Test Way

• Route: Inkpen Beacon (Berkshire) to Totton (Hampshire)
• Distance: 46 miles
• Directions: View a map

From Inkpen Beacon the path follows the ridge before turning south down Sheepless Hill, past Coombe Wood, onto a beautiful valley and up to Linkenholt. Then onto the Hamlet of Ibthorpe and into Hurstbourne Tarrant, exiting into woods at Wallop Hill Down, and then west to St. Mary Bourne.

Continuing on a path to the South West, the path climbs up to Lower Wyke, past Faulkners Down Farm, and down the eastern edge of Harewood Forest into Longparish.

Through the churchyard to Forton, and an old track back into Harewood Forest, the path runs into the valley again at Wherwell. Then across the Test to Chilbolton Common and thence to West Down.

From West Down the path follows a disused railway track (the old Sprat and Winkle line) beside the river into the old drovers village of Stockbridge.

Crossing Stockbridge Common, the way crosses the valley between Kings Somborne and Houghton, and past the restored former station at Horsebridge, then across the valley and meadows to the edge of Mottisfont by the National Trust Abbey.

Over a river bridge, through a wood the path returns to the road and farm tracks to Awbridge, and into Test Meadows to the Mill buildings on the edge of Romsey.

Going south along the A31, the path sets off into fields round the Broadlands Estate, onto Moorcourt and over the river Blackwater. Thence onto Nursling House and church. Just past Manor House Farm the path turns west over the river and into the Lower Test Nature reserve - a marshland area with boardwalk. Thence past a picturesque mill down to the edge of Totton, to the Salmon Leap pub.