Return leg - start 'short' ?

[HantsExile]

Later this month I am taking a day trip from Winchester (WIN) to Chichester (CCH) to meet up with friends.

I am definitely travelling WIN - CCH by train.
But I may get a lift back at least part of the way from Chichester from one of my friends. They would drop me off at Eastleigh (ESL) or Southampton Airport Parkway (SOA).

I think this is known as 'starting short' but apologies if I have used the wrong term.

An offpeak single WIN-CCH is £13.10 (with railcard).
An offpeak return WIN-CCH is £13.95.
An offpeak single ESL / SOA - WIN is around £4.

My question is:
If I buy a return ticket, can I use it for the full extent of its validity on the outward journey (WIN-CCH) and for the short section of the return journey that I may do by train?
Or do I have to buy a single WIN-CCH and a single ESL / SOA - WIN - which will cost me more?

Advice welcome - I don't want to spend money unnecessarily but I don't want to get into bother!

 

[Watershed]

As with most walk-up tickets, an Off-Peak Day Return WIN-CCH permits break of journey. Therefore there is no problem with 'starting late' (that's the phrase I use - others call it 'starting short'). However, bear in mind that a WIN-CCH ticket isn't valid via SOA, so you couldn't start using the return portion at SOA.

 

[HantsExile]

However, bear in mind that a WIN-CCH ticket isn't valid via SOA, so you couldn't start using the return portion at SOA.

Oh that's interesting! I do this trip a lot, and some return journeys involve a change at Southampton Central, with a choice of onward travel including via SOA - and I've never had a problem.

But thanks for the guidance re "starting late / short" - for some reason, break of journey issues always feel stressful!

 

[jfollows]

As with most walk-up tickets, an Off-Peak Day Return WIN-CCH permits break of journey. Therefore there is no problem with 'starting late' (that's the phrase I use - others call it 'starting short'). However, bear in mind that a WIN-CCH ticket isn't valid via SOA, so you couldn't start using the return portion at SOA.

Are you sure - map CW is defined for Eastleigh-Havant which are the routeing points for Winchester-Chichester and includes Southampton as well as Southampton Airport? Or have I missed something?
(Map BB also defined which omits Southampton etc.)

 

[Watershed]

Are you sure - map CW is defined for Eastleigh-Havant which are the routeing points for Winchester-Chichester and includes Southampton as well as Southampton Airport? Or have I missed something?
(Map BB also defined which omits Southampton etc.)

Sorry; my mistake. I blame a lack of sleep! I did think it seemed a bit odd for it not to be valid via Southampton.

 

[HantsExile]

Sorry; my mistake. I blame a lack of sleep! I did think it seemed a bit odd for it not to be valid via Southampton.

No worries Watershed! Thanks to all for clarifications.