From Testwood Lakes and along the Test Way northwards

Sunday 01 September. With Harry. Just over 8 miles, very flat, but interesting. We parked at Testwood Lakes car park - it closes at 5pm on a Sunday, so beware!

We followed the path between the two lakes until it joined a footpath leading east over two rivers and to Nursling Mill. Turn right there and follow Mill Lane to the signpost for the Test Way on the left, heading north. 

All the way along the earlier section of the Test Way there were masses of ripe blackberries.

For a short distance we were walking very close to the M27, and some of the path is parallel to it, with a fence on one side and a ditch on the other, again fenced off. When we emerged we walked along a quiet road (Station Road) under the motorway, and then turned left into a small part of Nursling, containing the church of St Boniface, the church hall of Nutshalling ( an old name for the place), and the Nursling Men's Shed. 

Church Room

Nutshalling Church Room,
erected 1897
being the sixtieth year of
the reign of
Queen Victoria

Church of St Boniface

The tower and spire clad in wood.

Opposite the church is a large building. We pass it and turn right along a lane leading to some kennels. soon we hear the evidence! 

 After the kennels the track continues through trees , for almost a mile, then on to a track near Longbridge farm. 

Soon after this the route turns right along a small road and crosses the river Test.

We follow the road to Moorcourt, where there are assorted old buildings. 

 Soon after this we come to a road. we turn left to have a brief look at the Blackwater river as it goes under Wade Bridge, then we turn right, and continue along the Test Way for a short distance until we find a suitable picnic spot in the shade. Just as we finish eating a family cycles by. We see them later at Testwood Lakes on the way back.

 After our basic picnic we retrace our steps .

 At Nursling we wander into the churchyard and meet a man digging over a section where there has recently been a container. He tells us to come back on a Friday, when the church is open. He mentions the Men's Shed, and assures me they'd offer me a cup of tea. Then as we are about to go he produces a bone. "Look what I've found . Do you think it's human?"
It looks like a smallish humerus. Wonder if he keeps it in his pocket to bring out whenever he talks to strangers!

A great walk , and a lovely way to get to know a beautiful clear river!

Totton, Eling, Marchwood

Almost 9 miles with Harry. A variety of urban, rural, and coastal scenery. Very hot weather.

Coffee with home-made scones...check.  Yogurt in the maker...check.
Duty done by the hanging baskets...check.

We went to Eling Tide Mill, via pedestrian walkways,

and Rushington Lane.

Bartley Water, I think...a muddy Usk-like river which goes through Totton

We had to cross the A35, using a traffic light controlled crossing to the east of Rushington roundabout. Then across the park and through the streets towards Eling, with its Tide Mill and harbour,

which I think is on Bartley Water, a tributary of the Test. 

Dashing headscarf

We walked up the hill to the church of St Mary the Virgin,

We assume the 20 hour stay applies to the Car Park, not the Cemetery.

with its picturesque churchyard, and continued along Eling Hill, past the King Rufus pub -

clearly a haunt of cyclists. We were also passed by a pony and trap, but I didn't manage a decent photo!

At a fork in the road we took the left hand  one, on to Bury Lane, which soon joined the major road, Marchwood Road. This has a cycle path/footpath running alongside, separated by a thick hedge, which made it pleasant to walk there. The road name changes again to Bury Road, and as it reaches Marchwood, Main Road. Just after this we found a tree stump in a green area to sit on for a while, to decide on the rest of the walk.

We decided to head for the water, and made our way along pedestrian paths north east through an estate, then continuing, following signs to Public Hard. We reached the yacht club slipway, and turned left along a path by the water. You could see huge container ships being loaded at the Millbrook Docks. The water is technically the River Test.

A bit of history

The path took us to a small beach area, with some heathland behind. Lots of blackberry bushes and blackthorn were growing there. We followed this close to the shore, passing a large jetty in an inlet. 

It continued through woodland, with salt marshes beyond. 

We could walk along a path closer to the marshes, with more open views.

This eventually came out on Eling Hill. 

A right turn and a short walk downhill, past the church and over the toll bridge to the Tide Mill Cafe. We had a very welcome large pot of tea, and a toasted teacake each. Alas too late for sandwiches!  We bought a loaf of the Mill's own bread - haven't tried it yet, verdict later!

It just remained to retrace our steps back to base. Another day when we haven't used the car before getting out.

Cycling from Totton to Beaulieu

18.2 miles with Harry.  

Through Foxhills to Ashurst, then along Whartons Lane to the main road. Cross over to Deerleap Lane, past Colbury church and the wildlife centre. Along the road to the junction, with a right turn to Beaulieu. Follow this road to a T-junction. Turn left. Ignore the turn to Beaulieu palace, and in a short distance turn left again into Beaulieu village.

In the last half mile or so, there were huge amounts of cars. In the village cows roamed loose. 

 These calves made a lot of noise for small animals.

Time for lunch...

We varied the route back by heading towards Lyndhurst, then taking forest tracks from Matley, crossing the railway line and returning to Deerleap, before retracing the outward route.

Cycling from Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst

Wed, 2013 Nov 13 10:03 AM GMT

With Harry. Lovely ride through fairly quiet roads. Had a coffee in Brock and Bruin with Esther, then returned via forest tracks - some excessively muddy. Beautiful day, though chilly. 17 miles.

This is probably the best weather of the week - it reminds us of our first visit to the area, crisply cold with hoar frost on the grass, and bright sunshine, with mist rising from any water.

 We take the bikes from Lyndhurst through Pike Hill, and Emery Down, then up to Bolderwood, with a fairly steep section to test the legs. 

From  the car park we turn left and roll down the Bolderwood Ornamental  Drive, with lovely sun and autumn leaf effects.

  Next we cross the A35, and the road becomes the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, passes the tall trees, the Knightwood Oak, and the Arboretum before reaching Whitemoor heath and arriving at Brockenhurst.

Esther has come to meet us with Hazel in the buggy, and we walk across the bridge over the (dry) ford, and head for the Brock and Bruin tearoom.  Scones and caffeine oil the wheels - of the brain if not the bike.

We return via Balmer Lawn and the gravel tracks, but take a wrong turning, at either the 13 or 14 mile point, and end up in some sticky mud. We extricate ourselves and go back to the A337 main road for the final mile into Lyndhurst, and a much-needed shower for ourselves and the bikes - and my shoes. I guess I'm lucky not to have lost one of them for good.

I'll pinch a few of Harry's photos, since I didn't take my camera!

Map and details here

Lyndhurst Parish circular

Sun, 2013 Nov 10 2:02 PM GMT

With Harry. Some very muddy, squelchy sections. Beautiful day. Just over 8 miles in all. 500 ft of climbing.

A fine sunny day, blue skies and a cool wind encourage us to make an afternoon of this walk, taken from a leaflet.

We start from the Custards,  going through the gate on the field side of Race Course View - quite wet and soggy, as most places are just now. We squelch over to a bridge and turn right to follow a bank of earth alongside the golf course, and through some fine trees.

This takes us to the access road and the main Southampton road - there is an underpass. On the far side of the road we walk uphill and over the top to the Beaulieu road. As we are out of the trees the going is firmer.

There is still plenty of lying water.  We cross the Beualieu Road taking a path between Oak Acre and The Ravens.  The path meets a gate after about a kilometre - we go straight on, and then up the hill behind the Crown and Stirrup.  At the top of the hill we cross the A337, and take a track about 30 metres to the left, following a driveway across a cattle grid.  Just before the gate to High Coxlease we turn left and follow the fence downhill and then to our right for almost 2 kilometres.  We turn left on to a path across a large clearing, then along a track into the woods. In about 200 metres we turn right and walk up a wide track to the gate and the road.
 At the road we turn left, through the village of Bank, with the Oak Inn, where we turn left again and follow the road around Gritnam, circling this hamlet, with houses on our right. At Woodbine Cottage our path leads left through the trees to the road (A35).  Just before the road the path goes left and into an underpass.

After the underpass our path turns right, and goes through the trees to Allum Green. We join the track at Corner Cottage, and turn left.  At Caister Cottage we follow the fence and wall for a good 100 metres,  then take a right fork and head up the hill. We should have turned left and into Emery Down. Instead we continued and emerged close to Swan Green, but turned left towards Emery Down, and then right along Silver Street, and then along a path for a good 600 metres to the road to Pikes Hill. 

The road is very narrow and there are  too many cars, but very soon we reach the Fenwick hospital, where we turn left along a path beside the hospital.  This takes us into a small road of big houses.  There is a turn to the right, leading into a cul de sac, and we take the footpath in the left hand corner, which leads to the Waterloo Arms. From here it is a short walk, across the main Romsey Road and back along Race Course View.

These boots are made for walking

Map and details