Length:
22.2 km (13.9 mi) [much shorter options
available]
Ascent/Descent: 310
m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness:
5 out of 10
09.20
Exeter
St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (CJ 09.27), changing at Salisbury
for Chandlers Ford (arrives 10.42; departs 10.56, platform 6), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.14.
Alternatively, if you want to beat
the group by 10 minutes: 09.05
Weymouth train from Waterloo (CJ
09.12), changing at Southampton Airport [Parkway] for Salisbury (arrives
10.13; departs same platform 10.25; café across the
overbridge), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.04.
Return trains are at xx.07 via Southampton Airport [Parkway] (102 mins journey time) or at xx.21 via Salisbury (118 mins journey time).
Return trains are at xx.07 via Southampton Airport [Parkway] (102 mins journey time) or at xx.21 via Salisbury (118 mins journey time).
Buy
a Romsey return if travelling out via Salisbury, or a Mottisfont
& Dunbridge return if travelling out via Southampton.
This
walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun and (Lower) Test Valleys
of remote West Hampshire. An early highlight is the NT-owned (and ticketed) Mottisfont Abbey, a historical
priory and country estate, with an arm of the River Test, Hampshire's longest
and finest chalk stream, running through the stunning grounds, which also
include a famous walled rose garden, trompe-l’oeil murals from Rex Whistler,
and several lunch options. Walk back past the 12th century St. Andrew's church, one of the few
Grade I-listed churches, and follow the waymarked Mottisfont Estate Path. The route incorporates all the important
features of the estate, mainly varied ancient woodlands but also some managed
for timber or coppicing, historical farmland and the Dun River Meadows. After lunch in Dunbridge the route gets a
little more undulating, as the Test
River is followed – mostly from a distance – all the way to Romsey, a picturesque market town. You
pass all its sights: Romsey Abbey, a
beautiful church the size of a cathedral, the War Memorial Park, the medieval King John’s House and Tudor Cottage,
some narrow historical lanes and an exhausting selection of tea and pub stops.
Three shorter options are described.
Lunch: The
Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge
(11.1 km/6.9 mi, food all day). On the
short walk options: within the grounds of Mottisfont Abbey or a little off-route at the The Bear and Ragged Staff.
Tea: Romsey has an
abundance of good quality cafes, bistros, pubs and restaurants. See page 2 and
pages 9 and 10 of the pdf for details.
For
walk directions, summary, map,
height profile, and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.58
6 comments:
Is £24 or so the cheapest return? Thanks.
what is the cheapest ticket please?
If you go on the southwestern trains website, there are some £15 singles for a return to Mottisfont by any route. The Romsey return gives different results, but as far as I can see the tickets would be valid? But a railcard seems to give the best price at £28.40 or £23.15 from Surbiton (zone 6 boundary proxy)
Thanks Pete G
£15 singles for a return? You mean £30 in total? Thanks.
1 off an earlier train, 6 via Southampton, 10 via Salisbury, so n=17 in total on a w=warm-and-mostly-sunny day. 8 of those went into the grounds of the Abbey to look at Rose Garden and/or House, most of those then took one or other of the shortcuts. About 11 of the various groups arrived at the lunch pub at the same time, but only half dined. Sandwichers moved on quickly. Plenty of woods, which was a relief in the warm weather, and quite enchanting woods at that. Some even still with muddy stretches!
Some had tea in Romsey, others a drink, 6 stayed on for dinner at The Olive Tree.
20.11 train for those.
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