Totton, Eling and Testwood

 Tuesday 15th August 2023. With Harry. Just over 10 miles.

A mix of suburban streets, wooded walkways, mini seaside, reed-beds, and rural surroundings .

The original plan was a stroll to Eling for coffee at The Anchor, with its views over Bartley Water, and across to St Mary’s church.

Along the boardwalks through the reed beds and wooded paths. Lots of white butterflies and a speckled wood or two.

We emerged at Eling cemetery and St Mary’s churchyard, another place full of wild flowers and butterflies.

We retraced our steps through Eling and across the park, over the main road to Rum Walk, following Bartley Water and the Test Way into Totton Town Centre. It was time for another coffee and a decent tuna sandwich and salad at Aroma Cafe to set us up for the afternoon.

As the weather was so good we decided to walk through the park, past the Great Testwood Gatehouse

and the Salmon Leap pub to join the Test Way boardwalk across the marshland. We had a fleeting glimpse of the orange of a tiger moth, which played its disappearing trick so effectively we couldn’t identify it (garden or Jersey). Blackberries are ripening well.

We followed the Test Way as far as Mill Lane, where we turned left towards Nursling Mill.

By now phone batteries were running low, so there are few photographs, as we made our way to the southern end of Testwood Lakes, where we paused for a rest and thought of ice-cream. We had to make do with snacking on blackberries though.

Then back to base along the pathways.

Totton to Testwood Lakes

 

Thursday 25th August

After coffee we set off towards Testwood lakes,

walked round,

and to the hides near the Scrapes and Meadow Lake. Heron, lapwings, and later swallows and a couple of green woodpeckers, one of them calling and flying in typical green woodpecker fashion.

Return via Nursling Mill, over the now restored footbridge (see last year), to join the Test Way as it goes back along the river and across the salt marshes via the boardwalk into Totton.

Today this involved herding a group of young bullocks along a narrow path.

Sandwich and coffee from Greggs, which we ate near the library before walking the final mile home. Somewhere between 9 and 10 miles.

Testwood Lakes, Nursling Mill and Totton

We started out just after 3 pm, and walked around 8 miles from Rockleigh via Calmore Road and the football ground to Testwood Lakes.

We continued via Nursling Mill

to the Test Way south

and back round to Totton via the boardwalk

through the marshland.

Oddities…and observations.

A toad or frog - girl on bike took a photo.

Friendly local asking if we were lost when checking our map.

Blackberries beginning to ripen near the lake.

Blocked footbridge, vanquished.

Sue Moo’s was closed.

A seat in the park.

Return via Rum Walk 

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!