River Test

Test Valley is an outstandingly beautiful area and the idyllic setting for a riverside amble or picnic. Famous for its gin-clear chalk streams which feed the Test, one of the most renowned flyfishing rivers in the world.

Joining forces with the Test at Fullerton, just below Andover, is the River Anton, which flows through historic water meadows and the villages of Upper Clatford and Goodworth Clatford.

Relax on the riverbank in the serenity of the crystal clear waters and catch a glimpse of the wildlife that lives here. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the otters and water voles that call the River Anton home. As you amble along the bankside footpaths you’ll come across Rooksbury Mill in Andover. Once a fish farm and flyfishing hot spot with a beautiful house and watermill, today it is a nature lover’s idea of heaven with wonderful walks around the lakes and unspoiled views. Fishlake Meadows nature reserve, in Romsey, features 60 hectares of water, meadows and bogs and is home to more than 170 bird species - a twitcher’s delight! The River Test is a 40-mile stretch of water with an extremely fertile environment for salmon, trout and grayling as well as 22 species of mayfly. It was on these banks that F. M. Halford invented modern-day dry fly fishing and the area is home to one of the most exclusive clubs you could ever hope to join, Houghton Fishing Club.