Horsebridge & King’s Somborne
On this walk, children will enjoy paddling in the wide, shallow ford, the many footbridges, and a village play area.
Take a diversion from the main route for a paddle in the River Test
The Basics
Time: 1 hr 15 mins or 1 hr 45 mins if you take the diversion to the River Test
Distance: 4.7 km / or 6.4 km if you take the diversion to the River Test
Terrain: A few sections on village roads, one field that may have cows in, some narrow paths between gardens, mostly firm paths, one steady ascent.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: The Crown Inn in King’s Somborne with traditional home cooked food, Sunday roasts, children’s menu and beer garden.
Public Transport: Stagecoach route 16 from Broughton to Winchester stops in King’s Somborne. Alight at Church Lane and join this walk by the church.
Parking: The Test Way car park opposite the John O’ Gaunt Inn on Horsebridge Road. Take the lane opposite the pub signed for Horsebridge Station and you will find the free car park along the lane on your right (Postcode: SO20 6PU - W3W: minimums.rise.frost)
A diversion to the River Test is well worth the extra metres
Starting in the little hamlet of Horsebridge near the old station, this walk then makes its way to the larger village of King’s Somborne. The route will take you straight through the recreation ground, with a kid’s play area, to the church and pub. The homeward stretch rises over the countryside to the Clarendon Way before descending towards the meadows of the River Test. We highly recommend adding on an extra half an hour to your walk to enjoy the wide, shallow ford at Houghton.
The Route
Leave the car park and walk towards the John O’ Gaunt Inn. Pass the pub on your left, and the grassy triangle to your right, and then veer left onto Horsebridge Road. Pass two cottages with a Tudor style frontage, and just before the third cottage in a similar style, take the footpath by going through a metal kissing gate on your left.
Do not follow the obvious farm track veering off to the left in this field, but instead, follow the thinner path to the top right, keeping the hedge directly to your right. Go through a rusted kissing gate on the opposite side.
Soon, you will pass through a wooden kissing gate and should continue on the now enclosed path. Proceed past houses and gardens before going through another kissing gate. Keep straight ahead and cross the access track and walk through another kissing gate. Pass under a ‘tunnel’ and then the path will take you directly across a garden. We were very unsure about this, but checked with the owners who were in the garden at the time and this definitely is the footpath! Cross the next garden before coming through another enclosed area and out through a gate. You will cross another garden with a children’s climbing frame and a pod and then one more enclosed section and one more garden with a shed and compost heaps. Exit via the garden gate ahead and then walk straight across an open parkland to the gate on the other side.
Cross the road and immediately join the footpath going up the bank opposite. Walk tightly between a wooden fence and a green wire fence and keep forward until you reach a residential road. Turn right, and after a few metres, take the footpath just to the left of Greenacres. You will then enter the recreation ground. If you walk straight ahead, you will find the play equipment beside a nursery school.
After enjoying the play area, continue in the same direction as you entered the park and turn left when you see the church, walking through the churchyard to meet the main village road. You will see The Crown Inn ahead of you. Turn left and walk along the pavement. Look out for Crown Hill Cottage, a beautifully old and rustic thatched cottage. Just to the left of this is the start of a footpath leading away from the road. Take this and then cross the little bridge.
After the cottages, the path, called Froghole Lane, will take you narrowly up a high sided path with fields on either side. This will be your only hill of the walk! When you reach the top, you can enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside before turning left along the lane. At the junction with How Farm Trading Estate, veer left and descend to The Test Way.
At the cross paths at the bottom, we suggest going straight across to make a there and back diversion towards Houghton. We recommend this because the path crosses the streams of the River Test twice over bridges before reaching a third bridge and a wide, shallow ford where children can paddle and there is even a deep enough part for a wild swim. There is a small access point before the bridge. Please do not try to enter the water anywhere else and there are no benches or grass for picnicking. Return to the cross paths after the ford.
To return to Horsebridge, turn left at the cross paths if coming from King’s Somborne or right if coming back from the ford and walk along the straight, flat bed of the old railway line. When you reach the road, cross and join the path directly opposite. This will take you over the river one more time. At the old station and a sign for Test Way Permissive Bridleway, turn left and return to the car park.
Did you know?
The Sprat and Winkle Line was the common name of the Andover to Redbridge railway line which ran between Andover and Redbridge. The railway is now long gone, but much of the old route is now used by The Test Way, a long distance footpath.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Chilbolton Cow Common where you can also paddle in the River Test.
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