Search form

Walk

Walking Routes and Footpaths

Walking and cycling are great options to get around North Whiteley, as well as easy and low cost ways to keep active and fit.  The development is well served with wide pavements, footpaths and shared cycle footways connecting the north and south part of the development, as well as linking to Whiteley and Whiteley Shopping Centre. 

  
There are now several shared paved paths, to be used by both pedestrians and cyclists, running along Whiteley Way, Curbridge Way and Bluebell Way.


Footpaths across the development

In addition to the paved shared cycle footways, there are also a number of footpaths throughout to connect residents, both across the development and to the wider area including Whiteley and the Solent Business Park.

  

The key ones are:

  • Ridge Lane which starts at the A3051 just at the bottom of the north part of North Whiteley.  From here, it runs in a south easterly direction along Ridge Farm Meadow, and meets Whiteley Way at Dapperling Pond. Half way along, there is a cut through to Curbridge Way by Ridge Pond.

  • Footpath 709 (Public Right of Way - Hampshire Rights of Way online | Hantsweb) - which runs from Ridge Lane along the side of Barn Owl Copse, crossing Glassfield Road and cutting through to Cornerstone C of E Primary School.  This path also continues on from Cornerstone C of E Primary and joins to Whiteley Lane

  • Sawpit Copse has a footpath running east - west connecting Whiteley Way to Bluebell Way, coming out just opposite Maple Rise

The footpaths across the development are a mixture of gravel tracks and natural soil and vegetation. Footpath 709 will be upgraded to a metalled surface in the next few years. 

 

Local Woodland Walks

There are also some great nearby woodland walks.  The North Whiteley development is situated between Whiteley Pastures and Botley Woods to the southeast, and Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve and Manor Farm Country Park to the west, west of Botley Road.


Whiteley Pastures

Whiteley Pastures are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI) and are managed by Forestry England.  They are open to the public, and there are a number of gravel paths throughout the woodland.  They can be accessed off Whiteley Way, near to the Whiteley Way roundabout.  If you need to take your car to get to them, then street parking is available on the Solent Business Park or in the Whiteley Shopping Centre car parks.   Forestry England ask you to stick all of the gravel tracks and act responsibly when you visit to help us protect the rare wildlife of the area. Please keep your dogs on the lead. 


Botley Wood

Botley Wood is a Hampshire County Council managed Nature Reserve with an extensive variety of woodland, scrub and grassland with rides and ancient droveways.  It is located next to Whiteley Pastures and can be accessed by taking paths which go under the power lines from Whiteley Woods or from Titchfield Lane.


Fairthorne Manor

If you are looking for more outdoor activity fun, then there is Fairthorne Manor, to the north east of the development, just off Botley Road (A3051) on the way to Botley.  This is a unique activity venue and nursery set in the heart of Hampshire countryside. With 95 acres of land to explore including ample camping grounds, woodlands, an enclosed lake, plus an enchanting entrance to the upper reaches of the River Hamble.  To find out more, visit https://ymca-fg.org/fairthorne-manor/

The address is Fairthorne Manor, YMCA, Southampton SO30 2GH.  There is a separate shared cycle and footpath from the development along Botley Road to Fairthorne Manor.


Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve

Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve is to the west of Botley Road, approx 2.5 miles from the development.  It is a joint project between NATS and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, with grasslands, woods and lakes.  It offers several walking trails depending on how long you would like to go for walk. 

There is parking at the Reserve or alternatively it is about a 20 minute walk to the Nature Reserve from the bottom of Botley Road, at The Elm Tree Inn.

The address is Sopwith Way, Swanwick Lane, Swanwick SO31 7AY.  Please see more details with this Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve leaflet

 

Guided Walks

If you would like to have someone to walk with or have a bit more guidance in finding local walks, then join up with the local walking group, Fareham Healthy Walks.  They are led by trained Volunteer Walk Leaders and last between 30 and 90 minutes and suit people of varied abilities.

The walks cover the whole of Fareham Borough Council, and there are 4 walks close to North Whiteley which you may want to try first:

  • W27 Whiteley: The meeting point is outside the Harvester restaurant at Whiteley Shopping Centre. Follow signs to East car park. PO15 7LJ.
    A  walk around the lakes, with wide, flat footpaths that are perfect for easy walking. Suitable for wheelchairs and buggies but watch out for some mud in places if it has been raining!
    Duration: 60 minutes.  

  • W43 Meadowside Walk: The meeting point is outside Meadowside Leisure Centre, next to Whiteley Shopping Centre, PO15 7LJ.  A short walk around Whiteley Park, with wide, flat footpaths that are perfect for easy walking. Suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.
    Duration: 30 minutes. 

  • W64 Whiteley Lakes and Coppices: The meeting point is  outside Meadowside Leisure Centre, next to Whiteley Shopping Centre, PO15 7LJ.  Explore the paths and woodland around Whiteley for a pleasant afternoon walk with a refreshment midway. Some of the woodlands paths can be uneven.
    Duration: 50 minutes.  

  • W22 Abbey Meadows Circular Walk: The meeting point for this walk is about 2.5 miles from Whiteley Shopping Centre at Abbey Meadows Car Park, Cartwright Drive PO15 5RJ Access via Friary Meadow retirement Village turning. It is a pleasant circular walk from the tranquil Abbey Meadows with its wildflowers, via the Tithe Barn to the medieval ponds at Carron Farm. With stop at Stewarts Garden Centre for refreshments. Then back past the recreation grounds to Abbey Meadows.
    Duration: 60 minutes. 

Information about the current programme, timings and registration can be found at https://www.cfirst.org.uk/wellbeing/fareham-healthy-walks-2/ along with the link to their Facebook page.

Remember, your £100 Green Travel Boost could be used for weatherproof clothing, footwear and other outdoor gear.