My wife and I plus dog walked this route on Day 1 of our two day expedition to complete the Clarendon Way, the second half of which I will review on Kinwin One. There is a small amount of road walking at the start, but nothing particularly dangerous, but there are a number of obstacles along the way which mean that this is not a suitable route for wheels, apart from perhaps rough terrain buggies that the rider can get out of and the buggy be lifted over the obstacle. Route finding can be tricky despite this being a long distance path. The biggest deviation is shortly after leaving Pitton - as you climb the hill you will see the marked footpath in the hedge to the left, but this path is actually badly overgrown and practically impassable - what you need to do instead is walk on up the track a further 20 metres and you will see a permissive path to the left which follows the edge of the field and a fence (the original footpath is just the other side of the fence). The path does eventually join the road with a kissing gate and a short flight of steps down....you can walk on the road if you want to avoid this....

abravery

The dip in the track approaching the Great Yews identified in the previous review was still flooded in the summertime.* It required climbing high onto the verge to bypass which wasn't easy nor did it feel particularly safe. The track passing the Great Yews featured deep ruts and puddles, mud, exposed roots and other debris. There are several nearby paths and tracks that could be taken to avoid the approach to and/or passing of the Great Yews, though I cannot attest for them at the time of writing...

Charles312

Fortunately, this section is very easy to detour so it should not stop people enjoying this Slow Ways route, either by following the bridleway that runs almost parallel to the footpath in question, or by crossing the two fields approaching Harnham diagonally if conditions allow. I feel this route is well-suited for those who would prefer to take a less urban/residential route between the Wilton and Salisbury as found in Wilsal Two and Three - providing they are comfortable navigating Race Plain Road and the A3094 - but find Wilsal Four a little too indirect. In contrast to another review, I found the section along Home Farm Road quite peaceful aglow as it was in the setting sun. Entering Netherhampton there isn't any signage indicating there is a pedestrian underpass for the A3094 – in fact until I saw it on this Slow Ways route I had no idea it existed. Leaving the village, as one reviewer mentioned, the diagonal footpath across the two fields following does feel more inviting than circumnavigating as per the Slow Ways route....

Charles312

Not strictly owing to Slow Ways route, but a closed footpath along Vernditch Chase led me onto a serendipitous detour through the heart of the woods, beginning with a fantastical outcrop of stones, exposed roots and other woodland debris. Another highlight was the comfortable, perfectly straight footpath (owing to the old Roman road it follows) under tree cover on the approach to and going through Knighton Wood. For a spell I almost forgot that I was reviewing and photo surveying a Slow Ways route at all.. The only potential downsides were the crossings of the A354, and the route between Coombe Bissett and Harnham feeling very much like an "A to B", though Salisbury Cathedral coming into full view on Old Shaftsbury Drove alleviated this somewhat. 1) The footpath leaving Martin Down meadows into and along the edge of Verdict Chase woods is currently CLOSED owing to dangerous trees at the time of writing (Jun 23) so I had to detour through Verdict Chase woods proper. I have included details of this diversion in the supplemental photo survey I completed for this route. 2) This route includes up to four crossings of the busy A354, two-a-piece owing to how the roads are arranged: the first two after Woodyates and the second two at Coombe Bissett b) To avoid the Coombe Bissett crossing an alternative might be to bypass the village altogether, instead heading north after arriving at Stratford Tony, crossing Stratford Tony Road, then joining the RoW (course of Roman road) until it intersects with Drove Lane and back on the Slow Ways route...

Charles312

For this review of Salame One I followed the route in reverse, from Amesbury to the Salisbury meeting point. The route begins following a picturesque, intimate footpath under tree cover crossing several footbridges over the River Avon and its tributaries. Leaving Durnford behind is the aptly-named road Jubilee Hill which has a moderate upward gradient, featuring the optional detour onto an interesting raised earthwork footpath. Crossing the road at Phillips Lane, the route rounds Old Sarum then joins the fairly steep and rough Portway footpath descending to bring you level with Salisbury at the paved semi-residential Stratford Road. Cross the road and continue until you reach Salisbury’s traffic-free full-tarmac trail to your left. From here follow the signs toward City Centre onto the meeting point.. 2) Halfway up Jubilee Hill road the Slow Ways route suggests you leave the road and pass through a couple of pedestrian gates and walk along the footpath parallel around 200m to then rejoin the road. Though not essential, it offers a nice change of pace so I would recommended it if suitable....

Charles312

I walked this route yesterday, and it is about a mile longer than Wilsal1, but avoids the questionable road section from Home FarmRd to the A3094....

Brian

Identical comments to Wilsal 2, other than it continues along the Quidhampton Rd, so that it makes the route mobility issue friendly. It also goes past the pub...

Brian

By incorporating the short off road section in Quidhampton makes it a non mobility friendly route, I will upload Wilsal3, so that pushchairs etc can undertake....

Brian

I also failed to see why the route went from the A3094 down to the 'Aqueduct', I did it because I was surveying the route, but it was most disappointing, the path diagonally across the field looked far more inviting( plus save 0.10 mi )....

Brian

This is an easy to follow quiet backroads route between Fordingbridge and Salisbury....

Slow Ways Darren

There is an alternative route possible which misses out the road walking in Farley, by heading north west and along a more northern route through Bentley Wood, through West Tytherley and Stoney Batter before rejoining the stated route at Dummer Copse....

abravery

The route itself is probably fine, but it needs redrawing as this just straight lines and does not actually show which way to walk (see uploaded image for example). It is not an accurate depiction of the route, and therefore the distance is way off....

panifex

There's a long section through the Bentley Wood nature reserve and the route goes past at least two other nature reserves....

cathw

This is a direct route that has fascinating places and the charms of both historic Wilton and Salisbury, but also unusual green spaces and a significant section of agglomerated car show-rooms. It is certainly good enough to be in the network, but I've not given it more stars because of the section of walking down Salisbury Road, the crossing over Netherhampton Road and some lane walking. This is a good alternative to Wilsal One, but I'd like to see the safety issues with that route addressed so that people can enjoy that way too....

danravenellison

A functional and safe route between Wilton and Salisbury with some interesting points along the route - but also a fair bit of road walking....

Smithster76

It follows footpaths through woodlands, forests, fields and goes over some beautiful chalk stream rivers - perfect to cool off along the way. Highly recommend....

Robbie West

I followed the route from Romsey to Salisbury, providing lovely start and end points. Delightful route taking in the NT Mottisfont estate and a surprisingly high proportion of woodland trails and paths. A little bit gooey in places after heavy rainfall but mainly good walking....

thelazystick

Path is mostly wide, gravel/dirt tracks with a few thinner single-track sections. Few short road sections but nothing that felt unsafe. Good transport links to Salisbury and a little corner shop in King's Somborne for a snack if you're walking on to Winchester!...

alexj3322

Of note, the Slow Ways Route indicates to use an unmarked road just north of Great Durnford but this is now a "Gated" Private Estate (Photographs attached that show either end of this section), so the road out of the village is to be used....

Mandmbrown

Shops are available in Pitton, Middle Winterslow, Broughton and King's Somborne, there's a very good pub in Broughton (The Tally Ho) and King's Somborne has bus routes that connect with plenty of places....

spadgershat

I spoke to the landlady of V and A pub opposite the church who says there is a local campaign for a walking route from the village into Wilton. Harnham and the town path’ into Salisbury is a nice walk with good views of the cathedral Personally though I would take the route vie Broken Bridges and round the back of the industrial estate-although no route shown on map it is a beautiful walk beside the river ( again no good after weeks of heavy rain as can be underwater) and it finishes at the train station (again a shout unpleasant bit 500 metres or so beside the road on pavement)....

Diana

The difficulty of finding a good Slow Ways route between Wilton and Salisbury is the busy Churchfields Industrial Estate at the Salisbury end and the large private Wilton Estate at the Wilton end. Between this point and Wilton, the route is entirely along roads, apart from a tiny detour on a track that goes UNDER A3094 Netherhampton Road. Then comes the most 'dangerous' part of the route, as one has to cross the Race Plain Road and walk along the edge of it before turning off right around the South side of the Wilton Estate. On turning right onto Portfield Road there is a long section where you have to walk on the pavement between busy road and high Western wall of the Wilton Estate - not what I would choose. The route then goes along South Street and left into West Street Wilton....

MaryLanyon

One slight issue is that on Netton Hill, the route shows as following the right of way as defined on the OS map. In practice, you would need to follow the paths on the ground since the RoW is blocked by fairly dense rape seed (April 2021)...

Phil W

This would miss Dunbridge station, but the route diverted as such could be joined by following the well signed footpath from Dunbridge to Mottisfont. Will try and contribute an alternative route via Dean Hill if I have a moment....

nickw4426