SW29 Romsey Waterways and Alleys

Park at the Romsey Rapids Leisure Centre. Leave the Rapids, cross the road on the crossing and turn left towards Romsey. Turn right into Knatchbull Close and as the road turns left, take the footpath ahead alongside the allotments. Continue to the road and cross to the footpath on the other side. At the next road turn left over the bridge and take the path on the right alongside the stream. Continue across two roads keeping the stream on your right-hand side to the Tadburn Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve is accessed via a footbridge ahead as the path bears left.

The path winds through the reserve for about1/4 mile, always keep left at any junction, until you reach the last stream bridge. Cross over and turn left and continue to Hestia Close. Follow this to Halterworth Lane and turn left. Cross over the railway and take the footpath on the left just past the filling station. Turn left onto Bramble Drive and then take the next road right and then the next left. When you reach the green area on the left take the alley up the hill on the right to the Winchester road.

Turn left and then take the next road right (Braishfield Road). Use the footpath on the left then turn left into Winterbourne Road. Continue past Pinewood Close then take the footpath on the right just before the sign Tavistock Close Nos 19 to 32 and continue past the houses to the end and turn left. Follow the path as it bends left and cross a road and pass across the front of the shops. Then take the path right alongside the shops. At the 5-way junction, signed Rimington Gardens, take the path sign-posted to 1-31 Stapleford Close. Continue along the path and just before Woodley Lane turn left onto a path. Continue on this path over a road and then to a crossing that goes over Woodley Lane into Abbotswood, then turn left.

Follow the wide path as it swings right then take the path on the left through the kissing gate into Abbotswood Nature Reserve. Take the path immediately to the right of the Abbotswood Nature Reserve noticeboard and between the large oak trees. Continue to a line of large bushes, pass through the gap and turn right. Follow this path, taking the left option at junctions, until the paved path is reached and turn left and continue to Sandy Lane. In the winter the reserve may be muddy so it is possible to continue onto to Sandy Lane on the wide path. The alternative route is more suitable for wheel or push chairs particularly in the winter.

Turn left onto Sandy Lane and continue on the foot path and then turn left onto Cupernham Lane. Take the track on the right just after a post box and continue to the canal. The entrance to Fishlake Meadow Nature Reserve is just ahead. (A) Turn left onto the tow path. Follow the canal (B) for about 1.25 mile Turn left alongside the old railway signal box (C) and then right onto Brick Lane which winds through the houses to Winchester Road. Cross on the pedestrian crossing and turn left. Take the alley on the right back to Knatchbull Close and then back to the Rapids. (A) Entrance to Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve where a wide range of birds can be seen in the right season.(B)The Barge Canal once ran between Andover and Redbridge where it joined Southampton Water. It carried agricultural products towards Southampton and building materials and coal northward. Designed by Robert Whitworth it had 24 locks in its 34 km length and was opened in 1794. It was bought by the Manchester and Southern and the Southwestern Railway Companies and was closed in 1859.(C) The old Romsey signal box was relocated here by The Romsey Society. It is open to the public once a month.