Walking Hampshire's Test Way. 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.

      © 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.

       © Crown copyright 2018 OS PU100012932

      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

       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