The first is the mile coming out of Micheldever station; the second is on the Basingstoke Road between Totford and The Grange (at the middle of the route). Fortunately there is a better alternative, by continuing along the road to take the next turn into Blackwood Forest, where there are numerous beautiful forest paths that reunite you with the marked route. The paths and roads are in good enough condition that this route (as adjusted for the lack of access above) could conceivably be done on two wheels, but not four, as hardly any of it is very narrow or overgrown or muddy (in this season at least), with only a couple of kissing gates....

Andrew Davies

Given that this is a rather long route, and as a pioneer I did not have a clear idea what I would find, I decided to split this Slow Way into two halves, breaking it at South Wonston where you can turn off to reach the village, which has a shop and the hourly number 75 bus from Andover to Winchester. If I was to do the route again I would take the footpath used by the Winmic Slow Way, which passes further east (Weston Down Lane) - connecting the Micheldever station road with the village of Weston Colley, from where you could rejoin this route via Stoke Charity; there is even another footpath shown on the map between these two routes, which I have not investigated. Another option could be to continue on Winmic further south to the drove footpath at Waller's Ash and coming across to rejoin this route at South Wonston....

Andrew Davies

Early on you pass Cobbs farm shop where a coffee and snacks are available; some patches roads but these are limited; the train station is 0.2 miles beyond the Micheldever Station sign - worth noting as there is just one train per hour back to Winchester (just a 9 minute journey). Despite the rain a thoroughly enjoyable walk....

Shona Goulds

But the route was very clear, as marked on the map. If you wish to avoid that, an alternative is to do the other sides of the square between Wallers Ash and the Watercress Way - coming from the north, cross straight over the road towards South Wonston, then take the first footpath turning south, and left again to rejoin the marked route....

Andrew Davies

Part of route joins the Jane Austen trails through Steventon....

Ashley Coxden

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

My wife and I walked this route but some sections of it go through private land and the route needs to be re-plotted....

Steven Moore

It isn't the most inspiring walk coming out of Basingstoke - which takes 5 miles - hence only giving it 3 stars. We took a detour at the bottom of Dummer Down Lane, walking straight across Duxford Lane to go into Dummer Down Farm and have lunch at the Honesty Cafe. Another possible alternative would be to follow the Wayfarer's Way from Dummer to Duxford Lane, crossing it and following the permissive route which would link to a footpath taking you back to The Holt - again adding about 1/2 mile but cutting out over a mile of road. The path out of Blackwood still needs a detour - which was blocked by fly tipping just before Larkwhistle Farm Road. In summary, I'd walk from Dummer to Micheldever again (and have done most of it previously) but not from Basingstoke to crossing the M3....

Clare Mitchell

Leaving Winchester one shares the route with the St Swithuns Way and Camino Ingles (St James Way) along the River Itchen. Kings Worthy is the last main settlement before Micheldever Station. There's a direct train between Micheldever and Winchester which makes it an easy route to access....

Clare Mitchell

The route starts at Micheldever Station (Photo 1). The Slow Way is supposed to leave the road for a private lane [SU531421]. It’s only a short detour to continue along the main road and reach the other end of the lane via a byway. The Slow Way leaves Dummer via a remarkably fancy stretch of the Wayfarer’s Walk (Photo 7)....

Martin Ellis

An overgrown byway (Photo 3) then heads east to join the Micheldever Road. There is then a long walk south alongside the busy Overton Road with a narrow verge (Photo 5). It occurred to me that an alternative final stretch would be to stick to the Micheldever Road and take the Andover Road to the station....

Martin Ellis

An informative walk north from Winchester which visits a nature reserve, and the route of a former railway; before crossing farmland to Micheldever Station (pronounced Mitch-el-dever). The footpath north is on the edge of Winnall Moors Nature Research, itself on the western edge of South Downs National Park (Photo 2). There’s a final recrossing of the railway and a footpath that heads north parallel to the line....

Martin Ellis

Leaving Micheldever Station westwards along a road with good sightlines, then lots of straightish paths to Weston Colley, where the route takes the road towards the railway....

peterbjordan

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

Barry Dale

The last path emerges alongside into a field alongside the railway and is followed to a wooded area. The only option is to turn sharp left and follow the edge of the field until the rear of some bungalows is reached....

Barry Dale

This route has a LOT of road walking, has a ridiculous diversion towards the end, and has a few obstructions (stiles, narrow gaps), that make it unsuitable for wheel users. The killer, however, is that a section in the middle of the route is not a right of way....

Ian Deeley

Leaving Micheldever Railway Station the route is briefly on pavement along Overton Road before turning left onto Larkwhistle Farm Road for about ½ mile....

Barry Dale