Fair Oak is in the process of transforming from a village to a town - but so far has managed to retain a lot of its right of way network and added a few more through the Parish Council taking on new open space responsibilities.

This is a 5.6 mile walk that will take you in a circular route around its perimeter.

To get to the start leave the centre of Fair Oak along Mortimers Lane and at the top of the hill turn right into Knowle Lane and in 120 metres turn right into a small car park.

Do not attempt this walk late in the day or you might find the gates locked when you get back.

Leave it and turn left to return to the junction with Mortimers Lane and turn right along it.

When the footway runs out cross the road. Ignore Pembers Farm Avenue and continue on the verge.

Between the third and fourth telegraph pole look for a signposted path across a footbridge and through a gap in the hedge (0.3 miles).

In the field follow the hedge on the left. At the far corner of the field, cross a stile and footbridge into the next field and turn left following the hedge.

At the far corner of the field cross a stile and continue in the next field following the hedge on the left.

At the far corner where there was a field gate and a stile, go into the next field and continue following the hedge on the left.

Between the 7th and 8th oak tree, go left passing between fence railings into the next field (0.67 miles).

Keep to the left side of the field to the far corner and cross a stile.

Continue following the hedge on the left to the far corner and cross a stile next to a field gate and continue following the hedge on the left.

At the far corner of the field, go through a bridle gate (0.96 miles) where this route joins a bridleway which in July 2024 was restored and resurfaced.

It ends on the Winchester Road (B3354) (1.7 miles).

Cross the road and take the bridleway between the Fox and Hounds PH and the house to the right of it.

On reaching a T-Junction with other bridleways (1.83 miles) take the one going left.

Ignore a footpath into Crowdhill Copse on the right and keep straight on.

Cross Savernake Way (1.94 miles) and continue straight on.

On reaching Hardings Lane (2.17 miles) go straight across onto a footpath which passes along the left side of a car park serving the industrial premises on the right.

Beyond the car park go straight on not right.

On reaching a T-junction with a tarmac path (2.31 miles) go straight ahead on a narrow unsurfaced path between a fence on the left and a hedge on the right.

On reaching Olympic Way (2.45 miles) turn left along it.

Turn left into Marathon Place (2.52 miles) and at the end take the path to the left of No 23.

Turn left as it goes around a car park and then fork right climbing up a path to the left of No 28.

The path joins a surfaced path and then New Road is reached (2.65 miles).

Cross over to follow a wide shared use path keeping to the left side.

Cross the B3037 (2.74 miles) by a signalled crossing and turn left.

Ignore Stokewood Close but just after turn right down another wide shared use path.

On reaching a fork in the path go left and go left again to cross Blackberry Drive (2.85 miles) where a path continues with open space on the left.

Bear right where two paths in quick succession go left keeping to the wide landscaped path.

At a T-junction with another surfaced path go left (3.02 miles).

The path becomes enclosed between fences and exits onto Allington Lane (3.12 miles).

Cross it and go left and just before Dean Road go right down another unsurfaced footpath.

The footpath keeps separate from but parallel with Dean Road and where that road bears left the footpath bears right and descends to a stream (3.31 miles) – do not cross it in flood conditions.

Continue straight on and fork right in 60 metres and then fork right again through woods with ponds on the left.

If the ponds are on the right, you have missed the path you need.

The path joins a boardwalk, and later turn left along another boardwalk (3.49 miles).

When the boardwalk ends the path continues between fences.

It goes left and later right and then the path widens.

After passing to the left of a car park go through a kissing gate onto Pavilion Close (3.77 miles) and go straight on.

Where the Close bears left go straight on along a path between fences across a stile.

After passing the entrance to a house on the right there is a small area surrounded by a low brick walk, pass to the right of it on a narrow path onto the Botley Road (B3354 again) (3.88 miles).

Turn right and then left up Knowle Park Lane and follow it as it goes left and then right to finish at a car park.

Go straight on between the acorns (4.01 miles) to start a traverse of Knowle Park.

Go straight ahead on the gravel path which goes through a gap in a hedge.

Fork right on a gravel path continuing in the same general direction.

Cross a bridge over a pond and go through a hedge and go straight on at a junction of paths where there is a car park on the right (4.25 miles).

The path climbs with open space to the left and then bends left.

By a large oak tree fork right on a path that starts to descend (4.4 miles).

It is worth deviating to visit the OS trig point for the view, what you can see here is shown on the base.

At the bottom of the hill where the gravel path goes left go right through a kissing gate and then straight on along a path down a linear strip of open space.

At the bottom, bear right along Mears Road (4.63 miles) and then left along Michaels Way to Mortimers Lane (4.81 miles).

Turn left and on the layby on the right take a gravel path right.

It is a gradual climb up to Pembers Hill, at the top (5.18 miles) the path then descends into a valley.

Cross a bridge over a stream and then the path climbs again.

It then bends left by a house becomes surfaced, with a pond now on the left.

Follow the path as it runs along the side of Samuel Jarvis Avenue passing another pond.

At the T-junction with Pembers Farm Avenue turn right to reach Mortimers Lane and then turn right and then left into Knowle Lane back to the start (5.6 miles).

Even if you live in Fair Oak, I bet you have found places you did not know existed.

By Richard Kenchington, Walking Environment Officer of the Hampshire Area of the Ramblers’ Association