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Walking Hampshire's Test Way

The long-distance trail and 15 day walks

ISBN

9781852849535

Availability

Published

12 Jul 2018

Reprinted

10 Feb 2025

Edition

First

Pages

160

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.00cm

Weight

190g

Delivery & Returns

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Guidebook to walking the 71km (44 mile) Test Way in Hampshire from high on the chalk downs of Inkpen Beacon to the Eling Tide Mill near Southampton Water. Following the beautiful, crystal clear River Test, it passes picturesque villages and fascinating historic sites. Also includes 15 day walks to explore this lovely part of pastoral England.

Seasons

All year

Centres

Beginning at Inkpen Beacon, the Test Way passes close to or through St Mary Bourne, Whitchurch, Stockbridge, King's Somborne, Broughton, Mottisfont, Romsey and ends at Eling Totton.

Difficulty

All abilities are catered for. Several of the walks and the first half of the Test Way are perhaps more of a challenge. The second half is fairly flat as are the majority of the walks. No special equipment required.

Must See

Inkpen Beacon; Whitchurch Silk Mill; Chilbolton Common; Longstock Park Water Garden; Danebury Iron Age hill fort; Stockbridge Down; Mottisfont Abbey; Romsey Abbey, Romsey Signal Box - restored - formerly part of the dismantled 'Sprat and Winkle' railway; Broadlands House Romsey; Lower Test Nature Reserve; Eling Tide Mill Totton

ISBN

9781852849535

Availability

Published

12 Jul 2018

Reprinted

10 Feb 2025

Edition

First

Pages

160

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.00cm

Weight

190g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to walking the Test Way between Inkpen Beacon in the North Wessex Downs and Eling Tide Mill near Southampton Water. Covering 71km (44 miles), this riverside route makes a gentle 8-day walk, though stages can be combined into a shorter 2–3 day overall journey. Also included are 15 circular day walks exploring the chalk downs and rolling countryside in and around the Test valley.

The Test Way is described in 8 stages of 5–14km (3–9 miles) in length, while the day walks range from 6–14km (4–9 miles). All the described routes can be walked year-round and are suitable for walkers of all abilities, taking between 2 and 4 hours to complete.

1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
GPX files available to download
Refreshment and public transport options are given for each walk
Information on local history, geology and wildlife
Easy access from Newbury, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

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

Updates

March 2025

March updates

Updates, with thanks to Chris Rayers

Page 34 (top)

The stile by the tennis court has been replaced by a kissing gate

Page 34 (bottom)

The two redundant stiles have been replaced by three functioning stiles

Page 39 (bottom)

The track leading to Faulkners Down Farm has now been resurfaced

Author updates

Page 20 (top left hand column)

Line three delete ‘no’ and insert ‘limited’

Line six after ‘Wherwell’ insert ‘once The White Lion Inn has fully re-opened following its extensive refurbishment’

Page 56

The Test Way direction post at Horsebridge has been replaced with a single finger post denoting the Monarch’s Way that also shares the route with the Test Way

Downloads

Walking Hampshire's Test Way - GPX File

By Malcolm Leatherdale

Malcolm Leatherdale has a particular interest in walking and exploring his native Hampshire. He has lived for the past 15 years a stone’s throw away from the River Test and the Test Way. Malcolm is an active cyclist and also a former marathon runner having competed several times in the London Marathon. He has written several books and a number of articles.

Malcolm is also a member of The Ramblers and it is his passion for walking and being in the ‘great outdoors’ that has prompted this guidebook. His hope is that it will encourage others of all ages and abilities to experience the delights that come from walking generally and the Test Way and the wider Test Valley in particular.

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