Hi, we are looking to move either this year or next to Hampshire, OH will be working at the ATC centre in Swanwick, nr Southampton, so we will want to be within 1/2 an hour of there.  We have looked around quite a bit, but find the finding of walks to be the most difficult, w have young children so of course schools are important as is finding an area we generally like.  We liked Petersfield which has the Queen Elizabeth Country Park reasonably close (bear in mind we are used to walking 2 mins to our CP) and I have heard of Catherington Lith and Ludshott Common which are also in the areas we like, but have not yet had a chance to visit.
Are there any Champdoggers in these areas who could give me an idea how good these areas are for dog walking, bearing in mind I have a dog that ranges quite a lot so we need to be able to stay away from roads as much as possible.
Or are there any other great areas within 1/2 hour of Swanwick we may have missed?!  Any help gratefully appreciated as piling 3 kids and 3 dogs into the car for a look around is very tiring!!!

Thanks, Hayley

Dont forget to think about beaches and the New Forest which provide some great walking. My inlaws live near Poole and there is plenty of room for a run. I know it isnt right on your doorstep but great for weekends. I suggest that you also invest in a good OS map of the area, which will clearly mark country parks, rights of way etc.

We had a similar situation when we moved from South London to Bedfordshire, we have a local field for everyday runs and are within a few minutes drive of loads of good longer walks at places like Woburn. 

Good luck with the house hunting.

How about behind the ATC, you can walk miles through the woods and nature reserve :) You can do the whole of the South Downs way if you feel inclined starting at Warsash beach, if not you can walk miles & miles anyway. HollyHill Park 5 mins from ATC. Hundred acres at Wickham, Upper Hamble country park. loads of other places to walk.

You don't want to be in Hindhead :) The A3 clogs up horribly as Hindhead is the last bit that isn't dualled :( I would have thought that you would have a job getting from Petersfield to Southampton in 30 minutes in the rush-hour :)

Daisy

Luckily Steve doesn't have to travel in the rush hour as he works shifts, and I think Swanwick is a bit closer than Soton.  Is all of Hindhead affected by the A3, or are there other escape routes?  We heard they were planning road changes/bypasss around there too, have you heard anything?
Is there anywhere in that area you would recommend, bearing in mind we want decent walks and good schools?

Hayley

Sorry - I'm not so familiar with the area to be able to recommend somewhere to live :) I just have experience of driving down/up the A3 to the Isle of Wight for the last 50 years (well, I didn't personally drive all of that time :D ) I haven't heard of any plans yet to bypass Hindhead - a lot of the land around is protected (ie The Devil's Punchbowl) and they are having a job getting a route, I think. Maybe someone who lives in the area will know more. We often use the M3 up to the M25 instead of the A3, as we always get horribly held up at Hindhead. The problem is that if the decide a route for the bypass, it will still take years to get it through :(

Daisy

Thanks anyway Daisy :)  Wave as you go under the bridge at Lightwater next time you go up the M3, I'm often walking across with the dogs! :D

Will be about 6-7pm Sunday evening :D

Daisy

Just make sure the person walking accross the bridge doesnt launch a brick at you - thats whats been happening down our end of the M3 lately :(

I promise I won't, though it has happened a couple of bridges up from us, I'll be on the one immed after the L/W junction :)

My mum lives at Sarisbury Green, which is about 20-30 mins walk from Swanwick (depending how fast you walk). She takes her dog for walks in Holly Hill (about 10 mins walk from Sarisbury Green) and also all around the grounds of the old hospital (now closed) at Locks Heath, where there are fields, commons and woods - loads of space. The hospital grounds are scheduled for redevelopment eventually but I assume some of it will remain as open land. Holly Hill is an old Victorian estate which now belongs to Fareham District Council. It's super for dogs - it is well away from the road, there are lakes and woods and a footpath that goes right down to the Hamble, and then you can walk along a footpath by the side of the Hamble. I don't know what the schools are like but there's a primary school in Allotment Road in Sarisbury Green which is in a very quiet, pleasant setting with allotments opposite and a playing field to the side.

Thanks April

Have PM'd you.