Best walks to or from Southampton Central

Southampton Central Station to Bursledon Station

Great views of the Itchen from the bridge. An urban-to-suburban route making heavy use of parks, nature reserves, greenways and footpaths between housing estates, with a crossing of the Itchen on the bridge and woodland sections east of the river. Mostly flat with a few short slopes, some steep; well-maintained paths and narrow in places. Includes sections of the Strawberry Trail and passes through Westwood Nature Reserve.

12km.

Final village streets into Bursledon have no pavement, so be conscious of traffic; the path down to the station is quite steep (a handrail follows it). Narrow woodland cut-throughs can have encroaching brambles and stinging nettles, and a large fallen tree may block one path.

Lunch: Shops, cafes and takeaways in Woolston.

End-of-walk reward: the Old Vine.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Southampton Central Station to Eastleigh Station

a beautiful way of entering Southampton; all the way to Eastleigh which is delightful. Easy walking on roads and surfaced paths through parks at first, then an open riverside stretch along the Itchen before a pleasant woodland walk following the Itchen Navigation. The towpath becomes narrow, overgrown and tricky in places and can get very muddy or flooded in wet weather. Follows the Itchen Way along the route of the Itchen Navigation. Refreshment facilities accessible at Itchen Valley Country Park.

13km. Gentle ascents.

The Itchen Navigation towpath is narrow, overgrown and neglected in places, with obstacles and dense vegetation; cover arms and legs against nettles and consider boots, as long grass can be wet. The river path can flood in winter. Loud aircraft noise where the route passes beneath Southampton Airport's flight path by the M27. Can be muddy.

Lunch: Refreshment facilities at Itchen Valley Country Park.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Totton Station to Southampton Central Station

A practical, mostly flat urban route hugging the busy A33, largely following cycle path and pavement through residential, commercial and light industrial areas. A short and steep climb up from Southampton Central station. The crossing of the River Test offers the best of the walk. Largely follows part of route 236 of the National Cycle Network. The most direct walking route between the two towns, with good bus and train links if you'd rather not walk it.

Easy: 5km, gentle ascents.

A short but steep climb up from Southampton Central station. The route runs beside the busy multi-lane A33 for most of its length, so it is noisy and the air is not the cleanest, though there is good separation from traffic.

Lunch: Little in the way of refreshments along the main stretch apart from a mobile food cart, though fast food outlets lie across the A33.

Good facilities at Southampton Central, and various amenities including a public toilet in Totton.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route