River Test
| River Test | |
|---|---|
The Test downstream of Sadler's Mill, Romsey | |
River Test highlighted in red, shown in South East England | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| Counties | Hampshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Ashe, near Overton, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
| • coordinates | 51°14′43″N 1°14′21″W / 51.2454°N 1.2392°W |
| • elevation | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Mouth | Southampton Water |
• location | Southampton, Hampshire |
• coordinates | 50°55′30″N 1°28′45″W / 50.9251°N 1.4792°W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 64 km (40 mi) |
| Width | |
| • minimum | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) |
| • average | 20 m (66 ft) |
| • maximum | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Depth | |
| • minimum | 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) |
| • average | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| • maximum | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | River Blackwater, River Dun, Wallop Brook, River Anton, Pilhill Brook |
| • right | River Dever, Bourne Rivulet, River Swift |
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
River Test at Tufton | |
| Grid reference | SU 384 355 |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 438.0 hectares (1,082 acres) |
| Notification | 1996 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
The River Test is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at Ashe near Basingstoke and flows southwards for 40 miles (64 km) to Southampton Water. Settlements on the Test include the towns of Stockbridge and Romsey. The river's valley gives its name to the local government district of Test Valley. Below the village of Longparish, the river is broadly followed by the Test Way, a long-distance footpath.
Much of the Test is a 438-hectare (1,080-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is part of the Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. The river is used for fly fishing for trout from its source to its tidal limit.