Romlor two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Romlor here.

I'd agree with other reviewers in that this is very much a road-y Slow Way: almost the entire route is on-road. I walked it Lordshill to Romsey.

Important to note is that you can't walk the Slow Way route as plotted immediately around the Lordshill end; instead just head straight north along the Sainsbury's and meet up with the Slow Way as it passes under Lord's Hill Way.

The brief footpath stretch by the small pond was really lovely, actually.

Then, it was just following pavements/sidewalks nearly the entire way into Romsey! Definitely not the quietest or most scenic as other reviewers have commented, but not too bad, really. I enjoyed it as a reasonably easy, fast, safe, and direct route into Romsey.

At moments when cars weren't around, you could hear the birds and feel like you were properly in the countryside!

I'd definitely be interested to try the alternative proposed that avoids major road segments, but this route isn't bad: consistent, easy to navigate, good surfaces, few major gradients, and a great end point in Romsey!.

Not the most scenic route, nor the quietest! However, the path is always good, a lot of it shared with cyclists. Paved all the way, separated from traffic, nice and safe. There are a few 100m of steeper slopes (if you were mobility impaired), but the majority is pretty flat. There are not many places to stop and rest (at least none that are designed for that purpose), so it is very much a route where you aim for your final destination rather than anything on the way.

The path can be extended towards Southampton, and then, by ferry, to the Isle of Wight or to Hythe and into the New Forest.

The path starts around the maze of 1970s buildings of Lordshill, and then opens onto Bakers Drove - an alternative is just to go straight up Rownhams Road (which is what I did). Once out of the suburban sprawl, the path crosses the motorway (M27) and hits a bit of open countryside. There are woods not far from the motorway bridge, on the right, which give access to Chilworth and Lordswood. Unfortunately, the road is busy, but when traffic subsides it does feel a little more bucolic.

Follow your nose most of the way, into and through North Baddesley onto the Botley Road, where you turn left and cross the road, using the cycle/footpath again. Follow this path to the next roundabout and bear right - do not be tempted to take a shortcut along the bypass. This road goes straight towards Romsey, but take a left just before the main Winchester Road, following signs for the Town Centre.

This path takes you along the canal (?), under the railway, and past the allotments. Crossing the main road, take a right then left, and follow the road into The Hundred and along to the market square.

Romsey has lots of places for a brew. It's quite an interesting town; the juxtaposition of the architectural styles is a bit odd in my opinion. The highlight is the Abbey, and check out King John's House, a small medieval house tucked away down a side street opposite the abbey gates (it is also a nice spot for tea!). Romsey is also served with a train station (on the Salisbury line) and a bus station.

This route seems to follow busy roads for too much of its length, though it is not helped by the lack of rights of way in the North Baddesley area. I would recommend "Romlor one" strongly over this route. There is an alternative, roundabout but quiet and on PROWs available via Chilworth and Halterworth.

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