Length: 27.7 km (17.2 mi) [shorter option: 22.6 km/14.1 mi,
splits post-lunch]
Ascent/Descent: 438/451m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours [short walk: 326/341m, 5 hrs]
Toughness: 7 out of 10 [short walk: 5 out of 10]
09.20 Exeter St. David’s train from Waterloo (09.27
CJ), changing at Salisbury for Chandler’s Ford (arrives 10.42,
usually platform 4; departs 10.56, usually platform 6), arrives Dean 11.08.
Return from Mottisfont & Dunbridge at xx.56
via Salisbury (113 mins journey time) or at xx.14 via Southampton
Central (126 mins journey time).
Buy a Mottisfont Return.
This walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun, Wallop
Brook and Test Valleys of remote West Hampshire. Rising out of the Dun Valley
through varied woods and along field boundaries and farm tracks (some
tarmacked), the walk takes on a very different aspect upon approaching the
steep sided chalk downs near Broughton, with splendid views north east across
the Wallop Brook valley. After lunch in Broughton you follow the rim of the
wide valley south easterly to cross the meadows of the Test River, Hampshire's
longest and finest chalk stream. The Test is a prominent feature of the
afternoon, as its several arms are crossed twice.
In between you climb again, up to the hills along the easterly side of
the Test valley, walk through some quiet woods and past scenic side valleys to
then steeply descend back to the Test Meadows. The finish is through the
NT-owned Mottisfont Estate, past Mottisfont Abbey, a historical priory, and its
grounds, as well as the 12th century St. Andrews church, one of the
few Grade I-listed churches (on a short diversion).
The River Test offers a great wild swimming opportunity mid-afternoon.
Lunch: The
Greyhound, in Broughton (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 14.00), as well
as an earlier option and a couple of later options (on the full walk only) [see
the webpage or page 2 of the pdf for details]. The
Tally Ho! may also still be in business, also in Broughton.
Tea: The
Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge, metres from the station (food to
20.30), or one of the options at Mottisfont Gardens, if walking the short walk.
For summary, map, height profile, walk
directions, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.265
3 comments:
Mottisfont Gardens, famous for their Rose Garden, is also free for Art Fund card holders.
Should indeed anyone stay overnight, meet at 9.30 at Dunbridge Station for the Dunbridge to Romsey walk. Trains from both directions arrive minutes before that.
8 off the train plus 1 car driver, so N=9 in total on a w=cloudy-then-more-and-more-sunny day.
No mud on the long wooded and or enclosed path stretches in the first third of the walk, then fine views across verdant valleys with 50 shades of green in evidence. We heard a cuckoo early on, and another one nearer Broughton, buttercup meadows were aplenty, daisy dominated ones as well.
Lunch at The Greyhound was lovely, it's a much changed pub since a change in Mgmt and a refurbishment. On across the Wallop Brook and down the valley with fine views over the mild undulations to steep downs with a cow heard here or there.
At the wild swimming spot, 2 walked on, 3 swam with a dozen swans overlooking their activities, 3 tested the water temperature and instead lay down on a mown bit of the grassy meadows.
More chalk streams, more fine views, more green valleys and woods followed, punctuated by quiet villages and fine churches.
The sun had taken over now just as we rounded a couple of shallow valleys with long views. We had seen trout in the Test, egrets in the water meadows, a dragonfly (or stick insect?) with seemingly four wings and 1 deer. And had heard plenty of birdsong.
The arable field crossings all had wide ploughed paths. A perfect day out.
18.14 train for the 1 shortcutter, after a meal at The Mill Arms. Drinks for the rest at The Mill Arms and trains around 7, apart from the few staying on.
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