Kinwhi one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Kinwhi here.

This is a review of the northern section of route “KinWhi one” (King’s Somborne to Whitchurch) covering the section from Wherwell (8 miles), through Longparish (12 miles) to Whitchurch (16 miles).

(I will add a review of the remainder of the route soon!)

Overall Description

This section of the route follows the Test Way through Harewood Forest, across the A303, through Forton and Longparish. It then leaves the Test Way and follows the River Test to Whitchurch.

The route follows a mixture of footpaths, forest tracks and quiet roads. It has a few stiles, with most boundaries and junctions having gates or kissing gates. There are a couple of short sections on B roads without a verge or pavement, but these are not busy.

Detailed notes

After crossing the River Test at Chilbolton Cow Common, the route crosses the road, turns to the left for a short while, then takes a track on the right to climb to follow the course of the old railway above Wherwell. The route is part of the Test Way, and is marked with Test Way markers. As it leaves the village it turns north up a track in a valley, then kinks right through the trees, and goes north-east along a treeline, and follows a path along the edge of Harewood Forest.

Test Way signs (and local bright green markers) direct you through the forest and out onto the B3048, just south of the A303. Follow the road for a short distance (or use the parallel footpath in the woods opposite, as there is no pavement or verge on the road) before turning left, up and across the bridge over the dual carriageway. Still following Test Way signs, the path turns off the road on the left, before turning right and dropping across a field and across the B3048 and down into the pretty hamlet of Forton.

At the end of Forton the path goes across a field, past the church and school and onto the Plough Inn (which is recommended if you want refreshments!) At this point the route leaves the Test Way, and follows the main road through the village. At Mill Lane the route goes through the high hedge on the left, and out onto open fields, which lead to a bridge over the Test, where you may see trout, herons and maybe a kingfisher. The route then follows the paths to the old mill, and along a lane before rejoining a pretty stretch of the river, with reed beds on the other bank. Where the lane turns right away from the river, follow the path on the bank, which climbs to join a small road about 500m later. (Britwell Priors, on the other side of the road is an impressive and attractive Elizabethan house that was moved from the Oxfordshire village of Britwell Salome to its present site in the 1920s!)

At a junction, the route goes through the hedge on the far side of the road, and follows the field edge over the hill and down once again to the Test. The path turns left across a small bridge.

Note: At the time of writing (July 2022) the bridge is marked as closed, as the handrail has been condemned as dangerous. It has been like this for at least six months. However, it is perfectly possible to duck under the barrier and cross the bridge to stay on the planned route. If you wish to avoid the bridge, it is possible to get to Whitchurch by continuing East along the lane, through Tufton, under the A34 and following the road into the village.

Beyond the bridge the route goes under the old railway, then right across fields and up the hill to join the B3400, which is then followed into Whitchurch. Take care on the initial section as there is no footpath.

Note: the gate at 453471 is marked “Bull in Field” and is locked. No bull have been seen in the field in recent visits. It is easy to climb the gate.


Overall Assessment:

This is a pretty and interesting section of the network, with lots of views of the River Test, old buildings and attractive woodland and field paths.

It is a safe section, with just two short stretches of B road without a footpath - neither is very busy. Apart from the locked gate and closed bridge noted in the description, it is easy to walk, well marked and easy to follow.

Recommended!.

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