Clockwise from top left: Snake’s head fritillary on Chilbolton Common; Chalk hill blue on Stockbridge Down; Violets on Stockbridge Down
The biodiversity and the wide array of wildflowers and wildlife that prosper in the Test Valley do so largely because of the particular character and conditions that are created by the chalk stream environment. The valley floor, for example, is overlaid with calcareous alluvium − sand, silt, gravel and clay. Calcareous grassland harbours significant amounts of fairly rare vegetation, particularly grasses and herbs that flourish on well drained and shallow soils that also happen to contain lime. Bransbury Common (Walk 3) is one example and supports an extensive range of grasses and sedge. The tidal estuary Lower Test Nature Reserve is fed by an unusual mix of fresh and salt water, which helps to create a wide variety of habitat, particularly for birdlife including the elusive kingfisher.
Where to stay
In Inkpen village there are a couple of pubs with rooms. This is the type of accommodation (apart from hotels in both Stockbridge and Romsey) generally available at approximately 8, 11, 20, 24 and 35 miles, which coincides with the end of Stages 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7, respectively. There is no accommodation at the end of Stage 3 so it may be advisable to complete Stage 4 to Wherwell and possibly even Stage 5 to Stockbridge. On finishing Stage 6 there is some accommodation at Dunbridge 0.6 miles (1km) away or you may prefer to continue to the end of Stage 7 in Romsey where there is a wider choice.
Totton, at the conclusion of the TW does not have a lot of accommodation but nearby Southampton or the New Forest do. For more detailed information, please refer to Appendix B for a list (not exhaustive) of the different types of accommodation that are available near the route. More specific information will be found in Appendix C, which also includes websites and phone numbers. Other useful sources of tourist information are contained in Appendix D.
The White Hart at Stockbridge (Stage 5/Walk 9)
Getting to and around the Test Way and to the walks
For those who wish to be completely independent or who do not want to leave a car near the start (which is not that practicable anyway), there are mainline railway stations at Newbury, Kintbury and Hungerford with bus services to Inkpen village which is just 1.25 miles (2km) from Inkpen Beacon. Other parts of the TW that can be accessed by train and limited bus services are Stages 2, 5 and 6. Stages 3 and 4 are serviced by train and very limited bus services. Stage 7 is readily accessible from Mottisfont & Dunbridge railway station – about 0.6 miles (1km) away and the route of Walk 14 also passes within 100 metres of the station. Stage 8 from Romsey has very good transport links.
Walking the Test Way
The eight stages of the TW vary between 3 miles (5km) and 8.5 miles (13.75km). They are not just day stages and can be combined to suit your walking ability. Please refer to the Route summary tables (Appendix A) for an overall picture. It would also be helpful to check the Itinerary planner (Appendix B) for details of transport links and accommodation.
To complete the TW in two days, the first day would conclude either at the end of Stage 4 (Wherwell) after 20.25 miles (33km) where there is some accommodation or Stage 5 (Stockbridge) after 24.5 miles (39.75km), where there is a much wider choice of accommodation.
Three days is perhaps the better option, in which case you might consider the following split:
Day one – walk to the end of Stage 2, St Mary Bourne (11 miles (18km)).
Day two – walk to the end of Stage 5, Stockbridge (13.5 miles (21.75km)).
Day three – carry on to Eling Wharf Totton (19.5 miles (31.25km)).
There is accommodation at both St Mary Bourne and Stockbridge.
If you feel the final section is too long, an alternative would be to walk the 11 miles (17.5km) from Stockbridge to Romsey (where you’ll find accommodation) on day three; then walk the remaining 8.5 miles (13.75km) to Eling Wharf Totton on the fourth day.
If you would prefer to complete the TW in segments, simply divide it into one or more stages but remember to take into account any transport limitations.
Between Michelmersh and Lower Brook (Walk 13)
Coping with the weather and the seasons
For a lot of time, the paths and bridleways are reasonably dry, well defined and can be negotiated easily enough but there will be occasions when some parts of a route will be more difficult, especially where the chalk surface or looser surfaces have become quite slippery or unstable. The further south, the less well drained the soil becomes and hence the muddier it will be at times. This is particularly true of Squabb Wood (Stage 7). Be prepared for fluctuations in the water levels when crossing the Lower Test Nature Reserve (Stage 8). It almost goes without saying that you should always plan for the weather!
Cycling – the National Cycle Network and parts of the Test Way
Two National Cycle Routes (NCRs) coincide with several stages and walks. Route 24 starts at Eastleigh (just north of Southampton) and finishes at Bath, only just touching Mottisfont where Stages 6 and 7 and Walks 13 and 14 also intersect. Route 246, which starts at Timsbury (north of Romsey) and finishes at Kintbury in West Berkshire, is much more a feature and first joins the old track bed of the former ‘Sprat and Winkle’ railway at Stonymarsh (Walk 13).
It then follows the old track bed for 0.6 miles (1km) to Lower Brook from where it continues straight on to Horsebridge (Stage 6). There, it joins Walk 12 for 0.7 miles (1.1km) to the crossover with the Clarendon Way and Walk 9 en route from Stockbridge. At Stockbridge (Stage 5), it continues along the old track bed for another 3 miles (5km) to Fullerton where it joins Walk 6 for a short distance before diverting along the road to Goodworth Clatford and then through Andover. The last encounter with the TW is where it crosses Stage 2 just north of St Mary Bourne on its way to Kintbury.
Maps
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
Waymarking, access and rights of way
Test Way waymark disc
The TW and the walks are reasonably well waymarked on fences, gate posts, fingerposts and marker posts although, bearing in mind the combined distance of the 8 stages and 15 walks is about 130 miles (210km), it is not surprising that there is some variation in the quality of waymarking here and there. The directions in this guide, together with the map extracts and the general waymarking and signage along the routes, should however make their navigation fairly straightforward.
Each stage or walk is shown on the respective map extract − please also refer to ‘Using this Guide’. The routes all follow the official rights of way although occasionally there are permissive stretches including the unusually described ‘public concessionary footpath’ − Stage 3. Stage 7 includes a working quarry, Walk 4 encounters a military firing range, and Walk 14 crosses the railway mainline.
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