PETERSFIELD Ramblers Club was formed in 1970, and hosts walks twice a week.
The first walk for their new Post column was held on Wednesday, March 6, and was from Test Way car park at Horsebridge, just off the A3057 between Stockbridge and Romsey, writes walk leader Gordon Churchill, a rambler for 45 years.
Horsebridge Station is now a beautifully restored home with platforms, small signal box and a railway carriage, and much of the Test Way walk follows the old railway line which left the main Salisbury to Basingstoke line and joined the Salisbury to Romsey line at Kimbridge.
The walk crosses the River Test twice. Great Britain has 85 per cent of the 200 chalk rivers in the world and the beautiful Test is one of the most important.
Once past the old station, the path crossed ancient water meadows, untouched by the plough, as confirmed by a veritable city of mole hills. From a lane, it was right on to a bridleway and through a stockyard with some very attractive brown cows and two massive bulls, before reaching another lane, the old Winchester to Salisbury Roman road.
On the right was a tumulus and a superb view across rolling countryside; a bridleway through woods and an open field led to Broughton, a delightful village boasting many ancient cottages, a 17th century school, and a massive brick dove cot in the churchyard.
The Wallop Brook runs through this lovely village on its way to the Test. It was then on to the Clarendon Way, which links Winchester and Salisbury. As we were thinking about our packed lunches, it started to rain but being hardy ramblers, this didn’t deter us from enjoying our sandwiches.
Refreshed, and with good views across well maintained farmland, the Test was re-crossed, and the Test Way led back to Horsebridge, so ending this delightful nine-mile walk.