Test Way

The Test Way walk is about forty-four miles long, running from Totton, on the edge of the Solent, to Inkpen Beacon, above the Vale of Pewsey. Although shorter, it is a little more challenging than the Kennet and Avon; say two longish days, or three easy ones. It is is mostly on footpaths, and there are a few climbs en route. Some people prefer to follow rivers from source to sea, but in this case I would recommend doing it the other way round. The scenery improves as you travel further north.

There are railway stations at Totton / Southampton, and at Hungerford / Kintbury. The only places of any size on the way are Romsey and Stockbridge – Andover is a few miles off the path. Both of these lie on the southern section of the walk. Further north, the Test Way passes through several villages; principally Chilbolton, but also Wherwell, Longparish and Hurstbourne Tarrant. The first three have pubs, so there should be food and shelter available somewhere (there’s also one marked on the map at Hurstbourne Tarrant, though when I passed through in the summer of 2005 it appeared to be closed). Other possibilities, just off the Way, include Dunbridge and Horsebridge to the south, and St. Mary Bourne and Stoke further north. All have pubs, though you would need to check to see if they provide accomodation.

The relevant map numbers for the walk are Landranger 196, 185 and 174, listed from south to north.

Links

8 miles Inkpen to Hurstbourne Tarrant	Refreshments: This part of the route is very remote, there are no refreshments available until Hurstbourne Tarrant, where there is the George and Dragon Inn. The Crown Inn is approximately a 1km detour as it passes Upton. Accommodation: The George and Dragon Inn, Hurstbourne Tarrant http://www.georgeanddragon.com Public Transport: Taxi to Combe Gibbet from Newbury 10 miles, Hungerford 5.5 miles, Andover 12 miles. Hurstbourne Tarrant is on a regular bus route to Newbury and Andover.
3 miles Hurstbourne Tarrant to St Mary Bourne	Refreshments: George Inn or slightly further up the lane Bourne Valley Inn, St Mary Bourne. Accommodation: George Inn, St Mary Bourne http://www.georgeinnstmarybourne.co.uk, Bourne Valley Inn, St Mary Bourne http://www.bournevalleyinn.com Public Transport: Hurstbourne Tarrant is on a regular bus route to Newbury and Andover. St Mary Bourne has a regular bus route to Andover.
5.5 miles St Mary Bourne to Longparish	Refreshments: The Cricketers Inn, Longparish http://www.thecricketersinnlongparish.com The Plough Inn, Longparish http://www.ploughinn.org Accommodation: Yew Tree Cottage, Longparish, http://www.yewcottagelongparish.com Public Transport: St Mary Bourne is on a bus route from Andover. Longparish is on a bus route from Andover.
5 miles Longparish to West Down, Chilbolton	Refreshments: The Mayfly a lovely pub on the River Test, West Down, Chilbolton http://www.mayflyfullerton.co.uk The White Lion in Wherwell http://www.thewhitelionwherwell.co.uk Accommodation: The Peat Spade, Longstock – 2.4 miles away http://www.peatspadeinn.co.uk Public Transport: Longparish is on a bus route from Andover. West Down, Chilbolton is on a bus route from Andover.
3 miles West Down, Chilbolton to Stockbridge	Refreshments: Lots of pubs and cafes to choose from along Stockbridge High Street. Accommodation: The White Hart Stockbridge, is right on the Test Way http://www.whitehartstockbridge.co.uk, The Grosvenor Hotel http://www.thegrosvenorstockbridge.com, The Three Cups Inn http://www.the3cups.co.uk, The Greyhound on the Test http://www.thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk Public Transport: West Down is on the bus route from Andover. Stockbridge has bus services to Andover, Romsey, Winchester and Salisbury. Check the local timetables to plan your journey.
5 miles Stockbridge to Mottisfont	Refreshments: John O’Gaunt Pub, Horsebridge http://www.johnofgaunt.co.uk Accommodation: Mill Arms, Dunbridge (1 mile walk from Mottisfont) http://www.millarmsdunbridge.co.uk Public Transport: Stockbridge has bus services to Andover, Romsey, Winchester and Salisbury. Check the local timetables to plan your journey. Mottisfont and Dunbridge train station with direct trains from London Waterloo, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton.
5 miles Mottisfont to Romsey	Refreshments: Lots of cafes and pubs in Romsey. Accommodation: The Palmerston Rooms, Palmerston St, Romsey http://www.thepalmerstonrooms.com, The Cromwell Arms, Mainstone, Romsey http://www.thecromwellarms.com Public Transport: Mottisfont and Dunbridge train station with direct trains from London Waterloo, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton. Romsey train station goes direct to Southampton and Bath. Romsey regular bus routes to Winchester, Andover and Southampton.
9 miles Romsey to Eling	Refreshments: Salmon Leap, Totton http://www.thesalmonleap-totton.foodndrink.uk, Anchor Inn, Totton http://www.anchorinntotton.co.uk Public Transport: Romsey train station goes direct to Southampton and Bath. Romsey regular bus routes to Winchester, Andover and Southampton. Regular buses and trains from Southampton to Totton daily.

Stage 1: Walbury Hill to Longparish — Test Way

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

The Test Way begins high on the breathtaking escarpment of Inkpen Beacon and winds through a landscape dotted with historical sites.

Living up to the trail’s name, Stage 1 is a testing 17.6 miles (28.3 km) long with 725 feet (221 m) of uphill and 1,500 feet (457 m) of downhill. (For a suggestion on how to split the hike, read on). It is worth beginning the stage a short step east of the official start, atop Walbury Hill, the highest chalk hill in England. From here, you head west over Inkpen Beacon and past the macabre monument of Combe Gibbet. You then hike over Summer Hill, drop through Combe Wood and rise over Cleve Hill Down to Linkenholt village. You leave the village on quiet lanes before taking footpaths to Ibthorpe, a hamlet that Jane Austen visited regularly. A short time later, you reach the village of Hurstbourne Tarrant, which has a stunning Grade I-listed church from the 12th century, St Peter’s. If you wish to split the hike, there is accommodation in the village and places for food and drink. You leave Hurstbourne Tarrant and ascend steeply through woodland on Wallop Hill Down before a gradual descent into St Mary Bourne. Within this village there is another Grade I-listed St Peter’s Church and a good pub that serves food, the George, if you fancy a pit-stop. It is level walking for the final few miles through farmland and around the remnants of ancient coppiced woodland to Longparish village, where you find some accommodation and options for food and drink.

Stage 2: Longparish to Mottisfont — Test Way

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

Wildlife-rich nature reserves, picturesque towns and villages, and stately scenery combine on this spellbinding hike, which takes you along the banks of the River Test. With 15.2 miles (24.5 km) of distance, 400 feet (122 m) of uphill and 475 feet (145 m) of downhill, Stage 2 is more leisurely than the previous hike, allowing plenty of time to explore the sights along the way. From Longparish, you immediately pass the Grade I-listed St Nicholas’ Church and continue along the banks of the Test to the hamlet of Forton. You then hike through Harewood Forest on concrete tracks built during WWII and follow country lanes to Wherwell village. South of Wherwell, you cross two divides of the Test in quick succession and then hike over Chilbolton Cow Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest where you can observe many bird species, including kingfishers, hawks, buzzards, and kestrels. You cross the Test once again and follow the river southwest into West Down Nature Reserve, a former airfield and rubbish dump that has since been reclaimed by nature. The trail then heads along a disused railway line to Stockbridge, a picturesque town with many quirky shops, galleries, pubs, cafes and restaurants. You continue along the railway line for the majority of the stage before crossing the Test to Mottisfont, where you find an 18th-century country house and medieval priory. There is some accommodation close to the finish. You can also catch a train from Mottisfont to Romsey, which takes 20 minutes.