Alan Rolfe's Walks: Wherwell, Hampshire

From the car park close to the church in Wherwell (GR 391407), walk back along Church Street (below right - location 1)

and turn left at the War Memorial. Where the main road turns turns sharp right at the "White Heart", keep straight on. After about Ľ mile, turn left at a sign for the Test Way and cross the River Test. After crossing Chilbolton Common, turn right at a car park and again at the next main junction.

Pass to the right of a white thatch cottage and then keep to the right of a fence bordering a recreation ground. Follow the path over a stile to a field and, after bearing right, follow its perimeter to another path. This goes between hedges and fences and there are tantilising glimpses of the river on the right.

At the road, turn left and immediately right at the sign for West Down and continue to follow the Test Way as it gently rises up a grassy slope. After a short while, veer right, passing a seat and head down to the corner of the field. Cross the road, continuing on the Test Way as it joins up with the old "Sprat and Winkle" railway line. Shortly after crosing the River Test again, the old platforms of the former Fullerton Junction station can be clearly seen in the vegetation. Pass the old station building (now a private house)and the pass swings slightly to the right, joining the main A3057 Andover - Stockbridge road. The proper route contines here. For a slight deviation, read on.

For a slightly different route to that suggested, turn sharp left immediately after passing the old station building to rejoin the track bed and then turn left to pass under the bridge (below - location 2).

The photo shows part of the trackbed of the old "Spratt & Winkle" railway which ran between Andover and Southampton. Some of the trackbed just to the south forms part of the Test Way and is also open to cyclists.

Cross the River Test (shown here, near Fullerton). I'm sure that this view would be even more attrractive on a brighter day! The photograph is taken from the railings shown to the right in the above photo.

Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn left onto a track and go to the road. Turn right to follow the proper route which continues here.

At the road, turn sharp left, pass over the old railway line, and bear right at the turning for Longstock. Pass a thatched cottage and then ignore the turning for Longstock, following the road up through the trees. At a drive marked with white posts, turn right at a track and drop down gradually across the field. As the path meets the old railway trackbed again, turn left for a short distance and then right at a stile. Cross the River Anton, pass through a gate and, keeping the fence on your left, follow the perimeter of the field to the right before crossing a footbridge over the River Test again. At a junction, turn right and follow the path with the river now on the left and eventually enter the village of Goodworth Clatford.

Turn sharp left, pass over the old railway line, and bear right at the turning for Longstock. Pass a thatched cottage and then ignore the turning for Longstock, following the road up through the trees. At a drive marked with wwhite posts, turn right at a track and drop down gradually across the field. As the path meets the old railway trackbed again, turn left for a short distance and then right at a stile. Cross the River Anton, pass through a gate and, keeping the fence on your left, follow the perimeter of the field to the right before crossing a footbridge over the River Test again. At a junction, turn right and follow the path with the river now on the left and eventually enter the village of Goodworth Clatford.

Turn right, and go up Church Street, passing the church (below left), until you reach the A3057 Andover - Stockbridge road again.

Cross the road and climb a path between hedges with the golf course on either site. Turn right at a path junction and then follow this until reaching a waymarked path on the left shortly after passing under power lines. Walk along the edge of the wooded area, part of the Harewood Forest. Depending on the time of year, this is a riot of bluebells. As a gamekeeper's cottage comes into view, turn left to come out of the trees and then immediatley right. Keeping the woodland on the right, pick up a concreted track (below right)

and follow this as it heads towards another wooded area. As the path curves quite sharply to the left, bear right and follow this over one path crossing. At the next, turn right and climb up a short hill. The path soon emerges at the edge of the wooded area and turn right to join the test Way once again.

The path dips down and passes a cottage and barns on the right before climbing up again.

Further on, drop down, passing under what was once a bridge for the old railway line. At the road, turn right and then left to go back to the car park.

However, before driving home again, just take a few moments to have a wander around to the church (above left). Unfortunately, the inner door was locked on my last visit, but even just the outside shows what a splendid building it is. A good end to a few well-spent hours.

	Wherwell A walk starting (and finishing) in what is generally regarded as one of Hampshire's prettiest villages. The route follows part of of the Test Way and also a disused railway line which was used by Queen Victoria as her preferred way when travelling to Osborn House on the Isle of Wight.

	From the car park close to the church in Wherwell (GR 391407), walk back along Church Street (below right - location 1) and turn left at the War Memorial. Where the main road turns turns sharp right at the "White Heart", keep straight on. After about Ľ mile, turn left at a sign for the Test Way and cross the River Test. After crossing Chilbolton Common, turn right at a car park and again at the next main junction. Pass to the right of a white thatch cottage and then keep to the right of a fence bordering a recreation ground. Follow the path over a stile to a field and, after bearing right, follow its perimeter to another path. This goes between hedges and fences and there are tantilising glimpses of the river on the right. At the road, turn left and immediately right at the sign for West Down and continue to follow the Test Way as it gently rises up a grassy slope. After a short while, veer right, passing a seat and head down to the corner of the field. Cross the road, continuing on the Test Way as it joins up with the old "Sprat and Winkle" railway line. Shortly after crosing the River Test again, the old platforms of the former Fullerton Junction station can be clearly seen in the vegetation. Pass the old station building (now a private house)and the pass swings slightly to the right, joining the main A3057 Andover - Stockbridge road. The proper route contines here. For a slight deviation, read on. For a slightly different route to that suggested, turn sharp left immediately after passing the old station building to rejoin the track bed and then turn left to pass under the bridge (below - location 2). The photo shows part of the trackbed of the old "Spratt & Winkle" railway which ran between Andover and Southampton. Some of the trackbed just to the south forms part of the Test Way and is also open to cyclists. Cross the River Test (shown here, near Fullerton). I'm sure that this view would be even more attrractive on a brighter day! The photograph is taken from the railings shown to the right in the above photo.Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn left onto a track and go to the road. Turn right to follow the proper route which continues here. At the road, turn sharp left, pass over the old railway line, and bear right at the turning for Longstock. Pass a thatched cottage and then ignore the turning for Longstock, following the road up through the trees. At a drive marked with white posts, turn right at a track and drop down gradually across the field. As the path meets the old railway trackbed again, turn left for a short distance and then right at a stile. Cross the River Anton, pass through a gate and, keeping the fence on your left, follow the perimeter of the field to the right before crossing a footbridge over the River Test again. At a junction, turn right and follow the path with the river now on the left and eventually enter the village of Goodworth Clatford. Turn sharp left, pass over the old railway line, and bear right at the turning for Longstock. Pass a thatched cottage and then ignore the turning for Longstock, following the road up through the trees. At a drive marked with wwhite posts, turn right at a track and drop down gradually across the field. As the path meets the old railway trackbed again, turn left for a short distance and then right at a stile. Cross the River Anton, pass through a gate and, keeping the fence on your left, follow the perimeter of the field to the right before crossing a footbridge over the River Test again. At a junction, turn right and follow the path with the river now on the left and eventually enter the village of Goodworth Clatford. Turn right, and go up Church Street, passing the church (below left), until you reach the A3057 Andover - Stockbridge road again. Cross the road and climb a path between hedges with the golf course on either site. Turn right at a path junction and then follow this until reaching a waymarked path on the left shortly after passing under power lines. Walk along the edge of the wooded area, part of the Harewood Forest. Depending on the time of year, this is a riot of bluebells. As a gamekeeper's cottage comes into view, turn left to come out of the trees and then immediatley right. Keeping the woodland on the right, pick up a concreted track (below right) and follow this as it heads towards another wooded area. As the path curves quite sharply to the left, bear right and follow this over one path crossing. At the next, turn right and climb up a short hill. The path soon emerges at the edge of the wooded area and turn right to join the test Way once again. The path dips down and passes a cottage and barns on the right before climbing up again. Further on, drop down, passing under what was once a bridge for the old railway line. At the road, turn right and then left to go back to the car park. However, before driving home again, just take a few moments to have a wander around to the church (above left). Unfortunately, the inner door was locked on my last visit, but even just the outside shows what a splendid building it is. A good end to a few well-spent hours. Hampshire \| Home
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