Mottisfont - Test Way - Monarch's Way - Mottisfont

Peter Close

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Mottisfont - Test Way - Kimbridge - Monarch's Way - Lower Brook House - Mottisfont

Fancy going for a walk in southern Hampshire, but can’t bear the thought of being stuck in another New Forest traffic jam? Then consider a visit to the countryside of the Test Valley between Romsey and Stockbridge.

Usually reasonably quiet, even when the hordes descend elsewhere, this area offers gentle walking, usually well-signposted, with a balance of riverside, woodland and sweeping vistas over open countryside. This walk around Mottisfont epitomises these characteristics and can be combined with a visit to Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust), where there is a renowned collection of Old English roses.

Braided streams of the River Test are crossed twice during the walk and pairs of swans may often be seen gracing the water at these points. During late March and early April, watch out for wild primroses, which carpet areas of the woodland between Mottisfont and Kimbridge.

Terrain underfoot is good, especially after reasonably dry weather. A short stretch of narrow woodland path early in the walk is prone to becoming muddy, so sturdy footwear is usually advisable. Waymarking is good for all off-road sections and a large proportion of the route follows the Test Way and the Monarch’s Way.

Refreshments en route can be found at Annie’s Tea Rooms in Kimbridge and the Bear and Ragged Staff pub (food).

England - South England - Hampshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Mostly Flat, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Wildlife, Woodland

10/29/2023 - Patricia Daw

We met friends at the cafe at Kimbridge Barn and did the walk from there. A great walk with a visit to Mottisfont too.

4/13/2022 - Derek Kidd

The walk is great. The map is incorrect should be OS 131. Kind regards Derek

7/3/2017 - Wendy Jenkins

This is a nice walk but have to say that at waypoint 13 it states go across field which is where the footpath goes but for us this meant walking right through a rapeseed crop that had gone over and have to say it was hard work and really painful in cropped walking shorts, might be easier to go around the outside of the field in my view. Also be mindful that the next waypoint means you have to go down a very steep slope which although there is handrail it was difficult to use as its so overgrown with brambles and stinging nettles.

2/5/2012 - Caroline Jones

We did this walk on 15th January 2012. It was a nice, not too long, walk to start the new year, although longer would have been better to walk off the Christmas indulgences! We stopped early on for coffee and toasted tea cakes in Annie's tea room, which is a lovely place, then trundled on in the knowledge that the Bear and Ragged Staff was waiting for us at the end, which is a lovely pub. Steep slope down at one point, which was 'interesting' with the mud underfoot, and skis would have made this a little easier. Good fun and will be repeated in reverse so that Annie's will have been earned! Caroline and friends.

2/7/2011 - Ian and Sarah Jane Lloyd

We printed off this walk with the pictures and let a nine year old guide us. He did really well and was thrilled to find the exact things in the pictures. A lovely winter walk and not very muddy at all.

5/27/2010 - John Jakeman

Did this walk today and can confirm that there is no longer a tea room in Mottisfont village. Can recommend Annie's Tea Room in Kimbridge about 45 minutes into the walk for coffee, cakes and lunches. It was well patronised so would suggest booking if you plan to use it as a lunch stop.

4/30/2009 - Alister Fyfe

Followed this walk a couple of weeks ago and there is now no visible sign of the pipeline construction, so no problems.

7/7/2007 - Helena Pugsley

Followed this walk today and it was a very pleasant walk through the countryside. Not too muddy despite the fact it has spent the last month raining. It took us about 2 hours including a stop for icecreams in Kimbridge. After the stile in Step 20 the path seemed to go down across the water again instead of bearing right towards the road, so we ended up following a footpath which went along the river and directly back into the Mottisfont Abbey carpark instead of having to walk along the road into the village as Step 21 suggests. This made a much nicer end to a lovely walk.