Loreas one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Loreas here.

I walked this route from Lordshill to Eastleigh and came across the same pair of accuracy problems as the previous reviewer. Coming from Lordshill shopping centre along Tangmere Drive, I recommend avoiding Lord's Hill Way altogether and following the footpaths nearby. These take you to an underpass which connects you to a pleasant wooded path marked as Lordsdale Greenway. Once you are heading north on the pleasant bridle way into the woods, watch out for your turn around the golf course as it is easy to miss (I did and had to backtrack) - it is a narrow path and not the major track. Then you get a pleasant walk past some very posh houses in the affluent Chilworth (sandwiched between the M3 and the M27). I also saw no sign of any path around the back of the large Village Hotel so ended up continuing along the busy main road and taking the detour around ASDA. Then there's a pleasant (if slightly muddy this time of year) path through Fleming Park and into the centre of Eastleigh. I recommend a small detour to the picturesque circular Pirelli Park.

This is a 2-star route because I felt two sections required workarounds. I walked Eastleigh to Lordshill.

For the most part, this route was pretty nice - quiet roads and wooded areas. There was some road walking, but it felt safe to me, and there was one loud road (pavement) section, which was along Winchester Road by ASDA. It's unavoidable but doesn't last too long.

There very few barriers - only one (kissing) gate that I noticed - and there are dropped kerbs in most places. Where there isn't a dropped kerb, you should be able to go a few metres down the path to find one. The terrain is a combination of pavement and rougher gravel/dirt paths. The latter can be somewhat narrow. The route passes next to a golf course.

The first of the two diversions is around ASDA, which the route suggests you can bypass by going around the back of ASDA via the B&Q headquarters car park. Aside from signs at B&Q saying no pedestrians, I could not find a path there, nor from going around the back of ASDA itself. Instead, I turned right on Chestnut Avenue and cut through the ASDA car park.

The second diversion is on the approach into Lordshill. The route suggests you should walk along Lord's Hill Way and then cut across to Tangmere Drive. In theory it is possible to walk on the grass verge, but I'm not convinced about getting from there to Tangmere Drive because Lord's Hill Way is elevated. I walked the route on a Saturday, and that road was very busy. If you chose the wrong side of the road to walk on and the cross, I imagine it could end badly. In my opinion, of course. I did not walk that part and instead took the much safer footpaths that surround that main road.

I may create an alternative route, but first it would be good to hear from anyone who has walked this who may point out something I missed.

All in all, I did enjoy my walk. Most of it was pleasant and I would walk it again with a better-marked route.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.