Dean to Mottisfont walk

This walk explores woods and rolling chalk hills in the Dun, Wallop Brook and Test Valleys of remote West Hampshire. Rising out of the Dun Valley through varied woods and along field boundaries and farm tracks (some tarmacked), the walk takes on a very different aspect upon approaching the steep sided chalk downs near Broughton, with splendid views north east across the Wallop Brook valley. After lunch in Broughton you follow the rim of the wide valley south easterly to cross the meadows of the Test River, Hampshire's longest and finest chalk stream. The Test – popular with swimmers in the summer – is a prominent feature of the afternoon, as its several arms are crossed twice.
In between you climb again, up to the hills along the easterly side of the Test Valley, walk through some quiet woods and past scenic side valleys to then steeply descend back to the Test Meadows. The finish is through the NT-owned Mottisfont Estate, past Mottisfont Abbey, a historical priory, and its grounds, as well as the 12th century St. Andrews church, one of the few Grade I-listed churches (on a short diversion).

A shorter route, cutting out parts of the afternoon, is described.
An alternative start from Salisbury broadly follows the Clarendon Way and enables a visit to the New Art Centre at Roche Court, an art gallery & sculpture park, en route.

A Shortcut reduces the walk by 5.1 km (3.2 mi), the ascent/descent by 111m and the rating to 5/10.
Bus 16 (Houghton to Winchester) stops in Broughton, Houghton and King’s Somborne (Mon-Sat only, with a lunchtime service and a late afternoon service Sat only!).
You can start from Mottisfont & Dunbridge, reverse-walk the route to just before Broughton (map-led) and combine it with the shortcut for a Mottisfont & Dunbridge Circular (25.5 km, 380m ascent, 6/10 rating), lunch would be in King’s Somborne or Houghton. This makes sense in wet periods, as the morning route is more mud-prone.
Both long and short versions of this walk can be combined with the afternoon route of SWC 58 (Mottisfont & Dunbridge to Romsey) to form an epic Dean to Romsey walk.
Or make a two-day trip of it by staying at The Mill Arms Inn in Dunbridge and explore Mottisfont Abbey & Gardens and walk – all or part of – SWC 58 on the second day.
You can start in Salisbury, broadly following the waymarked Clarendon Way to where it crosses the walk route just before Broughton, and pick up the walk there (adds 9.5 km/5.9 mi and 20m ascent), or finish in Dean (24.8 km/15.4 mi). This route allows an extension to the New Art Centre at Roche Court (adds another 2.9 km/1.8 mi). Pitton and Winterslow, the lunch stops on this route, are served by buses 87,88, PR7 (Salisbury – Winterslow).

Dean Station, map reference SU 256 270, is 12 km east south east of Salisbury, 22 km north west of Southampton, 39m above sea level, and in Wiltshire, right on the boundary with Hampshire; Mottisfont & Dunbridge Station, map reference SU 318 261, is 6 km east of Dean Station, 26m above sea level and in West Hampshire. Both are on the Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton Central (via Salisbury) Wessex Main Line. Journey times to Dean are from 107 minutes Monday to Saturday (hourly service in each direction: either changing at Salisbury or at Southampton Central) and from 120 minutes Sundays. Journey times from Mottisfont & Dunbridge are from 113 minutes Monday to Saturday and from 118 minutes Sundays. Buy a Mottisfont & Dunbridge return.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take a train no later than 9.20 hours.

Salisbury Start
The Silver Plough White Hill, Pitton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 1DU (01722 712 266). Located 8.9 km (5.6 mi) into the walk.
The Lord Nelson Middleton, Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 1QS (01980 862 218). Located 250m off-route, 12.9 km (8.0 mi) into the walk.

Main Walk
The Black Horse The Village, West Tytherley, Salisbury, Hampshire, SP5 1NF (01794 340 308). Located 5.4 km (3.4 mi) into the walk.
The Greyhound Inn The High Street, Broughton, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8AA (01794 301 992). Located 11.4 km (7.1 mi) into the walk.
The Tally Ho! Inn The High Street, Broughton, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8AA (01794 301 280). Located 11.4 km (7.1 mi) into the walk.
The Boot Inn Houghton, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6LH (01794 388 310). Located 1.2 km off-route, 16.3 km (10.1 mi) into the full walk.
The Crown Inn Romsey Road, King’s Somborne, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6PW (01794 388 360). Located 17.7 km (11.1 mi) into the full walk.

The Mill Arms Inn Barley Hill, Dunbridge, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LF (01794 340 401). The Mill Arms is a 19th century inn with flagstone floors, oak beams, open fire, conservatory and a three-tiered garden, 50m beyond the station.
At Mottisfont Abbey & Gardens (ticketed entry, free for National Trust members) Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LP (01794 340 757). The Old Kitchen Café, Coach House Café, Stables Ice Cream and Walled Garden Kiosk. Located 1.6 km (1.0 mi) from the end of all walk options.