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WALKING HAMPSHIRE’S TEST WAY
THE LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL AND 15 DAY WALKS
by Malcolm Leatherdale
JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,
OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL
About the Author
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.
© Malcolm Leatherdale 2018
First edition 2018
ISBN: 978 1 85284 953 5
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Acknowledgements
My thanks to my wife Patsie for her patience and support in getting me across the finishing line. I am also grateful to Anna Leatherdale, Laurence Martin and Tom Nixon.
Updates to this guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/953/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL.
Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.
Front cover: Fisherman’s Hut at Longstock (Walk 8)
CONTENTS
Brief history of the Test Valley
The Andover and Redbridge canal and the ‘Sprat and Winkle’ railway
Getting to and around the Test Way and to the walks
Cycling – the National Cycle Network and parts of the Test Way
Waymarking, access and rights of 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