There is a bit of greenway (use caution if it has recently rained as it will be muddy) closer to the Lordshill end, but most of the walk is along an urban commercial corridor (lots of shops, ethnic markets, food takeaway, pubs...), which can be vibrant and fun if you're in the mood for that sort of environment....

Laura Zurowski

I walked this route in March 2024 as part of a 3-part loop from Southampton, and the conditions were the same as what the other two reviewers indicated. The walk from the Totton town center through the nature preserve was lovely. The industrial area that followed needed a bit of caution as there was considerable vehicle traffic, but there were safe and marked places to cross. The trek across the athletic field was a bit soggy as it had rained a few days earlier, and it was nice to arrive at the shopping center in Lordshill for a bit of refreshment and battery recharge. :-)...

Laura Zurowski

The only part that was a bit tricky in my OS Maps app was when leaving the Southampton Sports Centre, the directions lead toward Dunkirk Road and then make a tight V heading back toward Lordswood Gardens but there didn't seem to be a path to get there. I had to walk up the steep hill leading back to the car park for the Southampton Sports Centre Bowling Club and then walk through another car park to reach Hill Lane....

Laura Zurowski

Nice mix of urban walking on sidewalks and natural trails. The brookside trail in the back of the Polygon School is lovely, but that also means if it's been raining, there will be mud! Plan your visit accordingly. :-) Same goes for the Lordsdale Greenway....

Laura Zurowski

It's urban in nature, except for the northern section through the greenway, so don't expect peace and quiet and woodland paths. But for a route that connects people and places, it works and would be accessible to most....

jonathansbean

Echoing what the other reviewers have said, the route directs walkers to a nonexistent path at the southern end of Rollesbrook Greenway, and to a locked gate in Vinery Gardens. In all other respects it's an excellent route, and I've submitted a corrected version as Lorsou Four which hopefully sorts out these issues....

cathw

Lorsou Four is not a direct route (hence four stars rather than five) but makes up for it by being an attractive route maximising the use of green spaces, and I would happily walk it again in either direction....

cathw

There was some road walking, but it felt safe to me, and there was one loud road (pavement) section, which was along Winchester Road by ASDA. The first of the two diversions is around ASDA, which the route suggests you can bypass by going around the back of ASDA via the B&Q headquarters car park. The route suggests you should walk along Lord's Hill Way and then cut across to Tangmere Drive. I walked the route on a Saturday, and that road was very busy....

thiswormjim

As other reviewers have found, the Vinery Gardens route isn't viable (locked gate in photo), so you can either turn off a bit earlier and go down a steep dip and then up again onto what I think is Oakfield Gardens or continue on the Greenway as I did onto Dale Road. I also had a problem following the path towards the Southampton end, where the route appears to go through a part of the Rollesbrook Greenway that doesn't have a path....

thiswormjim

However it is not wheelchair accessible for it's full length - part of the section through the Lower Test Nature Reserve has narrow gates at both ends, so although the walking through there is easy, largely on a boardwalk, you wouldn't be able to get in or out in a wheelchair unless you could arrange for the vehicle gates to be open....

Karen M

It's a pretty walk across the marshes and fields. Be careful when it is a very high tide as areas of the marshes footpath flood....

Amelia Brice

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

mtormey

At this time I can't really rate this route as it takes you to a gate which is locked as it is private access to an allotment site....

Cloud burst

This is not a direct route however it is mainly off road. Here the route steadily climbs and joins a tarmac lane which is little used which comes out to the highest point of the route (geographically!) which is a bridge over the M3 (photo 2). The route carries on along a little used lane (the only traffic being forestry commision and Range Rovers). After a while there is a crossing of a relatively busy main road (Botley Road) but this is not much of an issue. After another 1/4 mile on a little used lane the route heads up a narrow bridleway between fields with nice views (photo 3). This path comes out on Green Lane and this section is the longest on road part although the road is little used. After a while a T junction is reached and the route goes left on to Highwood Lane for a short distance (busier road but there is a footpath) before heading right and back onto footpaths surrounded by fields....

Cloud burst

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. This road goes straight towards Romsey, but take a left just before the main Winchester Road, following signs for the Town Centre. Crossing the main road, take a right then left, and follow the road into The Hundred and along to the market square....

Paul Wright

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....

nickw4426