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Overton to Whitchurch Walk

An easy walk down the Test valley which passes many interesting mills, old and new.

Hampshire 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, 10-Feb-24 Overton to Whitchurch - more snowdrops; trout-feeding opportunities 18 generous amounts of sunshine
Sun, 27-Feb-22 b Whitchurch Circular 14 sunny
Sun, 12-May-19 Picturesque mills in the Test valley 10 sunny warm breeze with some fluffy white clouds
Sun, 23-Dec-18 Mills on the River Test
Sun, 21-Jan-18 Overton to Whitchurch
Sun, 08-Jan-17 b 2 – Picturesque mills in the Test valley 5 cloudy damp but not really raining
Sat, 14-Feb-15 Overton to Whitchurch Walk 19
Wed, 27-Aug-14 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sun, 20-Oct-13 a Overton to Whitchurch Walk 3
Sat, 02-Feb-13 a Overton to Whitchurch Walk 0
Sat, 10-Mar-12 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sun, 12-Feb-12 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sat, 20-Nov-10 b Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sun, 22-Aug-10 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sat, 28-Nov-09 a Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sun, 12-Jul-09 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Wed, 20-May-09 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sun, 01-Feb-09 b Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Sat, 18-Oct-08 Overton to Whitchurch Walk
Wed, 17-Sep-08 Overton to Whitchurch Walk

Saturday 10-Feb-24

Walker
17.3km (10.7 miles) - or 14.5km (9 miles) if you want to be extra lazy. T=swc.53
9.50 train from Waterloo (9.57 Clapham Junction) to Overton, arriving 10.48
Buy a day return to Whitchurch (Hampshire, not Shropshire or Cardiff...!!!)

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map or the route click here
A last minute change of plan has handed me this slot (normally Stargazer's) to bring you..... more snowdrops! Hopefully, anyway. I remember this walk from years back as packed with the little blighters. One thing I can attest to is that last year Whitchurch Cemetery was awash with them (see photo).

This walk also crosses and shadows the River Test, its crystal-clear waters attesting to its chalk origins. It is famous for its trout, and past experience has suggested dropping a bit of bread in the water brings large numbers of them to the surface, which is rather fun. (Whether it is good for the fish, I do not know...)
Lunch is at the Watership Down Inn, 4.5 miles into the walk, named after the famous novel (I hear their rabbit pie is good...**). I am not sure how busy it gets, but I have made a booking for six people just to open the batting, so to speak. Otherwise, one could continue to Whitchurch and eat in one of its pubs
You actually get to Whitchurch after 9 miles. The full 10.7 mile walk includes a loop out to Tufton. Whitchurch Cemetery is at the start of this loop, but if you want to go and see the snowdrops and then slink back to tea at Whitchurch Silk Mill, there is an obvious short cut back to the village centre along a road (see map). This might be particularly tempting as last orders in the tea room are at 4.30pm. The mill shuts at 5pm and costs £10 to visit (or £9 for over-60s, but that doesn't cover any of us, right?)
Trains back from Whitchurch are at 14 past till 19.14, then 19.53, 20.53 etc

** Joke! They don't serve rabbit, at least not on the lunch menu...
  • Sat, 10-Feb-24

    A very creditable 18 on this walk. Those inveigled into coming by the promise of snowdrops were not disappointed, I think. There were clumps throughout the walk - in churchyards, on verges, in woods, even once in a field. Also some crocuses, the odd adventurous primrose and (on the extra loop) a cherry plum in full blossom.

    There was generous amounts of sunshine too: not wall to wall, but more sunny than not. This gave everything a lovely springtime feel, which the birds responded to. I heard my first chaffinch song of the year (several times) and my first (three) greenfinches. Wrens, dunnocks and robins were also belting it out.

    On the approach to Freefolk a local resident kindly informed us that the pub had been “ruined”, which was encouraging. In fact it has been modernised. We had booked two tables of six, though for a second week in a row I cast a longing look outside, where a group of runners was enjoying drinks in the sunshine. But my booked table was in the conservatory, which was also bathed in sunshine. Actually a bit too hot for a time.

    Our food came quickly. The other table, inside the main bar, was mysteriously waiting for their meals when we left an hour later. Not sure what went wrong there, as the pub was not busy, and we hope they emerged before nightfall. The menu is not extensive and not vastly imaginative, but the meat and fish eaters on our table were happy. The vegan lasagne, however was minuscule and lacking in protein. Frankly it would have made a good starter.

    I had forgotten to bring bread, but when we got to the River Test we persuaded a non-luncher to part with a morsel of his bagel (his only sustenance for the day…) to try to tempt the trout out of their cover. It floated downstream untouched. Later, approaching Whitchurch, we crossed another footbridge where the trout were all lurking within suspiciously convenient reach. Bagel man was not in sight so they went hungry.

    In my splinter group we decided to go straight to the silk mill for tea, getting there about 3pm. The vegan lasagne eaters here caught up with their calories with a nice chocolate fudge cake. After tea there was subversive talk about “looking round the village” and “going straight to the station”, so only three of set off to do the extra loop. Briefly on this expedition we met two independents using our written directions who said they had done “nearly all” of the walks on the website.

    Those who did not do the loop missed a treat, as it was delightful. The snowdrops in Whitchurch Cemetery were perhaps not as spectacular as I remembered and the route twice passes under the hideously noisy A34, but otherwise it was tranquil and calm, bathed in lovely low sunlight, passing more snowdrops and visiting an ancient church with traces of 800 year old frescoes.

    I later discovered that three sandwichers also did the loop (they and some others were on the 4.14 train). The three of us were just a bit too late for the 5.14 and so sojourned in the very cosy White Hart (where we met one of the lunchtime runners who was incredulous that we had walked “all the way” from Freefolk, a distance of about 2.5 miles). We got the 6.14, having had a full and varied day out.

Sunday 27-Feb-22

Sean
Extra Walk 53a – Whitchurch Circular

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles), or 12¼ km (7.6 miles) with shorter ending. Toughness: 2/10

10:45 Andover train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:53), arriving Whitchurch (Hants) at 11:49.

Trains back from Whitchurch are hourly at xx:23. As a fallback there's also an hourly bus (#76) from the town centre to Basingstoke at xx:10 (until 18:10).

Apologies for posting a second west-of-London walk this Sunday, but I've had a request for this one and because of engineering works further down the line there's a convenient direct service from Waterloo (on Sundays you usually have to connect with a Reading–Salisbury service).

This slightly shorter variation of the Overton–Whitchurch walk never strays too far from the River Test. There should be masses of snowdrops at this time of year and on the riverside stretches you can usually summon large numbers of hungry trout by scattering a few breadcrumbs onto the water.

If you want to stop for an early pub lunch (after 5 km) you'll need to book a table at the popular Watership Down Inn in Freefolk. If they're fully booked (or you just want a shorter walk) you could choose to turn back earlier and make your way to one of Whitchurch's hostelries. The town has three pubs and there's also the Riverside Café in its Silk Mill; this is the suggested tea stop but it also does light lunches.

From Whitchurch you could just head up the hill to the station, but the published walk offers the choice of a fairly short loop out to Tufton or an even shorter one going directly to the picturesque Fulling Mill.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.53.b page. Clicking ‘Circular’ on the Walk Options heading will hide the directions for the longer walk starting from Overton.

  • Mon, 28-Feb-22

    14 assembled on a sunny day. It didn’t take long for before the hares left two tortoises behind. Wherever the hares went, it wasn’t the same way as us but they did eventually catch us up back in Whitchurch .They said they encountered a closed path on the way into Freefolk. We tried not to look smug.

    In Whitchurch, most had picnic lunches by the millpond (don’t bother feeding the ducks, the fish steal the bread) two ate in the White Hart and at least one in the mill café.

    Most then continued on the afternoon loop. More path trouble here. First we had to climb over a padlocked kissing gate and later negotiate a (not very) ‘closed’ bridge. It wasn’t in great shape but not impassable. The most dangerous thing about it was the bar we had to clamber under or over after crossing. Health and safety gone mad. And the church we’d come to see was shut. We got the 16:23 back.

Sunday 12-May-19

Chris L
Overton to Whitchurch
Length: 17km (10.6 miles) or 14.5km(9 miles) Toughness: 3/10

This is an easy walk along the upper reaches of the River Test that passes many interesting mills, old and new. The walk can be shortened by 2.5km by takingan alternative afternoon route via Fulling Mill which omits the loop out to the hamlet of Tufton.

Whitchurch Silk Mill re-opened late last year after major refurbishment (£7/£6, last admission 4:00pm) and has a tearoom (open till 5:00pm) that can be visited without paying the admission charge.

The suggested lunchtime pub is the Watership Down Inn (01256 892254) in the village of Freefolk, after 7¼ km. A former regular patron was the author Richard Adams, and the pub was re-named in his honour. Do ring to reserve a table before leaving Overton. If it is fully booked, you will need to continue into Whitchurch for a late lunch unless you are carrying a packed lunch.

Trains:
Take the 10:15 Exeter St David’s train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10:23), arriving at Overton at 11:16. If you miss that train you could take the 11:15 train to Whitchurch and do the Whitchurch Circular version of the walk (12km) which visits the same lunchtime pub.

Return trains from Whitchurch to Waterloo are at 15:54, 16:52, 17:54, 18:52, 19:54, etc. (journey time 65 minutes). Buy a Super Off-Peak Day Return to Whitchurch.

You can find further information and the walk directions
here.

T=swc.53
  • Sun, 12-May-19

    Thank you for putting the walk on for the

    nationalmillsweekend

  • Mon, 13-May-19

    10

    sunny warm breeze with some fluffy white clouds

Sunday 23-Dec-18

Chris L
Overton to Whitchurch, omitting Tufton
Length: 12.8km (7.9 miles) or 17km (10.6 miles) Toughness: 2/10

This is an easy walk along the upper reaches of the River Test that passes many interesting mills, old and new. Today’s walk omits.the afternoon loop out to the hamlet of Tufton, though you could incorporate this if you walk briskly and don’t spend too long over lunch. Another afternoon alternative (14.5km total length) takes you to Fulling Mill.

Whitchurch Silk Mill, which has been closed this year for major refurbishment, is now open again (£7 or £6, last admission 4:00pm) and has a tearoom (open till 5:00pm) that can be visited without paying the admission charge.

The suggested lunchtime pub is the Watership Down Inn (01256 892254) in the village of Freefolk, after 7¼ km. A former regular patron was the author Richard Adams. Do ring to reserve a table before leaving Overton. If it is fully booked, you will need to continue into Whitchurch for a late lunch unless you are carrying a packed lunch.

09:43 Poole train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 09:52), changing at Basingstoke (arr 10:42, dep 10:51) to arrive at Overton at 11:00.

Return trains direct from Whitchurch to Waterloo are at 15:21 and 17:23. Other services at 16:15, 18:14 and 19:16 involve a change at Basingstoke. Buy a Super Off-Peak Day Return to Whitchurch.

You can find further information and the walk directions
here.

T=swc.53

Sunday 21-Jan-18

Chris L
Overton to Whitchurch
Length: 17km (10.6 miles) Toughness: 3/10

This is an easy walk down the Test valley that passes many interesting mills, old and new. There are options for shortening the walk in the afternoon.

The suggested lunchtime pub is the Watership Down Inn (01256 892254) in the village of Freefolk, after 7¼ km.

10:15 Exeter St David’s train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10:22) arriving Overton at 11:15.

Return trains direct from Whitchurch to Waterloo are at 14:52, 16:52 and 18:52 (journey time 67 mins). If you miss one of these, the alternative to a long wait is to take a train to Andover at 15:20, 17:20 or 19:20 and change there for a fast train to Waterloo (journey time 1 hour 39 mins). Buy an off-peak day return to Whitchurch.

You can find further information and the walk directions
here.
T=swc.53
  • Sun, 21-Jan-18

    Looks like a rail replacement bus beyond Woking this morning

Sunday 08-Jan-17

Sean
Extra Walk 53b – Whitchurch Circular
Length: 12 km (7.5 miles). Toughness: 2/10

10:15 Yeovil Junction train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:24), arriving Whitchurch (Hants) at 11:20.

Return trains from Whitchurch are every two hours, at 14:52, 16:52, etc. There's also an infrequent Sunday bus service (76) from Whitchurch to Basingstoke, but unhelpfully at about the same time as the trains (14:24 & 16:54).

This short version of the Overton-Whitchurch walk never strays too far from the Test valley, where you can usually summon large numbers of hungry trout by scattering a few breadcrumbs onto the river.

You'll need to call the popular Watership Down Inn if you want to be sure of a pub lunch; if they're fully booked you might as well turn round at Bere Mill (skipping the loop out to Freefolk), then make your way to one of the hostelries in Whitchurch.

Those who just want a brisk walk and a brief stop for lunch should be able to catch the 14:52 back to London, but if you've got time to kill before the 16:52 you could visit Whitchurch's main attraction, its working Silk Mill. You can get refreshments at the mill, and there's also an independent coffee shop in the town centre as well as several pubs.

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 53 page. Clicking "Circular" on the Walk Options heading will hide the directions for the longer walk options. T=swc.53.b
  • Anonymous
    Fri, 06-Jan-17

    anyone doing this walk pls?

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 07-Jan-17

    I am interested in doing this walk jfk However there seems to be a problem with trains to Clapham Junction and weather seems a little off putting

  • Ian T
    Sun, 08-Jan-17

    5 for this walk cloudy damp but not really raining Slightly muddy underfoot. A brief stop at the Watership Down Inn. No tables but we could have eaten at the bar. However we decided to press on. Reached Whitchurch in time for the 14:52