQ's and/or wearing bobble hats. Ticked we'll put a smaller bridge in....

Got to thinking on that one, considering the council (assuming it's them and not the local farmer although it really matters not as the result is the same) could they be deemed as illegally blocking a Byeway by replacing an existing bridge with one that no longer allows the full legal use of the Byeway? Questions need to be asked otherwise a precedence could be set, one that circumvents the law.

[bobbinsjob]

Great pics there Pete. They look some interesting lanes

[Retro Pedro]

Great pics there Pete. They look some interesting lanes

Do a youtube search on Redgate Mill Lane Ian and you're see why there's a point of no return. Once over the rock steps at the top there's no going back. It's a bit like the central cravass at the bottom of the horse-shoe on the left as you drive into the S.E. Woods. Only it's all downhill all the way

Frank - first lane we got to had a TRO, young girl riding her horse had a wide grin and a glint in her eye - obviously had great pleasure in telling us about the TRO.

[Smith3210]

Was a good day out shame a lot were closed but you live and learn bring on April
Here's what I took

[Retro Pedro]

Had a ride out this evening doing the Rotherfield, Mark Cross lanes and found that the council have been very busy over the last few months. Three of the lanes have brand new restricting gates on them. No problem this time of year but you can bet your bottom dollar they will be closed over the winter months.
They've also been very busy on the legendary Redgate Mill, although still closed, the sign apologies for the inconveniance, but stage 1 has been completed and needs to settle before stage 2 can be completed. Once all done and settled, we'll be able to drive in again, in our Ford Focus's.
Another lane used to have a deep gulley down into a stream, which could be challenging climbing out the other side. Now completely filled with a fair amount of type one sort of stuff on top. My guess that the infill would have been the height of my truck and approximately 15-20 metres long. Hell of a lot of tonnage needed for that little lot. On the bright side, got to be grateful that they haven't been closed.
Flip side is the A267 is the main road that we have to drive along to get from the end of one lane to get to the start of another. Along this road there are some major ruts that literally pulls your wheels into them. Not very comfortable when it catches me at 50-60 mph whilst doing my daily commute to Eastbourne. Probably not the same department but my mind set says that main road needs the repair before the byway but mustn't moan.

[MG Autos (Mark)]

You'll have to let me know next time you do East Sussex Pete and I'll make the trip accross and join you

[Retro Pedro]

Will do Mark - the ones that I mentioned in the last post take approx. 1 1/2 hours to do. Could meet up relatively early and do them ones and then make our way over to the North Downs. A good day can be had doing the lanes on the slopes over in Kent

[MG Autos (Mark)]

Sounds good to me Pete.
I only have the standard set up on the 2.8 at the minute but should be OK for normal laning.

[Retro Pedro]

You'll have no problems with standard tyres and set up Mark - need to get a date sorted.
I know the original thread was started a couple of years back but did you recognise the initial lane Mark? It's the Alfriston to Firle byway where going back into the real early S.E. Woods days, Gareth told the story of where the obnotious farmer and his lump head farm hand blocked him in with threatening behaviour. On calling the police in, the farmer tried to stitch Gareth up with an accusation of threatening behaviour with a baseball bat - which incidently belonged to the lump head. At that point Gareth pulled out he's secret weapon of his video cam mounted in the grill. Full true story was there to be viewed and the police asked Gareth if he wanted to press charges against the farmer and his onchoue. To his credit, Gareth didn't because he didn't to antagonise the situation with the byway because the farmer is always going to be in the area.
Getting back to laning, we could try to see what the situation around the East and West Sussex areas have got to offer this time of year. I have got the viewranger map running so could have a looksee to what's available. If nothing doing we can always fall back on the Kent plan but if there is we could do a Kent day another time before the end of September.