Built automatically from council rights of way records, traffic orders and OpenStreetMap data, and checked by Holloway. How we check it
Current status
No restriction we know of
The Balk is recorded as a Byway Open to All Traffic. We haven't found a Traffic Regulation Order or seasonal closure on it, but that doesn't guarantee there isn't one.
Check its status nowOpens a search for any current Traffic Regulation Order on The Balk, the same Legal Status Search as in the app. Status checked against our data on 13/11/2026.
Where it runs
The Balk in pink, with the lanes around it.
- AThe west end, near Little Downham
- BThe east end, near Chettisham
Exact start points, GPX and navigation are in Premium.
Unlock →On the lane
Unridden. Nobody has ridden and graded this lane yet, so the difficulty is a best guess from OpenStreetMap surface data. Ridden it? Suggest a grade from its card in the app.
Holloway Premium
Ride The Balk with Holloway
- Navigate to either end in one tap, Google Maps takes you straight there
- Add it to a route with the lanes around it, joined by real roads
- Download the GPX of the whole lane, every section stitched together
- Live navigation with the lane on screen as you ride
£1 from every membership goes toward keeping lanes open.
Lanes nearby
The closest named lanes, measured from The Balk.
- Marshal Drove0.3 km north · 1.2 km long›
- Coffue Drove0.5 km northeast · 3.0 km long›
- Hurst Lane0.6 km west · 2.5 km long›
- Marshalls Lane0.6 km northwest · 0.0 km long
- Beild Drove0.9 km north · 1.7 km long›
- North Fen2.3 km north · 0.4 km long
Worth a stop nearby
Within a few km of the lane. Access rights not checked.
The Ely family home of Oliver Cromwell, parts dating from around 1215.
The UK's only museum dedicated to stained glass, housed in Ely Cathedral.
The Anglican cathedral of Ely, one of England's great medieval cathedrals.
Questions riders ask
Is The Balk open to motorcycles?
The Balk is recorded as a Byway Open to All Traffic, and we don't know of any current restriction on it. Legal status can change at short notice, so check signage and current Traffic Regulation Orders before you ride.
How long is The Balk?
About 1.2 km, measured across all 2 of its mapped sections. Its two ends are around 1.1 km apart in a straight line.
Where does The Balk start and finish?
One end is near Little Downham, at the west end, and the other is near Chettisham, at the east end. The map on this page shows both.
Find more lanes like this
Closures are marked on the free map, with a quick email sign-in, and free accounts can open 3 lane cards a day.
Open the map, free Every named lane in CambridgeshireLane data from OpenStreetMap contributors and council rights of way and highway records (public sector information under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and OS data © Crown copyright and database rights). Place names © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only: legal status changes, check signage and current Traffic Regulation Orders before riding. How we check this data.