6km from Hook, the path is not visible on the ground but it was fairly easy to follow a visible indirect footpath along the edge of the field. When the route crosses B3349 2km before Alton, walkers have to go through a small herd of highland cattle with a long hair and sharp horns....

Petr Sadilek

- Cattle/highland cows often in field near Alton by B3349, for info....

David Moran

Strenuous at Shoulder of Mutton hill - beware! - As per previous review, path along Selborne Hill open access land is notorously muddy (see photo 8). - Short road section between Noar Hill Common/Vann Farm quiet road, but off-road option exists to partially reduce amount on road1 This would be better along the route of the Hangers Way which is an off-road dog-leg option that is about the same distance2 - Shoulder of Mutton hill (photo 12) is very steep up and down. Pub at Upper Farringdon and Hawkley (though not sure if either are open), would recommend not to rely on anything other than Alton and Petersfield without checking beforehand....

David Moran

Walked Alton to Micheldever Station (not Micheldever) on 22 March 2025. Weather dry and mild, footing mosly firm as little rain in previous couple of weeks. Route is generally countryside footpaths/bridleways/byways through woods, alongside and across arable fields. Some road walking. Usual variety of state of repair of fingerposts, waymark posts etc. The route will get you from Alton to Micheldever Station, reasonably straightforwardly, but it has shortcomings. So much so that this route is not recommended. Micheldever Station is quite difficuly to access from the East, so this requires some thought as to how to devise a new route that is not a much longer distance.. - Route from Thedden Copse/Heathcroft farm to Bentworth is all along road, albeit quiet. - 2km Road section from Poasley Farm to Breach Farm Cottages not pleasant - not very busy on Saturday, but fast traffic in both directions without much of a verge to walk on for the most part - Route from Blackwood Forest to Larkwhistle Farm Road via small industrial estate is not right of way or permissive - 2km Road section on Larkwhistle Farm Road is not pleasant - not very busy on Saturday, but enough fast traffic in both directions with no verge for the most part...

David Moran

- GPX drifts from path/cuts a few corners, especially north into Shalden and Weston Patrick heading North - B3349 crossing OK - traffic not too busy, but poor sightline to north when walking Alton-Hook, which can be improved by walking north up road a little way to see round the bend - Five stiles between B3349 and Shalden, all circumvented by walking to Shalden along quiet Southwood Road. No other stiles. - Shortish road walk section at Weston Patrick - possible to shorten road section by using footpaths than run around by Weston Patrick church. Another short road section at Upton Grey....

David Moran

Walked on 25 Jan 2025 Bordon to Alton to review Altbor one (out) and Altbor two (back). Waterlogged, in January, and soft and damp underfoot outside of winter (photo). - Water Lane byway was closed at time of walking (photo), but has parallel right-of-way footpath at top of embankment all the way to the other end - this is preferred at all times of year anyhow, as Water Lane is essentially a stream, and a river at the bottom (photo) However access to footpath top of Water Lane very narrow around wide field gate (photo) - Stairs to road at Alton station easily circumvented by crossing road 100m towards town (photo) 5) be off road - mostly, except Gibb's Lane Toilets in Alton Railway Station 7) pass through train and bus stations - starts/ends at Alton Railway Station (& bus stops)...

David Moran

Walked on 25 Jan 2025 Alton to Bordon to review Altbor one (out) and Altbor two (back). - Walk starts on Hangers Way from Alton station, which is waymarked with green logo. - Stairs to road at Alton station easily circumvented by crossing road 100m towards town (photo). - Stile to cross just after A31 crossing (photo). - Stairs down slope just before crossing B3004 (photo)! - Walk along road alongside Shortheath Common is 600-700 metres, 30mph limit for maybe 25%, but then natonal speed limit for 75% - It feels unnecessarily exposed to walk along the road and face the traffic, given there is a parallel off-road path through the common...

David Moran

Excellent route, not sure what the access issues on Basalt one were, but this one benefits from being shorter, whilst still being scenic; crossing picturesque estates, woodland and farmers fields. There are a couple of stiles and kissing gates (the latter with wooden retractable boards for dogs to get through), and one stretch of track (White Lane, west of Weston Corbett) which is quite overgrown, but other than that, no significant issues. Happy to recommend and verify!...

Smatticus1991

Ropley village is pleasant, the church was rebuilt in 2022 following a fire in 2014. Near Chawton the route uses a disused railway line before crossing the A32 into the village....

JohnMyerson

Nice varied landscape and parts along road are quiet....

Katherine Horton

It's a nice route except for a short piece that uses the A32 with no path....

Penny

The route rises gently from Alresford to Four Marks and descends a bit quicker down to Alton. The route was easy to follow except, just before Ropley, St Swithun's Way where it leaves Tegg Down Road is not passable or is wrongly placed on the map. There is a small shop and post office along the route at Ropley and a garden centre at Four Marks with a cafe. The route was easily passable but with styles, gates, narrow tracks and the A31 & A32 to negotiate2...

Phil Smith

A lot of this route is along St Swithun's Way, which is generally well-marked and therefore easy to follow. I did not have any access issues when I did this walk, and it was mostly quite level....

DaniellaBeth

Leaving Micheldever Railway Station the route is along Larkwhistle Farm Road for about ½ mile....

Barry Dale

I walked this route from Basingstoke to Alton on Tuesday 10th August 2021 using GPS. The walk doesn't really start until you reach Hackwood Park (assuming you start at Basingstoke). And a very enjoyable start to the walk it is, with a variety of landscapes through the park. Alton and Basingstoke have train and bus stations....

Phil Smith

I found the start (1.5 miles) very straightforward: from Basingstoke station you walk to Eastrop roundabout/lane, turn right onto Goat Lane, left on New Rd and left at the traffic lights. Enter the Memorial Park (photo 1 is the bandstand) on the right, follow the path on the right past the aviary and bandstand (photo 1) then take the underpass on the right opposite the playground....

Duncan Reid

Following my review of the Hackwood Park to Weston Patrick section I intended to complete the route from Weston Patrick to Alton on Friday 2nd July. Before leaving Weston Patrick church, there is small plaque (photo 1) that could be easily missed as it is low down in the hedge to the left of the white wrought iron gates. On Long Lane Track the grass was long and wet (photo 2). I left the route here and returned to Weston Patrick via Lasham and shall return another day to complete the final section to Alton....

Duncan Reid

It involves several stiles and parts of the route will probably get muddy after heavy rain....

AndrewHinde

This review is of the Hackwood Park to Weston Patrick section of the route, about 6 miles. At 657498 the Slow Way route wants to take you along the track to Hackwood Farm but it is blocked by large straw bales (see photo) and a map on the fingerpost shows the Public Right of Way, which is the footpath to Tunworth....

Duncan Reid

I walked this route from Petersfield to Alton on Wednesday 23rd June 2021 using GPS. Between Petersfield and Selbourne, the route mostly follows Hangers Way. I deviated from the route to stay off road and I can definitely recommend it. The route from Farringdon to Alton takes you alongside the A32, A31 and through the town. It also takes you through Chawton which does have a tea room and Jane Austen's house but if you prefer a quieter, more rural way I can recommend the path to the east of the route from Upper Farringdon across fields towards the B3006 and Truncheaunts and under the A31 at the B3004....

Phil Smith

The walk through Shortheath Common is a big improvement over Altbor one. There is still a short walk along the road from the south side of Shortheath Common however, since the bridleway shown on OS maps is now built over. The walk through Binswood, shared with Altbor one, was very boggy. This got a lot worse going through Pheasant Wood. It may be possible to find a way of avoiding this but the best compromise is probably to follow Altbor one from Binstead Wood. 4) The walk is direct, though not as direct as Altbor one....

Phil Smith

I have offered an alternative route (Altbor 2) avoiding these issues but one mile longer. 2) The route respects local codes and laws. 3) It is accessible in that it is not a strenuous walk. there are parts that will be very muddy in wet weather, judging from the areas with deep animal footprints. There are no stiles, just gates. 4) The walk is direct. 5) It is mostly off road or on road with pavement but there is one stretch of road without pavement. 6) There are resting places along the way, seating at the church in East Worldham. Alton and Bordon have places to eat and drink. 7) There are busses at Alton and Bordon. 8) The route is fairly clear but there are a couple of places where you could be led a little astray without GPS. 9) The walk is enjoyable and the scenery pleasant enough. 10) The paths are all well established....

Phil Smith

5) It is mostly off road or on road with pavement but there are a couple of short stretches of road without pavement. 8) The route is fairly clear but there are a couple of places where you could be led a little astray without GPS....

Phil Smith