Legs 11 alighted from the train for today's adventure in Hampshire. We experienced mixed weather today, with sunny spells before lunch then light showers mild to warm humid later but never unpleasant for walking.

The morning leg in the open, often beside the River Test, always delights. Plenty of plump brown trout were spotted in the crystal clear waters of the Test. Leaf colour was glorious with oaks and beech trees coming on nicely, possibly a couple of weeks earlier than usual this year.

We arrived at the Plough Inn in Longparish bang on time for our reserved tables, with five walkers lunching and one being joined by relatives living in the village. Food, drink and service excellent. Two of our picnickers joined us for a drink. The picnickers found a nice spot in the churchyard for their sandwiches.

Post prandial two walkers (picnickers) armed with the OS map set off to return to Whitchurch via St Mary Bourne - I invite then to post a supplementary report on how they got on and if the route they followed is worth writing up in the Directions - in which case I will oblige.

The remaining picnickers set off before the lunchers on the afternoon leg of today's walk. I had warned the group that the pm leg of this walk is Marmite - you like it or hate it. Fortunately, most on the walk today enjoyed the complete contrast to the morning walk - woods and forest paths instead of open countryside. Arriving in Andover without mishap my group of five found a nice coffee shop in Upper High Street which stayed open for us. Tea in pots, and nice cakes, were enjoyed, although we rather rushed tea in order to catch the 17-06 train back to London, which we duly did, being joined by three of the picnickers at the railway station.

A lovely day out in delightful SWC company - it was so nice to attend one of my posted Saturday walks after my long enforced absence.

Despite losing both the group and my sunglasses post-pub lunch, a great walk, much prettier than the description implied.

Many thanks for posting this beautiful walk. 26 off the train in beautiful sunshine , quickly splitting up into little groups especially as a few wrong turnings were taken. My companion and I thought we had been dropped by the peloton only to find ourselves out front, but the usual order resumed as we then crossed the wrong bridge over the Test (it was a charming footbridge . . . ) about half the group lunched at the Cricketers' Inn but being out of practice at walk reports I forgot to ask anyone how it was. A couple more joined them for drinks and I was in a subgroup of 7 for the afternoon. Some found this less appealing and, I believe, attempted a different way to Andover, but I enjoyed the forest section. Ice creams or tea for some in Andover high street before the 1738 train.

Just to add to Sandy's report, the Cricketers Inn looked after us very well, although service for those dining outdoors was slow. Whilst meals arrived promptly for the three indoor diners, some outdoors had a forty five minute wait. However, no-one seemed too bothered as the food when it arrived was very good and no-one seemed to be in a hurry. Some made a meal of the occasion, metaphorically and physically, and stayed longer before calling for a taxi and home. The rest of the diners split into two groups, with half setting off on the Book route (with Sandy) and the others taking an alternative route, avoiding Harewood Forest.

The morning leg of this walk is delightful and on reaching the River Test we were welcomed by a pair of swans with their litter of seven cygnets, all brown fluff. Further along this crystal clear river brown trout were to be seen.

Where are the downloadable instructions, please? Thank you.

http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_48/index.shtml

Sounds like an attractive walk.

Any way out at lunch time. lot of work to do .

jfk

PeteG, Sun 04 Sep 16, 12:13

Just 5 and one of those was planning a walk on their own. Some light rain before lunch and a friendly welcome at The Cricketers. The Ploughman is now open again (not Monday), with a barefoot landlord and a sign saying walkers welcome. Heavier rain on the approach to Andover.

5 some heavy rain

Just 5 and one of those was planning a walk on their own. Some light rain before lunch and a friendly welcome at The Cricketers. The Ploughman is now open again (not Monday), with a barefoot landlord and a sign saying walkers welcome. Heavier rain on the approach to Andover.

A very pleasant aerating walk although the first part near the river Test far outstrips the second half. We were joined by a marathon runner from Hungary.

jfk

19 on this walk sunny and cloudy . It was summertime but the fish weren’t a-jumping. Well not much anyway. We could see them in the water but Saturday must be their day off. No mayfly boom either. (That’s probably where they get their name, may fly, may not.) In Longparish, one walker tried out the stocks. Anyone know where they keep the keys? We stopped at the second pub the Plough. I wasn’t hugely impressed with the minimal selection of beer and I’m told there were no vegetarian items on the menu. But it was pleasant sitting in the garden. Nice windows in Longparish church.

The Copper Kettle was closed when we got to Andover but there were plenty of alternatives.

it was a very pleasant day for a walk, sunny but with a slight breeze. We also had lunch at the Plough where they did not mind I had a picnic in their garden while looking at some fab towering burgers and fries while discussing nice caffs on the coast of the Cape Peninsula, slightly bizarre. The walk itself was disappointing in the sense that there was too much road or lane walking, quite hard on the feet/knees/legs. The views nearer to Andover became quite nice with rolling countryside after a long walk through a wood.