Lee to Eling (Test Way 6)

Nursling House

The final leg of the Test Way. We set off from Lee and followed a path which quickly diverged from the river. It soon brought us to the village of Nursling, with the impressive Georgian Nursling House on the right hand side and the lovely 13th century church of St Boniface almost opposite.

To be honest, the next section was fairly grim. We were now within earshot of the M27 and had to walk along church lane parallel to it then cross over and walk along the other side to regain our southerly line of walk.

We eventually emerged into open country, albeit with numerous power lines, and skirted the Lower Test Nature Reserve with its perimeter board walk and reportedly excellent wildlife in the extensive reed beds.

We then crossed quite a wide stretch of the Test ...

... and arrived at Totton. I rather liked this square house on the very edge of the town. Maybe it was once a gate house?

We plodded through Totton along streets of 1930s houses - not my favourite period - through the town centre and across a park to finally reach the end of the walk at the celebrated Eling Tidal Mill. (The Toll Hut is in the foreground.)

The mill has been operational since at least the 15th century and continues in use today. The only other operating tide mill is in Woodbridge in Suffolk (there is another former mill, now the yacht club HQ, at Emsworth near Portsmouth).

This is the view inland from the bridge.

And here is the view along the tidal section, actually a creek leading into the Test, which soon flows into Southampton Water.

Conditions: grey with a threat of rain.

Distance: about 4.5 miles.

Maps: Explorer OL22 (New Forest)

Rating: three stars.