Full weekend walking route for Hedge End and Boorley

A network of paths remains where the residential areas have extended into the countryside and this walk showcases a 5.5 mile walk that might surprise you.

The walk starts from the free Dowd’s Farm Community car park in Welstead Way. The walk should take three of the four hours you are allowed to park there.

Leave the car park onto Welstead Way and turn right.

At Tollbar Way turn left along it, and where there is a central reservation cross over it and take the path by the lamp post (0.10 miles – accumulative mileage in brackets).

Go through a kissing gate into Moorgreen Meadows, cross a footbridge and go straight on along a path fenced on both sides.

At 0.29 miles go through a kissing gate and continue in the same direction with a fence on the right down an avenue of trees.

Go through a kissing gate (0.52) onto Moorgreen Road and turn right.

Walk along the verge on the left and turn left into Burnetts Lane which is much quieter now it is a no through road for vehicles.

Immediately before the railway bridge (0.99) turn right onto a footpath through a gate and then keep to the path that runs next to the railway through woods.

Do not go down to the Crematorium on the right.

About 40 metres before reaching Bubb Lane (1.21) go right where there is a metal pole with waymarks.

On reaching Bubb Lane go left and then right to cross the road where there is a central reservation.

Then cross Tollbar Way by a central reservation and turn left.

Turn right down a path just before reaching a crash barrier.

The route follows the railway line again, although it is off to the left in the undergrowth.

At a play area fork left (1.5).

The path goes along the side of Cheltenham Gardens Balancing Pond and then crosses the stream leading out from it and then continues in the same direction as the railway.

Go through Hedge End Railway Station Car Park and at the roundabout (1.83) go right along the road and then left into Shamblehurst Lane North.

Follow the road over the hump-backed railway bridge. When the road stops descending take a footpath on the right (2.03).

The path has been recently re-laid with gravel through the Boorley Gardens development although a car park is to be built at this end.

This is an old field path that has a new future as a link from the Boorley Gardens and Boorley Park developments to the railway station.

Follow the gravel path which soon goes into an old green lane (2.28) which has been retained but resurfaced.

On reaching Forest Road (2.46) go straight across onto a continuation of the gravel path which leads to Winchester Road (2.57).

Cross over it and then turn right along a shared use footway.

At some bollards go left down a wide tarmac path (2.68).

Take the next tarmac path on the right (2.77) now in the Boorley Park development to climb a hill.

The path turns to gravel after a cross path and goes up steps.

It then descends to join the footway along Wallace Avenue.

Take a footpath on the right opposite Turnbury Close (2.96). It leads to Maddoxford Lane (3.07) go straight across down Oatlands Road.

The route is now heading back towards the start.

On reaching the Winchester Road go left (3.25) and cross over at the traffic lights ahead.

Continue uphill to cross the railway bridge. On the other side walk around the crash barrier to take a path on the right that follows the south side of the railway (3.38).

When the fields (and proposed open space) on the left end, (3.83) the route bears left to enter a tree belt and cross a footbridge.

On the other side turn left along another footpath running within a tree belt between a stream on the left and houses on the right.

At a T-junction with another path (4.03) turn left and in 20 metres right onto a wide tarmac path.

Continue along it as it bends to the right and then straightens up where it is possible to use a bridleway that runs parallel to it just to the left.

On reaching Maunsell Way (4.3) the bridleway and the footpath cross it, take the bridleway, the left of the two.

This leads to Shamblehurst Lane South, where there is a sculpture, and turn left along it (4.5).

At the roundabout turn right along Charterhouse Lane (4.63).

Where the road ends go a long a tarmac path (not left) and in 40 metres fork left to follow a fence to the left (4.76).

Cross a paved road to follow a continuation and in a few metres fork right onto a wide tarmac path.

In 30 metres fork left onto an unsurfaced path.

On reaching Whites Way turn left along it and then right down another path just beyond the end of the Salvation Army car park (5.02).

In 40 metres turn left down a grassy path which leads to Tollbar Way (5.13) and the completion of this circular route.

Turn right for the car park on Welstead Way (5.25).

If you enjoyed this walk then the Eastleigh Ramblers have a 5-7 mile walk every Thursday details of which are on their web site.

Just turn up and let the leader know you saw this article.

Walk written up by Richard Kenchington, Hampshire Area Walking Environment Officer of the Ramblers’ Association.