New Forest Local Produce and Wood Fair - 1st June 2008

New Forest Local Produce and Wood Fair - 1st June 2008

There seems to be plenty happening on 1 June this year. The latest is a new event in the New Forest which is promoting produce from local farms and small woodlands. This sounds like another good excuse to get out in the fresh air and maybe the day with a New Forest pub walk!

However if you just want to find out more then click on New Forest Fair.

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Cambridgeshire Pub Walks - Free Downloads End Today

Cambridgeshire Pub Walks - Free Downloads End Today

This is just a quick reminder that the first Cambridge Pub Walking Festival ends today so if you want to download Cambridgeshire pub walks for free then today could be your last chance.

For more information and to search the pub walks, click on Cambridge Pub Walking Festival.

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Open Farm Sunday - 1 June 2008

Open Farm Sunday - 1 June 2008

Time to dig out your wellies!

Open Farm Sunday has arrived again with 500 farms expected to open up their land to visitors on 1 June 2008. We owe so much of the beauty of our countryside to the farming community that this is the perfect opportunity to improve our understanding of how they find the balance between profit and protecting our heritage.

Open Farm Sunday is coordinated by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and you can find out more about the event at Open Farm Sunday.

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Free Drinks in Synchronised Wine Tastings?

Free Drinks in Synchronised Wine Tastings?

You'll either see it as just a bit of fun or as an opportunity for a free drink or even as simply some clever PR from the marketing gurus at Wetherspoon's.

Tomorrow sees their attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest synchronised wine tasting, aiming to beat the previous record of 5,100 tasters. So if you fancy playing your part and grabbing a free 50ml glass of wine then get down to your nearest Wetherspoon's.

Alternatively, why not pop down to your independent local and support them instead.

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The First Cambridge Pub Walking Festival 19th - 24th May 2008

The First Cambridge Pub Walking Festival 19th - 24th May 2008

OK, we're on a roll now! No sooner do we finish the Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival but we see that the Cambridge Beer Festival starts today. This is the second largest in the country outside of London and therefore the perfect partner for our next event - the Cambridge Pub Walking Festival!

Again, we are making all pub walks in the Cambridge area free to download until the festival ends on 24th May so why not work up a real thirst for all that magnificent real ale?

For more information, click on Cambridge Pub Walking Festival.

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Last Chance... the Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival ends this weekend!

Last Chance... the Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival ends this weekend!

Just a quick reminder that if you want to participate in the first ever alternative Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival then this weekend is your last chance.

There are currently 20 Isle of Wight pub walks to choose from which are available to download free from the site until the festival ends at midnight on 18th May.

If you have another pub walk you would like to share on the site then just click on submit a pub walk and you'll see how easy it is.

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The Buddle Inn by St Catherine's Lighthouse - another Isle of Wight Pub Walk

The Buddle Inn by St Catherine's Lighthouse - another Isle of Wight Pub Walk

This circular pub walk may be a little more demanding in places than some other Isle of Wight pub walks but your efforts will be rewarded with some spectacular views. There is also a short-cut towards the end if its needed!

The Buddle Inn has a great cliff top location close to St Catherine's Lighthouse and not only that but it features in both The Good Pub Guide 2008 and the AA Pub Guide.

Click on Buddle Inn Pub Walks to download details of the pub walk and short-cut. If you want to know more about the festival or visiting the island or just to see all the pub walks available then simply visit Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival.

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Special Offer - 50% off AA Pub Guide 2008

Special Offer - 50% off AA Pub Guide 2008

At half price this is certainly a bargain worth grabbing. It may not have quite the coverage of the The Good Pub Guide 2008 but the AA Pub Guide 2008 has colour throughout and includes photos of many of the featured pubs which help to give an added dimension to the mouth-watering text.

You can either buy the guide now or read a review first, whichever you would rather. Either way, at £7.49 it makes a great present for someone special, or even to just treat yourself!

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Searching for a Painted Lady

Searching for a Painted Lady

I had not heard World on the Move before last night but travelling home in the car at 9pm I switched on the radio and was fascinated. For anyone else who has not heard it, this Radio 4 program is all about tracking the migratory habits of a whole range of animals which includes those making their annual visits to the UK.

There was excitement as an osprey "Logie" they had been following for weeks via satellite finally made its first touch down at its its nest in the Cairngorms while the team were on the air. This was the end of "Logie's Run". Not everything goes according to plan though as further afield there was an entertaining yet unsuccessful attempt to net a leatherback turtle so that they could attach a tracking device.

What really interested me though was back closer to home. They were trying to gather data on the movements of Painted Lady Butterflies and Humming-bird Hawk-moths and were asking us all to watch out for their arrival in the UK and report where they are and what we see them doing - mating, feeding, types of plants they are populating, habitat, etc.

The recording of butterflies and moths is so important as a barometer for other insects, not to mention climate change, that my wife and I will be participating in this initiative and looking out for these distinctive creatures while out enjoying our pub walks.

If you want to join in too, full details of what they look like and how to report sightings can be found at Searching for a Painted Lady.

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"The Pub Walker" Free Newsletter - Fourth Edition

"The Pub Walker" Free Newsletter - Fourth Edition

This is just a quick post to say that the latest edition of our 2-monthly free newsletter, also called "The Pub Walker" has just been distributed to our subscribers. Visitors to this blog can also follow a link to it below.

In this issue: (click on a title to jump straight to the article)

• Look what's coming - the Alternative Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival!
• Award-winning pubs and where to find them
• New pub walks to enjoy - and some updates
• Special offers!
• Dates for your diary - special events, festivals and deadlines

If you are not already registered with us and would like to receive your own free copy straight to your inbox in future then please simply click on subscribe.

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Another Isle of Wight Pub Walk - The Fishbourne Inn at Fishbourne

Another Isle of Wight Pub Walk - The Fishbourne Inn at Fishbourne

We are still gathering pub walks for our alternative Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival so if you are willing to share your favourites just click on submit a pub walk and you'll see how easy it is.

In the meantime you could take a look at the growing number of pub walks we've collected already which now include one from The Fishbourne Inn. This delightful country pub is close to the Fishbourne ferry termimal so getting there could not be easier and it gives really easy access to coastal walks.

To find out more simply click on Fishbourne Inn Pub Walk or Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival.

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More Isle of Wight Pub Walks - The Crown Inn at Shorwell, Newport

More Isle of Wight Pub Walks - The Crown Inn at Shorwell, Newport

More pub walks are being added to MyFavouritePubWalks.com in readiness for the alternative Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival in May and now there are a choice of 10 with more on the way.

The Crown Inn has a choice of 2 walks of differing lengths and difficulty but what they both have in common is the traditional country pub that awaits you at the end!

To download the two pub walks click on Crown Inn Pub Walks. To find out more about the festival or visiting the island or just to see all the pub walks, simply visit Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival.

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An Isle of Wight Pub Walk along the River Yar to The Red Lion in Freshwater

An Isle of Wight Pub Walk along the River Yar to The Red Lion in Freshwater

As the Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival approaches, here is the first of the free pub walks that can be downloaded from MyFavouritePubWalks.com ready to enjoy on your short break to the island.

This is a circular walk along the banks of the River Yar with a choice of pubs. The outward leg is easy flat walking, suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The return along the west side of the river is across fields, stiles and woodland.

The Red Lion is Egon Ronay recommended and has outstanding food. Its only drawback is that it allows no children under 10 but then again if you have young children you can stop at one of the other pubs on this walk.

To download the pub walk and get full details click on Red Lion Pub Walk.

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The First Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival 3rd - 18th May 2008

The First Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival 3rd - 18th May 2008

The Isle of Wight is well known for hosting the UK's largest walking festival, so what better place to start for an alternative Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival?

For its size, the Isle of Wight has more than its fair share of spectacular coastal scenery and well managed footpaths with numerous pubs along the way. This makes it ideal for pub walkers and to celebrate our first "pub walking festival", MyFavouritePubWalks.com is making all its Isle of Wight pub walks free to download from today until the festival ends on 18th May.

Many more pub walks will be published on the site over the next few weeks so it will be worth revisiting to check the latest.

Add to that the island's own Real Ale Festival from 3rd - 5th May and you have the perfect excuse for a short break to the Isle of Wight.

To find out more about the three festivals and useful information on travelling to the island, visit Isle of Wight Pub Walking Festival.

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Coastal Pub Walk from the Plough and Furrow, Monknash, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

Coastal Pub Walk from the Plough and Furrow, Monknash, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

Our long weekend on the South Wales coast gave the perfect opportunity to find some more pub walks in Wales to add to the MyFavouritePubWalks.com database. Although pubs seem to me to be thinner on the ground there than in rural areas of England, we still found a few gems that gave access to some great walks.

We started with a two and a half mile pub walk from the Plough and Furrow at Monknash which had plenty of interest with varied terrain, sea views, a dramatic cove, some old ruins and a nature reserve.

The Plough and Furrow itself is a very friendly traditional village pub that welcomes visitors as warmly as its regulars. Dating back to 1383, it is not much to look at from the outside but venture inside and you will find a very cosy interior - inglenook fireplaces, beams and heaps of history with tales of the “Wreckers of Wick” storing bodies in the bar ... so of course a number of ghosts are said to haunt the place! There are information leaflets on the tables with more details.

The food is of a high standard with good sized portions and main courses under £10. There is an emphasis on traditional dishes and the Welsh faggots went down a treat! It features in The Good Pub Guide 2008 and The Good Beer Guide 2008 and was voted Pub of the Year by CAMRA. It offers real ales and promotes Welsh breweries with a choice of 3 regular beers Hereford Pale Ale, Bass and Otley 01, plus 3 guest beers and a choice of 8 ciders.

For the full details and directions please click on Plough and Furrow Pub Walk.

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Anniversary Pub Walk to the Beaulieu Road Inn, Brockenhurst, New Forest, Hampshire

Anniversary Pub Walk to the Beaulieu Road Inn, Brockenhurst, New Forest, Hampshire

One year on from the launch of MyFavouritePubWalks.com, we are planning our next walk in the New Forest and I thought it would be good to revisit the pub walk that was the inspiration for the website.

This is an easy circular walk through the beautiful New Forest, across some of its famous lawns, through mixed woodland with some great views across forest and moorland. Away from the Inn you may often see no other walkers on this route.

There is free parking opposite the popular Beaulieu Road Inn and Hotel which offers a good range of food and real ales.

For full details and directions go to Beaulieu Road Inn Pub Walk.

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This Week - An easy pub walk from the Black Horse Inn, Nuthurst, West Sussex

This Week - An easy pub walk from the Black Horse Inn, Nuthurst, West Sussex

An enjoyable, easy going walk mostly through woods and across farm land, finishing at a 17th century listed country freehouse serving good food and real ales.

The Black Horse Inn is a free house offering a wide range of drinks such as Harveys Sussex, London Pride, WJ King and Timothy Taylor Landlord.

There are separate Lite Bite and Main menus available at both lunch and evening times, at reasonable prices. Also available are gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options plus an extensive specials board and a separate children's menu.

For full details and directions go to Black Horse Pub Walk (1).

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This Week - A Pub Walk to the Walker-Friendly Duke of Cambridge near Tilford, Surrey

This Week - A pub walk to the walker-friendly Duke of Cambridge near Tilford, Surrey

A slightly longer circular walk passing Stockbridge Pond and enjoying a mix of woodland and open heathland. The pub is on the edge of the pretty village of Tilford and a "Lucky Dip" entry in The Good Pub Guide 2008.

The Duke of Cambridge is a modern, bistro-style, immaculately presented family pub. It offers a very warm welcome to walkers (we were told there was no need to take our boots off) and a beer garden.

When we visited in January 2008, it was serving the deliciously rich-tasting and potent winter ale “Rosey Nosey” from Batemans. We enjoyed the broccoli and stilton soup with crusty bread (£4.50), a ciabatta with char-grilled courgettes, sun-blushed tomatoes and brie (£6.50) and Cumberland sausages with onion and bacon mash (£9.50). It has an excellent children’s menu and play area.

You can download the pub walk at Duke of Cambridge Pub Walk.

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4p on the Pint - Budget Day Blow for Community Pubs

4p on the Pint - Budget Day Blow for Community Pubs

We all know that many of our pubs are really struggling at the moment, what with last year's floods, the smoking ban, the supermarkets' loss-leading pricing strategy for alcohol sales, and so it goes on. We all know, it seems, except the Chancellor.

The Budget Day announcements this week will add more pressure as duty was piled onto the licensing trade with beer up 4p a pint, cider 3p, wine 14p a bottle and spirits 55p. That's 6% above inflation.

Its easy to say that this is to help combat alcoholism but binge drinkers don't generally get their alcohol in a pub. Look instead at the deep discounting of the supermarkets as they deliberately offer cheap alcohol as a loss leader to the detriment of the young and the wayward.

Still pubs are an easier target for the Chancellor than tackling the supermarket giants. So instead, we'll all pay the price for the misdeamours of the few, more people will choose to drink at home rather than pay to support our community pubs and the supermarkets will get an increased share of our money while yet more pubs flounder.

Oh, and the Chancellor does very nicely out of it too, thank you.

You can read the full story at Budget Day Blow for Community Pubs.

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River Wyre Pub Walk to the Cartford Country Inn at Little Eccleston, Lancashire.

Free Pub Walk:

Cartford Country Inn and Hotel in Little Eccleston, Lancashire.

A pleasant circular walk along the River Wyre and scenic footpaths of Over Wyre. Easy, level walking along a series of country lanes and footpaths.

The Cartford Country Inn and Hotel is situated on the banks of the River Wyre, in Little Eccleston, next to the historic Toll Bridge. The pub hosts the only brewery on the Fylde producing specialist ales and beers that are available at the bar.

To try the walk today for yourself click on Cartford Country Inn Walk.

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"The Pub Walker" Free Newsletter - Third Edition

"The Pub Walker" Free Newsletter - Third Edition

This is just a quick post to say that the latest edition of our 2-monthly free newsletter, also called "The Pub Walker" has just been distributed to our subscribers. Visitors to this blog can also follow a link to it below.

In this issue: (click on a title to jump straight to the article)

• 2008 - What's New?
• Award-winning pubs and where to find them
• New pub walks to enjoy - and another competition winner
• Gift idea - not too late for Mothers' Day!s
• Dates for your Diary - special events, festivals and deadlines

If you are not already registered with us and would like to receive your own free copy straight to your inbox in future then please simply click on subscribe.

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This Week - The Staff of Life's Pub Walk around Historic Ticknall, Derbyshire

This Week - The Staff of Life's Pub Walk around Historic Ticknall, Derbyshire

This pub walk in Derbyshire is rather different to many others I've featured in this blog. It takes the walker around the village of Ticknall and includes interesting historical titbits on many of the buildings and features of the village. They are sure to be authentic snippets too as the walk was created by the Ticknall Preservation and Historical Society!

The Staff of Life is Ticknall's Historic Country Inn and an ideal base for this walk. It's earned its mention in The Good Pub Guide and is very walker-friendly.

For further details click on Staff of Life Pub Walk.

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This Week - A Pub Walk from The Golden Lion, Settle, with a return journey on the Settle-Carlisle Railway

This Week - A Pub Walk from The Golden Lion, Settle, with a return journey on the Settle-Carlisle Railway

I usually prefer circular pub walks but this linear walk along the River Ribble in the beautiful Ribble Valley area of the Yorkshire Dales offers an added bonus. It gives the opportunity of returning to the start by taking a ride on the spectacular Settle-Carlisle Railway.

The Golden Lion is in the Market Square area of Settle and therefore close to the start and finishing point. With a reputation for good food and wine with log fires, it features in The Good Pub Guide 2008 and makes an ideal stop after the unforgettable return journey on the Settle-Carlisle Railway with its breathtaking views.

So if you fancy this one too, go to Golden Lion Pub Walk to download it.

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Let me find a pub walk in your area!

Let me find a pub walk in your area!

If you cannot find some pub walks in your area, why not let me help? Just add a comment to this post and tell me which county or area you looking for. If MyFavouritePubWalks.com has one nearly ready for publishing then I'll see if I can bring it forward in the queue; if they don't have one yet then I'll try and track one down for you!

Simply do an instant search for a pub walk below. Then post a comment below if you'd like some help. I cannot promise to succeed every time of course but I'll do my best and I have learnt various ways for tracing these for myself from spending many hours doing just that!

Enter a Pub Name, Town, Area or County

If you already know some pub walks in the area then it would be great if you could share those with us all too. It's easy to add a pub walk to the database!

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