known as ‘winterbournes’. One example is the River Swift between Upton and Hurstbourne Tarrant (Stage 1 and Walk 1).
The overriding influence of the chalk geology starts to reduce from about Houghton (Walks 11 and 12) onwards. There is a much greater prevalence of clay and gravel deposits in the lower part of the Test Valley where there are several quarries. As the Test progresses southwards it also broadens out into a more braided system or network of streams and channels that finally coalesce to form a single channel at the entrance to Southampton Water.
Water meadows
In the 18th century, water meadows were created along many stretches of the Test. This novel concept at the time was designed to extend the growing season to produce two crops of grass rather than just the one. A principal requirement was a supply of clear water at a constant temperature above freezing, and chalk streams were ideal candidates for the purpose. The intention was not to flood the ground but simply to keep it damp and at a temperature sufficient to minimise the effect of frosts during the winter and early spring. As a consequence, grass began to grow some weeks earlier than it would have done otherwise and therefore grew for longer; it was also of a higher quality as the ground absorbed the nutrients from the river.
The use of water meadows literally ebbed and flowed as the various periods of agricultural depression took their toll during the 19th century. More effective and cheaper sources of fertiliser also became available as farming methods improved with the consequence that water meadows gradually declined.
Plants and wildlife
The Test Valley is sprinkled with large areas of woodland including alder, ash, beech, birch, hazel, holly, hornbeam, lime, oak, pine, poplar, willow and yew. The woodland, together with the fertile and extensive tracts of rolling farmland and the River Test itself, provide a diverse landscape rich in wildflowers, plants and wildlife. Harewood Forest (Stages 3 and 4 and Walks 3 and 5) plays its part as a nationally important habitat populated by a wide variety of invertebrate species.
At Chilbolton Common (Stage 5 and Walk 7), 265 species of plant have been recorded including the southern marsh orchid and the snake’s head fritillary. At Stockbridge Down (Walk 10) at various times of the year, violets, wild thyme, horseshoe vetch, juniper and more than 30 species of butterfly including the chalk hill blue can be found. The River Test is of course renowned for its salmon, roach, bream, grayling, perch, brown trout and eel, all supported by a wealth of insects that are key to the retention of healthy fish stocks.
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
