Get out and walk
Test Valley is fortunate not only to have the longest river in Hampshire, beautiful countryside and a host of charming villages, but also 500 miles of rights of way and fantastic open spaces to explore.
The six shorter walks are chosen by the ramblers and are intended to tempt you to get to know how easy and rewarding walking in Test Valley can be. All are on fairly level ground except for the Faccombe walk which includes a steep grassy downhill slope. If you want to challenge yourself there are two long-distance walks, the Test Way that covers the length of Test Valley and the Clarendon Way that crosses Test Valley linking the two magnificent cities of Salisbury and Winchester.
The Ordnance Survey map for Test Valley is: Explorer map 1:25 scale OL131 Romsey, Andover and Test Valley.
Other area's worth exploring on foot are:
Danebury Hillfort is worth a visit to on you can park the car and climb up to it and take a walk around the hillfort on a clear day you can see at least five other hillforts, Bury Hill to the north, Quarley in the west and Woolbury on Stockbridge Down to the east.
Test Valley has two Roman roads crossing the borough, the Icknield Way and Portway, that cast striking lines on the map and are traced in today’s landscape by footpaths, hedgelines and banks. The Icknield Way runs from Winchester to Cirencester and the Portway runs between London and Weymouth via Silchester, Old Sarum and Dorchester. The two cross at the former Roman settlement of Leuco Magus, just east of Andover.
The Harrow Way, which runs east-west through Andover is one of the oldest roads in Britain, is an ancient trackway connects the Channel ports with the Devon coast.
Further information
Traveline (bus information): 0870 6082608
Met Office (weather information): 0870 9000100
Romsey Visitor Information Centre: 01794 512987
Routes can be found on the OS Explorer 131 - Romsey, Andover & Test Valley (the Clarendon Way will also require OS Explorer 130 and 132).