Test Way: Romsey to Mottisfont

Notes

General Data

This is a surprisingly rural walk, with the eponymous river only in sight at the very beginning of the leg. After leaving the river it plunges through an area of woodland before entering what is a pleasant but slightly messy walk through Awbridge to reach the River Dun. From here a simpler walk leads arrow-straight to the historic hamlet of Mottisfont.

Distance		5.4 miles
Ascent		351 feet
Descent		289 feet
Est. time		2 hours 7 minutes
Difficulty		easy

Map of the leg

Maps courtesy of Google Maps. Route for indicative purposes only, and may have been plotted after the walk. Please let me have comments on what you think of this new format.

Directions

Turn right to head northeastwards, passing a roundabout until the River Test is reached. Just before the bridge turn left to follow a track northwards, with the river on the right. When Saddler's Mill is reached turn left and then right, to join a footpath that heads northwestwards along the floodplain of the river, heading to the east of the sewage works. A couple of small plank footbridge lead over a couple of streams, and three-quarters of a mile after the mill the path reaches Squabb Wood near Monk's Cottages.

Enter the woodland, and follow a footpath that leads northwestwards through the trees, heading to the west of Roke Manor. At SU333222 turn right down a path that heads northeastwards off the main path; this soon leaves the trees into a small clearing, before re-entering the trees for a short period. After it leaves the trees again it turns to the left, skirting the northern edge of the woods to the edge of a field, and then turning right to head northwestwards for a short distance to Old Sailsbury Lane.

Cross Old Sailsbury Lane and head across two fields; halfway across the second the Test Way heads off to the right to head northeastwards. Follow the path as it joins a track, passing Hilberry Farm before reaching the B3084 road. Cross the B3084, and then turn right to join another footpath that soon turns to the left to head behind some houses, before quickly ending at a road. Turn right to head eastwards down this road, and as it curves to the right turn left along a track. A short distance along this turn left, to head northwestwards along another footpath for a little over half a mile, crossing a stream and then climbing up a slight hill before the path ends at the B3084 road once more.

Turn right to follow the B3084 road northwards for about a third of a mile, then turn right along a narrow footpath that heads northwards, skirting a pond on the left before it soon ends at another road. Turn right down this road for a short distance until it approaches a level crossing over a railway line. Just before the crossing turn left along another footpath; this heads westwards, and when a crossing is reached with another footpath turn to the right. This crosses the railway line on a footbridge (with a conveyor belt beside it).

On the other side the path descends down a slight slope to a footbridge over the River Dun; cross this and then continue on northwards on the other side. This becomes a track as it continues for a little under half a mile. It curves sharply to the left and then the right to reach Mottisfont Church. Continue on past this for a few yards until the track ends at a road in Mottisfont.

Places of interest

Mottisfont and Mottisfont Abbey

Mottisfont is a small hamlet situated to the north of Romsey. It would be like so many other small villages in the area, except for the presence of Mottisfont Abbey.

Mottisfont Abbey was originally built as a Gothic Augustinian priory in 1201, possibly on the site of a much older Saxon meeting place. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the priory was converted into a house for the Sandys family. The Tudor house was later remodelled into its present form in the eighteenth century. It has a room that was remodelled by Rex Whistler just before the Second World War.

The house is now owned by the National Trust, and is open to the public year-round. It is the home to a world-famous collection of old Rose species that are at their best in the late spring and early summer. Many traces of the alterations from priory into house can be seen on the exterior of the building.

The Grade-I listed St Andrew’s church, Mottisfont is a well-formed church in the typical Hampshire style. It was built in the 12th-Century and added to in the 15th Century. The interior is simple, with a barrel-vaulted roof. Of interest is the 17th-Century clock mechanism situated within.

Mottisfont is also home to a large Grade-II listed tithe barn, which has been converted into accommodation.

The Test Way and Monach’s Way both pass through the village.

location UID #176

Romsey

Romsey is a small and picture-perfect town in the Test Valley just to the north of Southampton. It was founded on the lowest crossing place of the River Test, and on routes between Southampton, Winchester and Salisbury.

It used to be home to the famous Strong’s brewery, which finally closed in 1987. Some of the old brewery buildings have been converted into flats. There is a small but good museum above the Tourist Information office, next to which is the exquisite King John’s House, a 13th-Century building.

The town is dominated by the massive town church, otherwise known as Romsey Abbey. A Saxon church was first built on this site in 907, but this was rebuilt several times, including after the town was sacked by the Vikings in 993. The Abbey was abolished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, but the church was purchased by the local population for £100 five years later. This explains why such a small town has such a grand church. The exterior shows many scars from the alterations done to the building over the years, including what could be shrapnel damage from a bomb. There are many interesting monuments inside the church, and one slightly weird find: what is believed to be the hair or a Roman woman, found in a sealed lead coffin under the church. Although the rest of the body had disintegrated, the hair was preserved by the chemicals that had been added to it in life.

Romsey was home to Lord Mountbatten of Burma, and also of Lord Palmerston, of whom there is a statue in the market square. Mountbatten was buried inside Romsey Abbey after his assassination by the IRA in 1979.

Although not born in the town, Florence Nightingale has close connections with the town and area. She lived for a long period at Embley Park, and is buried in the nearby village of East Wellow.

location UID #186

Transport

Both Mottisfont and Romsey are served by stations a distance away from the start and end points of the walk; in the case of Mottisfont, this is Mottisfont & Dunbridge. There is approximately one train an hour during the week.