🥾 Walk 101 - Walk Number 101 - The Test Way - Part One

The Test Way is a 49 miles (79 km) long-distance footpath that starts from Walbury Hill in West Berkshire and heads roughly south to Eling Quay in Hampshire. The route passes through the towns of Romsey and Totton and the villages of Linkenholt, Ibthorpe, Hurstbourne Tarrant, St Mary Bourne, Longparish, Forton, Wherwell, Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Horsebridge and Mottisfont.

Diane, the leader, has divided the Test Way into four sections, of which this is the first. She will be leading us through the remaining sections in the coming months.

On Sunday 18th May, ten of us met at St Mary Bourne in Hampshire at 9:30am for the drive to Combe Gibbet, near Inkpen, to start our walk. The weather was perfect with blue sky, little cloud, temperatures in the 20s and a light breeze. Just what the doctor ordered.

The walk took in just about everything from the lovely flora and fauna of May, (especially bluebell woods), to thatched cottages, converted chapels, meandering streams, horses, cows and pigs.

The walk was long, being 11 miles, and had a few cheeky upward slopes but was generally flat. The areas varied as much as the sights from open meadow to woodland to villages. The views over the Berkshire Downs were stunning.

We finished the walk beside the cricket pitch in the village, dodging the balls during a game...a lovely British scene to close the day, with part one over and three parts to go.

Thank you to Diane for the write-up and to Sue for the pictures.

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