Cycling: Eastleigh – Chandler’s Ford

We took this cycle route from Eastleigh to Chandler’s Ford last Saturday.

From the centre of Eastleigh, cycle through the Pirelli Estate. Head for Tommy Green Walk, this brings you out onto Dew Lane. Cycle along Dew Lane a short way, then cut into the newest bit of the development (Tinning Road?)* to take you to Passfield Avenue, opposite the leisure centre (Fleming Park).

*When the building works are competed it may be possible to cycle from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ parts of the Pirelli estate without having to go via Dew Lane.

Cross Passfield Avenue and turn left – the cycle path runs along that side of the road. Remember that this is a shared footway / cycle path so be a considerate cyclist and give way to pedestrians. And pedestrians – be a considerate pedestrian and give way to cyclist. That way, everyone is happy.

Just after the children’s play area turn right into Fleming Park (there is a National Cycle Network sign – Route 24) and follow the path through the park. Your might want to detour here to go over the small cycle ramp in the play area (I always do). The path takes you alongside the stream, and you turn left to cross the stream at the bridge, to take you up towards the Pavilion on the Park.

When you reach the Pavilion on the Park keep going straight on into Kingfisher Road. At the corner, bear right onto a path (look for the “low flying motorcycles” sign). Again, this is a shared foot and cycle path (in fact, lots of these paths are) so be considerate to pedestrians and cyclist respectively.

This path takes you up a short hill, under the motorway (through a bridge that always looks lower than it is) into Falkland Road on the Velmore Estate. Cross the road and go more-or-less straight on into Cambridge Drive. At the end is a short cut-through / snicket / ginnel / tchure (depending on which regional dialect you use) to the bottom of Nursery Gardens. How about that, you’re almost at Asda.

Cycle through Nursery Gardens, and turn right to follow the cycle path towards Valley Park. There is a toucan crossing to take you safely over Bournemouth Road, then follow the cycle path through Knightwood.

To be honest there are so many twists and turns on this route I’m not even going to try to describe it. It’s a bit of a mystery tour in places. However, if you follow the “National Cycle Network 24” directions you will be OK.

You should come out onto Raglan Close and thence to the traffic lights at the Templars Way / Castle Lane / Knightwood Road junction.

Cross the road and take the cycle path that runs alongside Castle Lane. This will take you to North Baddesley. The cycle path ends here and you need to take to the road for a short while (but the separate path does pick up again a little further down). However, we stopped here, had a drink of water and a banana and headed back to Eastleigh the same way.