South Western Railway has introduced a selection of easily accessible countryside walks based around its network in collaboration with Go Jauntly, which is a walking and well-being app and the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership.

Tuesday the 1st of August saw the project launched with colleagues from South Western Railway, Go Jauntly and the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership meeting up to try out one of the walks on the app. The group selected the Itchen Navigation walk which is a journey from Shawford and Eastleigh stations.

Free to download on mobile phones, the Go Jauntly app offers 11 walks under its ‘South Western Railway Rambles’ section.

The app provides an array of walks from a gentle 30-minute walk in the New Forest to a full-day walk which follows the River Itchen from Winchester to Southampton.

The walks offer a fantastic mix of woodland walks, local green spaces and outdoor adventuring, including some step-free accessible routes. All the walks are easy to access using South Western Railway train services at the following stations:

• Chessington
• Brockenhurst
• Eastleigh
• Shawford
• Winchester

Hana Sutch, CEO and Co-Founder of Go Jauntly said of the partnership:

“It’s so exciting to announce that Go Jauntly has teamed up with South Western Railway and the Community Rail Partnerships to provide nature-filled walking routes, which are all accessible by train.”

“Travelling to new places via public transport adds to the overall experience and is very much a part of the journey and fun. Now it’s easier to explore more of the wonderful countryside along the South Western Railway network with this collection of walks.”

Nick Farthing, Chair of Three Rivers CRP – part of Hampshire CRP Community Interest Company (CIC) said:

“The “not-for-profit” Community Café at the station, run in partnership between Hampshire CRP CIC and Marco’s Platform One CIC, is a great place to either start or finish the Itchen Navigation walk that was launched yesterday. Great countryside easily accessible by rail and offering car-free days out with coffee and cake close by!”

Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for SWR said:

“South Western Railway is delighted to be working with Go Jauntly and our Community Rail Partners to offer new ways for people to explore the countryside around our stations.”

“In conjunction with SWR, these walking routes are a great way to see the best that the region has to offer, while leaving the car at home.”