Test Valley

Heading North from Romsey we could take the main road, but I much prefer the popular cycling route through Braishfield, that climbs to the hilltops.  As you reach the top, lookout for a little path through the trees, for it takes you to a view over fields where the original Worzel Gummidge series was filmed - or at least thats what the sign says.

Across the top and then its a swift descent to King Somborne, where if you arrive in Winter or Spring, the seasonal chalk stream will be flowing.

At King Somborne we cross the main road, and climb steeply to a viewpoint, only to the descend the other side for a quiet route to Stockbridge - so quiet that moss grows in the middle of the road!

I could paint the picture of Stockbridge that everyone knows, but instead, lets pass through and turn North to Longstock. As we climb we get a glimpse back across the winding river Test.

Longstock is a pretty village with many thatched cottages, and I may paint it one day, but in the meantime lets climb out the valley, only to turn right past the Waitrose farm, crossing to the far side of the valley.  From there its not far to Wherwell, which is possibly one of the prettiest villages in Britain, bristling with black and white thatched cottages.  But before that there is a quiet little spot where an innocuous path leads to this glorious sight of a board walk across the river - best seen around May when the trees come into leaf.

So you want to see the thatched cottages.  You have probably seen the same view of them loads of times on calendars and chocolate boxes.  So here I've found a different angle for you to enjoy...

Beyond Wherwell there is a procession of villages, and a choice of routes, for the main river forks in two. The official source is off to the East, past Whitchurch (renowned for its Silk Mill) and Overton. However I much prefer the other branch that heads North and West keeping a respectable distance from Andover. And not far along we come to another 'chocolate box' village - St Marybourne, at the heart of which are a cluster of thatched cottages and an old stone church. However what got my attention on this view, are the reflections giving form to the dark mass of parked cars!

Joining the Test in the Wherwell area is the river Dever. follow it upstream under the busy main road at Sutton Scotney, and you come to another string of pretty little villages. And the last of those is Micheldever, and that is where I spotted this house being re-thatched. The workers were on their tea break, but the piles of thatch caught my attention enough to paint the scene!