Walking Hampshire's Test Way

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Brief history of the Test Valley

The Andover and Redbridge canal and the ‘Sprat and Winkle’ railway

Geology and landscape

Plants and wildlife

Where to stay

Getting to and around the Test Way and to the walks

Walking the Test Way

Cycling – the National Cycle Network and parts of the Test Way

Maps

Waymarking, access and rights of way

Protecting the countryside

Using this guide

The Test Way

Stage 1 Inkpen Beacon to Hurstbourne Tarrant

Stage 2 Hurstbourne Tarrant to St Mary Bourne

Stage 3 St Mary Bourne to Longparish

Stage 4 Longparish to Wherwell

Stage 5 Wherwell to Stockbridge

Stage 6 Stockbridge to Mottisfont

Stage 7 Mottisfont to Romsey

Stage 8 Romsey to Eling Wharf Totton

Walks between Inkpen Beacon and Wherwell

Walk 1 Hurstbourne Tarrant and Ibthorpe

Walk 2 Whitchurch, Laverstoke and Freefolk

Walk 3 Longparish, Forton, Harewood Forest and Deadman’s Plack

Walk 4 Barton Stacey and Bransbury

Walk 5 Wherwell and Goodworth Clatford

Walks between Chilbolton and Stockbridge

Walk 6 Chilbolton, Fullerton, Goodworth Clatford and Upper Clatford

Walk 7 Chilbolton Observatory and Chilbolton Common

Walk 8 Danebury Iron Age hill fort and Longstock

Walk 9 Stockbridge and Marsh Court

Walk 10 Stockbridge Down and Little Somborne

Walks between Houghton and Totton

Walk 11 Houghton and Broughton

Walk 12 Houghton, King’s Somborne and Horsebridge

Walk 13 Stonymarsh, Mottisfont, Kimbridge and Michelmersh

Walk 14 Lockerley, Mottisfont and Dunbridge

Walk 15 Romsey, Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve and Greatbridge

Appendix A Route summary tables

Appendix B Itinerary planner

Appendix C Accommodation near the Test Way

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Further reading

There are two series of OS maps: the 1:50,000 (2cm to 1km) Landranger series; and the more detailed 1:25,000 (4cm to 1km) Explorer series. The OS maps covering the TW and the 15 day walks are:

Landranger: 174,185 and 196 Explorer: OL22, 131, 132, 144 and 158

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

The guidance cannot be bettered; what is not to like?

The Rivers Test and Itchen are Hampshire's two premier rivers although I'm sure there would be advocates for the Avon, even though it rises in Wiltshire and flows to the sea in Dorset. Having lived in Winchester-Southampton for the last 30 years the Itchen is the river I know best. The River Test is a bit of a mystery to me and I suspect to many others. What this book does is make people want to explore it. It gives the reader no excuse except for laziness. The guidance cannot be bettered; the maps are superb, the details of handling the logistics, where to get refreshments and where to stay are excellent, even the lovely photographs are taken on clear sunny days; what is not to like?

The book is around 150 pages and about the size of a postcard so it fits into anY pocket. It is packed with detail. There are sections about local history; the flora and fauna, geology, where to stay; public transport, cycling. That's before the book moves on to the Test Way itself, the footpath that runs from Inkpen Beacon up near the Berkshire border to Totton without passing anywhere any major town unless Stock bridge can be so classified or Totton right at the end.

The author Malcolm Leatherdale really knows his stuff. Outlining the walk, it is the little details that show that. Anything to do with the Second World War is mentioned and seeing most of the people who use this book will have had parents or grandparents involved in that conflict that is no bad thing. As well as the Test way there are 15 circular walks, ranging from four to eight miles, around the Test Valley.....

Andrew Napier, the Hampshire Chronicle

The River Test is one of only a couple of hundred chalk stream rivers in the world.t

The River Test is one of only a couple of hundred chalk stream rivers in the world. The Test Way is based loosely on the river, staring from Inkpen Beacon and finishing at Eling tide mill. In fact, the footpath does not meet the River Test until Longparish, over a third of the way down the footpath.

The book features a full length guide to the path, followed by a series of circular walks from the path, although the section of path following the river runs to less than 30 pages.

Various others rivers are encountered, including the River Dun, Bartley Water, River Dever, River Anton and Oakley Stream. There is a section on the Andover & Redbridge Canal which was 35km long but of which only some 3km remain, very overgrown. Much of it was used as trackbed for the corresponding railway, not entirely successfully as barges at walking pace were better at cornering than were railway trains, which tended to derail frequently.

As is often seen with Cicerone books, the route uses sections of OS 1:50,000 map to accompany the text. It is also well illustrated with various pictures of the river and its tributaries, braiding being a frequent feature in this flat and rural valley.

Canoeist Magazine

Excellent book, some beautiful images and useful facts as you do the walk

My wife and I have been walking the various stages of the Test Way throughout the summer of 2018, using largely information from Hampshire CC web sites and local maps. We came across this book recently and used it for Stage 7 (having already completed Stages 1 to 6!) and found it a really useful guide. We now look forward to using it on the last Stage, from Romsey to Eling as we try to complete the whole test way later this summer. Excellent book, some beautiful images and useful facts as you do the walk with added walks as an extra bonus. I just wish it had been available a few months earlier!

Philip, by email