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Home , Andover Canal, Avon Valley Path, Awbridge, Bourne Rivulet, Broadlands, Chilbolton

Introduction History The is a 44-mile long- In addition to the local fare, the Test Way is steeped in Further south is Abbey – when the Domesday distance walking route that will history. There is a host of historically important Book was compiled in 1086, the ancient manor house take you from its dramatic buildings and places to visit along its route dating from at Mottisfont belonged to William the Conqueror. The start, high on the chalk downs the Bronze Age period to the recent past. priory was founded by the Austin Cannons in 1201 until at , to follow much of the it was dissolved by Oliver Cromwell in 1536. It became Near Stockbridge is , a large Iron Age hill fort course of the to Eling a private house until given to the National Trust in from the 6th C BC, and whose ramparts and ditches are where its tidal waters flow into 1957, and is now famous for its superb walled rose still clearly visible today. Just south of , Water. Without garden. the path crosses the line of the Harrow Way, one of the doubt, the Test is one of great prehistoric trackways and a medieval pilgrim’s ’s finest chalk The beautiful abbey at was founded by Edward route, and at the route crosses a section of streams, world famous for its the Elder in the 10th C. It was a Benedictine monastery Roman road that stretched from to superb trout fishing. for nuns that in its early years had strong royal Cirencester. connections and attracted ladies from some of the The Way has been divided into wealthiest families in the land. In its latter years the In Harewood Forest, King Edgar is said to have killed eight sections, each providing a monastery declined, and its nuns were often rebuked for Earl Ethelwold of Wherwell, who had counselled him really good day out. Choose ‘scandals’ such as staying out all night! It survived the against marrying Elfrida, whom he then married. When between water meadows or tidal Dissolution and became the parish church. Edgar saw her beauty, he killed the earl and married marshes, riverbank picnics or her. Later she had his son, Edward, murdered in order cosy pubs, steep hills with Just outside Romsey, the route passes the grand to secure the throne for her son Ethelred. In remorse, exhilarating views or cool, Palladian mansion of – home of the late she founded the nunnery at Wherwell in 986 AD. This peaceful woodland. Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last serving Viceroy of was later demolished after the Dissolution of the India, and once the home of the prime minister, Lord The route passes through some of the most picturesque Monasteries in 1539. Palmerston. villages in Hampshire, strewn with listed buildings, Just north of is a disused canal lock from historic churches and houses. There are many places have a history traceable back to the the Southampton to . In 1857, the such as Romsey, Stockbridge and Totton where you can Bronze Age – a dagger from this period was discovered Andover Canal Railway Company utilised much of the stop along the way for refreshment, visit antiques shops, at . As the first point at which route for a railway locally called the ‘Sprat and Winkle sample local crafts and foods or even to stay for a night could be forded, a settlement has Line’ (closed in the 1960s), which was literally built or two. We have listed a selection of refreshments in the thrived here for thousands of years. over the top of the canal. Along the path, white gashes more rural parts at the end of each section. can be seen in the cliffs where it is said the chalk was The crystal-clear waters of the little streams, or excavated to fill in the old waterway. bournes, are ideal for watercress growers, and the Stockbridge was first referred to in 1141. The main numerous water meadows and tidal marshes are thick street is particularly wide, reflecting its earlier role as with wildlife, flora and fauna. As the route criss-crosses part of a drovers’ road. It developed as a thriving backwards and forwards over the river, you may spot in the 13th C, and is still thriving today. some of the many rare birds and plants that can be found here, such as kingfishers, marsh harriers and little grebe, green-winged orchids and butterbur.

Mottisfont Abbey

Local fare - Hampshire boasts a wide range of fine local products such as watercress, trout, beef and lamb, wine, cheeses, handmade chocolates and many more. For a guide to producers, call 01962 845999 or visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk on the web. There are also regular farmers’ markets in Hampshire’s towns and villages, so why not take home an edible souvenir for your family and friends. Details and dates are available on 01962 845135 or visit www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk

How to follow the Test Way Further information

The route stretches between Publications Inkpen in For information about the other ten long-distance walks and Eling Wharf in Hampshire. or for leaflets about the following, tel: (01962) 870500, The route is well sign posted with the or visit your local Hampshire County Council Information Test Way logo of TW on a green arrow. Centre or Tourist Information Centre. Horse-riders and cyclists can also use Long-distance walks A 44 mile some parts of the Test Way, this is shown Walking in Hampshire the map inside. Finding Your Way long-distance walk Guided Walks Discover Hampshire’s Countryside from Inkpen Beacon Maps Accessible Countryside in Hampshire to Eling This leaflet does not provide navigation Defence of the Realm details. The route is shown on the following Ordnance Survey maps:- Useful websites Explorer maps at 1:25,000 scale www.hants.gov.uk/walking 158 (Newbury & Hungerford), www.hants.gov.uk/countryside 131 (Romsey, Andover & ), www.hants.gov.uk/cycling OL22 (New Forest) www.visit-hampshire.org.uk The route is indicated on these maps www.traveline.org.uk with a green diamond and the name of www.metoffice.co.uk the route (Test Way). Further information and a detailed Useful contacts Hampshire County Council

route description is available on the from the OS mapping with permission of the Reproduced controller of HMSO © HCC LICENCE No LA100019180 web:- www.hants.gov.uk/walking/testway Information Centre Winchester 01962 870500 Met Office (weather information) 0870 9000100 The Traveline 0870 608 2608 Other long-distance walks Tourist Information Centres (TICs) Andover 01264 324320www.visit-testvalley.org.uk Inkpen 1 Beacon 01256 817618 www.visit-northhampshire.org.uk 7 2 Romsey 01794 512987www.visit-testvalley.org.uk 3 Solent Way Southampton 023 8083 3333 www.southampton.gov.uk Andover 4 Test Way Lyndhurst 023 8028 2269 www.thenewforest.co.uk Alton 11 5 Hampshire Millennium Recreation & Heritage Department 4 6 Pilgrims’ Trail Hampshire County Council, Mottisfont Court, High Street, 2 Winchester 10 6 Oxdrove Way Winchester Hampshire SO23 8ZF. 5 8 7 Wayfarer’s Walk 1 Southampton 9 8 Way Available in alternative formats Lyndhurst National Trail 9 Staunton Way 01962 870500 3 Christchurch 10 Hangers Way Produced with assistance from Test Valley Borough Council and 11 St Swithun’s Way Hampshire Totton and Eling Town Council DESIGN 03 3462 CORPORATE GRAPHICS TEAM 01962 813802 PRINT BY HAMPSHIRE PRINTING SERVICES ON REVIVETEAM 01962 813802 PRINT BY HAMPSHIRE PRINTING SERVICES RECYCLED PAPER GRAPHICS DESIGN 03 3462 CORPORATE UNCOATED County Council ©Hampshire County Council. 2005 Inkpen to Inkpen West Down, to Stockbridge Hill P Distance: 8 miles Time: 3-4 hours P Distance: 3 miles Time: 1-2 hours Way The Test Way begins high on a dramatic chalk escarpment at fare This part of the route uses an old dismantled railway line to rs W Inkpen. From here you can see the bleak downs to the north alk lead you down to Stockbridge. The river is always beside you, and the lush plain to the south. On a fine day you may even peeping through the trees, passing the villages of and, glimpse the soaring landmark of Salisbury Cathedral’s spire. across the river, . Berkshire From here the trail drops sharply to the valley and rises to Hampshire Stockbridge’s wide main street rests on a chalk causeway built the small village of , then follows farm tracks to over the seven streams that make up the River Test. The water the pretty hamlet of , where Jane Austen was a Linkenholt criss-crosses the high street, where you can take a break from regular visitor at Ibthorpe House. The path then follows your route to feed the huge trout or explore the many antiques alongside the bed of a winterbourne (a seasonally rising and crafts shops, galleries, pubs and cafés. stream) into the village of Hurstbourne Tarrant – a favourite of William Cobbett, author of ‘Rural Rides’. Accommodation: Andover TIC Refreshments: (small selection) Accommodation: Andover TIC Upton Combe Gibbet, Inkpen Mayfly PH, Westdown 01264 860283 Refreshments: P A343 White Hart Inn, Stockbridge 01264 810663 George and Dragon, Hurstbourne Tarrant 01264 736277 Places of interest: Public Transport: Inkpen and Hurstbourne Tarrant George and PHurstbourne Houghton Lodge Gardens 01264 810502 Four Valleys Taxi Bus - 114 0118 975 3070 Dragon PH Tarrant Public Transport: Stockbridge Newbury Buses - 13 01635 567500 Stagecoach, 77,99,X99 0845 121 0180 Stagecoach - 20 0845 121 0180 Stoke Wilts & , 68 01722 336855 Cango - C2 & C3 0845 602 4135 George Inn Stockbridge to Mottisfont Hurstbourne Tarrant to St Mary Bourne Bourne P St Mary Bourne 1 Valley Distance: 5 /2 miles Time: 2-3 hours Distance: 3 miles Time: 1-2 hours Still using the old railway line, the path passes through In Hurstbourne Tarrant the path runs through the village, Stockbridge Common – a quiet world of reedbeds and B3048 crosses the valley and heads steeply uphill to the copses of waterfowl. Here, beside the water, the Clarendon Way (which Wallop Hill Down where you can look back for a postcard stretches from Winchester to Salisbury) crosses the valley just view of the village nestling below. Gently descend past before you reach the ancient crossing point of Horsebridge. Stokehill Farm to St Mary Bourne which straggles alongside Andover A3400 Pass the John of Gaunt pub before continuing past one of the the course of the where the 12th C church few remaining old railway stations (now privately owned). On contains several treasures. Look downstream for the huge to Lower Brook, cross the meadows and finish this section on nine-arch viaduct at and the numerous grass tracks at the famous , a National Trust watercress beds. property whose walled kitchen garden holds the national A303(T) Plough Inn collection of old-fashioned roses. Accomodation: Andover & Basingstoke TICs Refreshments: Accommodation: Andover & Romsey TICs Forest George Inn, St Mary Bourne 01264 738340 B3420Harewood Refreshments Public Transport: St Mary Bourne John of Gaunt, Horsebridge 01794 388394 Cargo Services - C2 & C3 0845 602 4135 Wherwell Places of interest: Mottisfont Abbey, Mottisfont 01794 340757 St Mary Bourne to Longparish White Lion PH Chilbolton Mottisfont to Romsey 1 Distance: 5 /2 miles Time: 2-3 hours Over the river, you can walk the farm tracks crossing one of Westdown Distance: 5 miles Time: 2 hours the great prehistoric roads, the Harrow Way. Pass through Mayfly PH Longstock The Way now passes the church of St Andrew and crosses the more farmland and around the beautiful eastern edge of just before it joins the Test. Lanes and tracks skirt Harewood Forest, a remnant of ancient coppiced woodland. Leckford around the village of before entering Squabb Wood, You will then come to Longparish with its many listed reminiscent of the . Emerge from the wood and see buildings, including the early 13th C church of St Nicholas. A3057A30 the 10th C across the marshland. Then go past The path brings you straight to The Plough pub garden. Sadlers Mill and its salmon leap and down to the thriving Stockbridge medieval market town of Romsey. Accommodation: Basingstoke & Andover TICs P White Hart Inn Accommodation: Romsey TIC Refreshments: Houghton The Plough, Longparish 01264 720358 Lodge Gdns Places of interest: King John’s House, Romsey 01794 512200 Public Transport: Longparish Houghton Romsey Abbey, Romsey 01794 513125 Cango - C4 0845 602 4135 Clar Stagecoach - 26 0845 121 0180 endo Public Transport: Romsey n Wa y Solent Blue Line from Southampton 023 8061 8233 PKing’s First from Southampton (Sundays only) 023 8022 4854 Horsebridge Somborne Wilts & Dorset from Salisbury 01722 336855 John of Gaunt PH Stagecoach from Winchester 0845 121 0180 Wilts & Dorset from 01722 336855 Trains 08457 48 49 50 Mottisfont Brook Abbey B3084 Romsey to Eling Mottisfont B3057 Longparish to West P Stoneymarsh Distance: 9 miles Time: 3-4 hours Walking south from Romsey, you can glimpse the grand Longparish Down, Chilbolton Palladian mansion of Broadlands through the trees, once home of the late Lord Louis Mountbatten. The path now hugs the Distance: 5 miles Time: 2 hours western edge of the valley with its waves of wooded terraces Walk through the pretty hamlet of Forton on the banks of beside you, before crossing the river and taking you through a the Test. You then re-enter the lovely Harewood Forest on Awbridge wonderful nature reserve of reedbeds and saltmarshes that is Second World War concrete tracks, used to conceal vehicles King alive with rare birds and plants. Take care though: this area from snooping enemy aircraft. Leave the woods and walk John’s P can be waterlogged at any time of the year. Cross the river for Squabb House along pleasant old farm lanes back into the valley to Wood Romsey the last time before finishing the Way at Eling Wharf. Wherwell. The route runs behind the village, but much more A27 Romsey Abbey scenic is a walk down the main street. Cross the different Accommodation: Romsey, Southampton & Lyndhurst TICs branches of the river via footbridges, past Chilbolton Refreshments: Common with its vast variety of flora and fauna. Skirting Broadlands Salmon Leap, Totton 023 8086 2694 Chilbolton and its Observatory you will reach West Down. Anchor Inn, Totton 023 8042 8206

Places of interest: est Accommodation: Andover TIC Broadlands 01794 505010 Refreshments: Eling Tide Mill 023 8086 9575 The White Lion, Wherwell 01264 860317 T River Public Transport: Eling Public Transport: Chilbolton Village A3057 M27 Solent Blueline from Southampton 023 8061 8233 Stagecoach - 25,99,X99 0845 121 0180 Stockbridge Wilts & Dorset from Southampton 01202 673 555 Trains to Totton Station daily 08457 48 49 50 Testwood Salmon Leap PH Southampton Key Totton Trail (walkers only) Anchor PH ElingTide Mill N P Southampton Water Trail (walkers, horse-riders and cyclists) 0123 4 Miles P Parking 0123456 Km Tourist Information Centre (TIC) Eling Train Station