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Mottisfont to Romsey walk

Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, West Hampshire Chalk Downs, Dun & Test Valleys and the picturesque market town of Romsey

Hampshire Hampshire Downs National Trust River Meadows Test Valley

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 03-Oct-20 Saturday Walk - Woods, Downs and an Abbey the size of a Cathedral: Mottisfont to Romsey 4 drizzle to lunch
Sat, 23-Jun-18 Saturday Walk - Roses in Bloom: Mottisfont to Romsey (Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, West Hampshire Chalk Downs, Dun & Test Valleys, Romsey) 17 warm and mostly sunny
Sat, 09-Apr-16 Saturday Second Walk [Fully Revised Walk] - SWC 58: Mottisfont & Dunbridge to Romsey 7 light showers sunny spells
Sun, 08-Jun-08 ? Mottisfont to Romsey
Sat, 24-Mar-07 ? Mottisfont to Romsey
Thomas G
Rule-of-Six and Track-and-Trace:
Outdoors – Please read the rules on the SWC website and split into groups of no larger than 6 immediately and stay within those groups all day. I will take the contact details of anyone that I don’t have those details of yet, but else there will be no detailed briefing at the start of the walk, so please come prepared or don’t come at all. That means: read the walk posting and take in the information given there about walk options and lunch/tea options and bring written walk directions and/or a route map (whether printed or digital).
Indoors - Please read the set of rules (which are just a summary of the laws as they apply at the moment) on the lunch pubs’ website (linked below) to see what’s expected behaviour these days in pubs and cafés!
Length: 22.2 km (13.9 mi) [much shorter options available]
Ascent/Descent: 310 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Warminster train from Waterloo (CJ 09.27), changing at Salisbury for Romsey (arrives 10.42; departs 10.56 from platform 6), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.14.
Alternatively, if you want to beat the group by 9 minutes: 09.05 Bournemouth train from Waterloo (CJ 09.12), changing at Southampton Airport [Parkway] for Salisbury (arrives 10.13; departs same platform 10.25; café across the overbridge), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.05.
Return trains are at xx.07 via Southampton Airport [Parkway] (102 mins journey time) or at xx.21 via Salisbury (118 mins journey time).
Buy a Romsey return if travelling out via Salisbury, or a Mottisfont & Dunbridge return if travelling out via Southampton.

This walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun and (Lower) Test Valleys of remote West Hampshire. An early highlight is the NT-owned (and ticketed) Mottisfont Abbey, a historical priory and country estate, with an arm of the River Test, Hampshire's longest and finest chalk stream, running through the stunning grounds, which also include a famous walled rose garden, trompe-l’oeil murals from Rex Whistler, and several lunch options. Walk back past the 12th century St. Andrew's church, one of the few Grade I-listed churches, and follow the waymarked Mottisfont Estate Path. The route incorporates all the important features of the estate, mainly varied ancient woodlands but also some managed for timber or coppicing, historical farmland and the Dun River Meadows. After lunch in Dunbridge the route gets a little more undulating, as the Test River is followed – mostly from a distance – all the way to Romsey, a picturesque market town. You pass all its sights: Romsey Abbey, a beautiful church the size of a cathedral, the War Memorial Park, the medieval King John’s House and Tudor Cottage, some narrow historical lanes and an exhausting selection of tea and pub stops.

Three shorter options are described, see the pdf or the webpage for details.

Lunch: The Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge (11.1 km/6.9 mi, food all day). On the short walk options: within the grounds of Mottisfont Abbey or a little off-route at the The Bear and Ragged Staff (food all day).
Tea: Romsey has an abundance of good quality cafes, bistros, pubs and restaurants. See pages 2, 9 and 10 of the pdf for details.

For walk directions, summary, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.58

  • 03-Oct-20

    By the morning, the bleak forecast for Mottisfont had improved insofar as 90+% of precipitation risk for every hour of the day had turned to 'just' 70+% in the pm. The reality was much better still: drizzle to lunch (but never rain) and then overcast, then some blue sky breaks, then overcast again, but no more rain or drizzle.

    The rivers and streams were very swollen, but unavoidable mud there wasn't much about, apart from in a couple of arable fields. The Dun and Test meadows were laden with water (some of it deep), but it was just about possible to get through them without shipping water into the boots (not all succeeded though). What else did we see? Many atmospheric woods in the pm, a herd of deer crossing one of those arable fields, enormous amounts of pheasants (and feeders) after lunch just out of Mottisfont, enormous amounts and variety of fungi, and several large fields with free-range pigs.

    Our long lunch at the Mill Arms was very satisfying indeed (pies and a steak and nice beers and wines), incl. friendly staff and bright and cosy surroundings. Pretty empty though. No dog walkers out and about today, certainly no cyclists and no other walkers either.

    The 4 of us reached Romsey's centre just in time to catch the 18.07 w/o any rushing, so decided against drinks or food there, partly as we were still quite full from lunch. drizzle to lunch

Thomas G
Length: 22.2 km (13.9 mi) [much shorter options available]
Ascent/Descent: 310 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (CJ 09.27), changing at Salisbury for Chandlers Ford (arrives 10.42; departs 10.56, platform 6), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.14.
Alternatively, if you want to beat the group by 10 minutes: 09.05 Weymouth train from Waterloo (CJ 09.12), changing at Southampton Airport [Parkway] for Salisbury (arrives 10.13; departs same platform 10.25; café across the overbridge), arrives Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.04.
Return trains are at xx.07 via Southampton Airport [Parkway] (102 mins journey time) or at xx.21 via Salisbury (118 mins journey time).
Buy a Romsey return if travelling out via Salisbury, or a Mottisfont & Dunbridge return if travelling out via Southampton.

This walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun and (Lower) Test Valleys of remote West Hampshire. An early highlight is the NT-owned (and ticketed) Mottisfont Abbey, a historical priory and country estate, with an arm of the River Test, Hampshire's longest and finest chalk stream, running through the stunning grounds, which also include a famous walled rose garden, trompe-l’oeil murals from Rex Whistler, and several lunch options. Walk back past the 12th century St. Andrew's church, one of the few Grade I-listed churches, and follow the waymarked Mottisfont Estate Path. The route incorporates all the important features of the estate, mainly varied ancient woodlands but also some managed for timber or coppicing, historical farmland and the Dun River Meadows. After lunch in Dunbridge the route gets a little more undulating, as the Test River is followed – mostly from a distance – all the way to Romsey, a picturesque market town. You pass all its sights: Romsey Abbey, a beautiful church the size of a cathedral, the War Memorial Park, the medieval King John’s House and Tudor Cottage, some narrow historical lanes and an exhausting selection of tea and pub stops.
Three shorter options are described.
Lunch: The Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge (11.1 km/6.9 mi, food all day). On the short walk options: within the grounds of Mottisfont Abbey or a little off-route at the The Bear and Ragged Staff.
Tea: Romsey has an abundance of good quality cafes, bistros, pubs and restaurants. See page 2 and pages 9 and 10 of the pdf for details.
For walk directions, summary, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.58
  • Anonymous
    21-Jun-18

    Is £24 or so the cheapest return? Thanks.

  • 22-Jun-18

    what is the cheapest ticket please?

  • 22-Jun-18

    If you go on the southwestern trains website, there are some £15 singles for a return to Mottisfont by any route. The Romsey return gives different results, but as far as I can see the tickets would be valid? But a railcard seems to give the best price at £28.40 or £23.15 from Surbiton (zone 6 boundary proxy)

  • 22-Jun-18

    Thanks Pete G

  • Anonymous
    22-Jun-18

    £15 singles for a return? You mean £30 in total? Thanks.

  • 23-Jun-18

    1 off an earlier train, 6 via Southampton, 10 via Salisbury, so 17 in total on a warm and mostly sunny day. 8 of those went into the grounds of the Abbey to look at Rose Garden and/or House, most of those then took one or other of the shortcuts. About 11 of the various groups arrived at the lunch pub at the same time, but only half dined. Sandwichers moved on quickly. Plenty of woods, which was a relief in the warm weather, and quite enchanting woods at that. Some even still with muddy stretches!

    Some had tea in Romsey, others a drink, 6 stayed on for dinner at The Olive Tree.

    20.11 train for those.

Thomas G
SWC 58, formerly Book 1 Walk 3: Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, West Hampshire Chalk Downs, Dun & Test Valleys and the picturesque market town of Romsey

Length: 22.2 km (13.9 mi) [shorter options available]
Ascent/Descent: 310 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10 (will feel tougher due to the current high mud content, especially in the woods)

09.20 Exeter St. Davids train from Waterloo (Clapham 09.27), change at Salisbury for Chandlers Ford (arr. 10.42, platform 3 or 4; dep. 10.56, platform 6), arr. Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.14.
[Alternatively, if you want to beat the group by 10 minutes: 09.05 Weymouth & Bournemouth train from Waterloo (Clapham 09.12), change at Southampton Airport [Parkway] for Salisbury (arr. 10.13; dep. same platform 10.25; waiting room and café across the overbridge), arr. Mottisfont & Dunbridge 11.04. We’ll catch you at the Abbey or the church…]
Book an off-peak day return to Romsey for £15 no later than the night before, on the SWT-website or at a SWT-ticket office (but not the machines)
Return trains from Romsey are at xx.07 via Southampton Airport [Parkway] (102 mins) or at xx.20 via Salisbury (118 mins).
Last train: 22.20, with a much longer journey time (just thought I’d mention that because of the high number of very agreeable tea, coffee, drink and food businesses in Romsey).

First posting of this new version of the walk, we will take the opportunity to check the walk directions.

This walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun and (Lower) Test Valleys of remote West Hampshire. An early highlight is the NT-owned (and ticketed) Mottisfont Abbey, a historical priory and country estate, with an arm of the River Test, Hampshire's longest and finest chalk stream, running through the stunning grounds, which also include a famous walled rose garden, trompe-l’oeil murals from Rex Whistler, and several lunch options. Walk back past the 12th century St. Andrews church, one of the few Grade I-listed churches, and follow the waymarked Mottisfont Estate Path. The route incorporates all the important features of the estate, mainly varied ancient woodlands – several of which are good bluebell woods – but also some managed for timber or coppicing, historical farmland and the Dun River Meadows. After lunch in Dunbridge the route gets a little more undulating, as the Test River is followed – mostly from a distance – all the way to Romsey, a picturesque market town. You pass all its sights: Romsey Abbey, a beautiful church the size of a cathedral, the War Memorial Park, the medieval King John’s House and Tudor Cottage, some narrow historical lanes and an exhausting selection of tea and pub stops.
Three shorter options are described, one of which follows the original Book 1 version of this walk. For details see Page 2 of the pdf.

The lunch stop on the full walk, as well as on the second longest walk option, is The Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge (11.1 km/6.9 mi). On the short walk options lunch is either at one of the places within the grounds of Mottisfont Abbey (ticketed entry unless NT-member) or a little off-route along the walk at either the Kimbridge Restaurant & Annie’s Tearooms or at The Bear and Ragged Staff. See Page 2 of the pdf for details. For tea, Romsey has an abundance of good quality cafes, bistros, pubs and restaurants. See pages 2, 9 and 10 of the pdf for details.

For walk directions click here. For summary, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here.

p.s.: if you fear getting bored on the long journey (or indeed if your favourite newspaper has just finished its print run and you got nothing else worth reading), you could do worse than downloading this excellent brochure explaining the sights along the Salisbury to Southampton line: http://www.threeriversrail.com/photos/Publications/three_rivers_line_guide_2014.pdf
T=swc.58
  • 04-Apr-16

    Intend going.

  • Anonymous
    06-Apr-16

    I hope to attend and visit the gardens jfk

  • Karen
    10-Apr-16

    7 light showers sunny spells

    6 off the train at Dunbridge, all prepared to do the main walk. The morning was slightly overcast and there were occasional light showers. The morning route followed the Mottisfont Estate Path, looping back to Dunbridge. The route took us along the edge of some lovely bluebell forests. First time for this walker to see such a display and now get why everyone looks forward to them. Very beautiful.

    A good lunch for 5 at The Mill Arms in Dunbridge. The picnicker joined for a drink and a familiar face popped in to say a quick hello. Just off the train from London, she was off to visit Motissfont Abbey and gardens. Didn't see her for the rest of the day - maybe she did one of the routes in the afternoon?

    More showers in the afternoon, but with the sun breaking through. Some very muddy patches in Squabb Wood, but the group tackled them with good humour. It's April - there will be mud. Arrived in Romsey just a little too late for the teashops. Visited the various sites described in the directions. The abbey is particularly impressive. Refreshments at The Old House at Home, then one walker took off for the train, leaving five to dine at Romsey's hottest spot, The Olive Tree. Good dinner. 21:07 back to London, changing at Southampton Airport Parkway.

    A good opportunity to visit a part of the country you might not often find yourself in, especially on a SWT £15 deal ticket. The possibility of sightseeing at both start and finish - NT-owned Mottisfont Abbey and interesting Romsey. And four possible routes to choose from - main walk and three shortcuts. A grand day out.