Country Pub of the Year Awards - I always knew Hampshire pubs were the best!

Country Pub of the Year Awards - I always knew Hampshire pubs were the best!

OK, maybe not all Hampshire pubs are better than all others but the best are no doubt up there with the best nationally. This is confirmed by the fact that they feature as two of the only five short-listed pubs in the Country Life magazine sponsored Country Pub of the Year Awards run in association with Waitrose.

The Thomas Lord at West Meon is set in the picturesque Meon Valley while The Peat Spade is in Longstock, near Stockbridge, near to the Longstock Water Gardens and overlooking the River Test.

Now I’m looking for pub walks for each of these as their locations are both perfect for a Sunday stroll. I hope to add them to this blog shortly and they will be included on the website under Hampshire Pub Walks. Suggestions welcome as always!

The other three contenders are The Pigs at Edgefield in Norfolk, The Mason’s Arms, Cartwell Fell, Cumbria, and The King’s Head Inn in Laxfield, Suffolk. I have many other Suffolk Pub Walks but not one for The King’s Head yet but now working on that one too!

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Pub Walk via a Reservoir to The Castle Inn of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... via a Reservoir to The Castle Inn of Chiddingstone, Kent

Another circular walk from the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, this time to Bough Beech Reservoir with fine views of the countryside as well as of Chiddingstone Castle and St Mary's Church. Return to the Castle Inn for your refreshment and you won't be disappointed.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 3.

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Walking near Lulworth Cove, Dorset? Visit The Castle Inn’s Beer and Cider Festival

This Week ... Walking near Lulworth Cove, Dorset? Visit The Castle Inn’s Beer and Cider Festival

Lulworth Cove is iconic. It is a breath-taking sight from the land, the sea and even the air with its beautiful symmetry and curves being captured in innumerable photographs. Walkers simply have to change down a gear to enjoy the spectacular scenery as they travel this section of the South West Coast Path.

This weekend only, in return for the minor detour to West Lulworth, walkers can enjoy a special treat if they stop by at the Castle Inn, as it is hosting its very first Beer and Cider Festival from 25th to 27th September.

If only I could be there too! Still, as the Castle Inn features in both The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide, this is a pub walk worth doing any time of year.

For information on walks around Lulworth, click on Castle Inn pub walks and if you just want details on their Beer and Cider Festival then go to the Castle Inn’s website.

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A Walk to a New Forest Beer Festival at the Beaulieu Road Inn, Hampshire

This Week ... A New Forest walk to The Beaulieu Road Inn Beer Festival, Brockenhurst, Hampshire

The New Forest has to be one of the very best walking areas in the country and the Beaulieu Road Inn sits right at its heart, surrounded by the open heathland.

I have just seen that the Beaulieu Road Inn is running a beer festival this weekend so this is a perfect time to repeat one of my all time favourite pub walks and finish with a pint of real ale. The easy circular pub walk takes you through a beautiful part of the New Forest, across some of its famous lawns and through mixed woodland with some great views across forest and moorland. There is always plenty of wildlife to see and the chances of glimpsing deer and even buzzards is good. And of course the infamous New Forest ponies are everywhere!

The Beaulieu Road Inn is running its beer festival from Friday 25th to Saturday 27th September and is offering 25 real ales, bottled lagers and ciders to accompany its home-cooked food created from locally sourced produce. Although it is a popular place, away from the inn you may often see no other walkers on this route.

To download full details click on The Beaulieu Road Inn pub walk.

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Town and country pub walks around historic Malpas, Cheshire

This Week ... Town and country pub walks around historic Malpas, Cheshire

If you like to read a little background history while you enjoy your pub walk, why not try a walk from one of the pubs in Malpas, Cheshire.

You can choose from The Crown Inn, The Vaults Inn or The Red Lion and from a selection of walks with a short town trail around historic Malpas, or venture across surrounding fields or perhaps the short hill climb to take in views over the town.

Click on Malpas pub walks to see your list of options and to download the free leaflet produced by Chester City Council. Full directions, map and historical anecdotes included!

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Choice of 12 Pubs for all tastes on the Dawlish Ale Trail, Devon

This Week ... The Dawlish Ale Trail on the Devon Coast

Despite what people may think, I'm no fan of pub crawls. Taking a walk is the first pleasure and then a pub stop, just one ideally towards the end, is the icing on the cake.

So when I saw the Dawlish Ale Trail was a walk linking 12 pubs, this felt like a pub crawl to me and I almost ignored it. But then I looked more closely and found that nearly half this one hour walk is along the "Brook", running through the centre of the village of Dawlish and abundant with waterfowl. Suddenly this started to seem more appealing.

In fact, this gives a great variety of pubs to choose from and, though I would choose the more traditional ones like The Swan Inn who sent me the trail or maybe The Marine Tavern, others I guess may go for something rather different like The Teignmouth Inn with its Sky screen sports!

So this pub walk has something for everyone and is in fact easily extendable to include longer walks along the Devon coast.

Click on Dawlish Ale Trail to see the full list of pubs on the walk and then click through to the route map itself.

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Amazing Views on this Pub Walk to The Royal Oak, Church Stretton, Shropshire

This Week ... Amazing Views on this Pub Walk to The Royal Oak, Church Stretton, Shropshire

Located in the beautiful surroundings of the Shropshire Hills, The Royal Oak is an ancient, circa 15th Century free house and one the UK's oldest pubs. It is located in the beautiful conservation village of Cardington, near Church Stretton, nestling in lovely countryside close to the South Shropshire hills.

The walk to the top of Caer Caradoc Hill offers a magnificent panorama over the Shropshire Hills including the Lawley and the Wrekin.

On reaching the Royal Oak, why not try their infamous ‘Fidget Pie’, a Shropshire recipe of gammon, apples and cider that has been handed down from landlord to landlord and was eaten here by Prince Edward around 20 years ago.

Rest assured there is no piped music, TV or games machines here.

Click on Royal Oak pub walk to download full details of the walk.

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The best pub walks can be town walks - The Cottage Inn, Bristol

This Week ... A town walk to The Cottage Inn, Bristol

We get used to the idea of the best pub walks being those that take us away from populated areas and out into rural surroundings where we can start to feel at one with nature. There is something special about escaping from the cities and savouring the sense of freedom that this can inspire.

But some of the best pub walks can also be town walks where the route can reflect a fascinating mix of historic buildings, famous landmarks, rivers, parks and more. Take today's pub walk to The Cottage Inn, for example, which includes views from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a National Trust trail, woodlands and refreshments at a riverside pub that also features in The Good Pub Guide. Now that sounds a great mix!

To download full details click on The Cottage Inn in Bristol, Avon.

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A circular pub walk to The Cutter Inn, taking in the Cathedral city of Ely, Cambs.

This Week ... A circular pub walk to The Cutter Inn, Ely, Cambs.

A circular walk around Ely, taking in the cathedral, a stretch of the River Great Ouse and offering a choice of pubs and award-winning tea rooms. The Cutter Inn has an unbeatable riverside location and is in The Good Pub Guide.

This is a gentle stroll along the river bank and then through light woodland back to Ely which should leave you plenty of time to enjoy the second smallest city in England. The cathedral which dominates Ely even offers tours up the Octagon which is definitely worth the climb, finishing with you actually standing on the lead roof!

The Cutter Inn offers baguettes in the bar or a full menu in the adjacent dining room. Our recommendation if it is a fine summer's day is to settle for the bar menu and relax on the terrace overlooking the River Great Ouse and gaze at the wildlife, narrowboats and leisure cruisers. Certainly earns its Lucky Dip entry in The Good Pub Guide.

So on our next hot Summer's day why not download and enjoy this Cutter Inn Walk.

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Want to support our best pubs? Let's walk the talk!

Want to support our best pubs? Let's walk the talk!

The press is currently filled with news of the demise of the great British pub. But is it really all doom and gloom?

We hear that the rate of pub closures has risen to 52 per week, up one third on just 6 months ago. In the same week CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) forces an investigation by The Office of Fair Trading into the crippling effect on tied pubs of high rents and beer prices charged by the monopolistic pub companies.

But there continues to be more positive anecdotal news of individual pubs adapting to the changing needs of the customers with more locally sourced food, special offers and entertainment (not just Sky Sports!). Some of the pubs I “follow” on Twitter are even now reporting record takings.

Not every pub can survive (and we all have stories of pubs that shouldn’t!) but there are many living on the brink of closure that it would be a tragedy to lose not just for their local communities but also for all of us who treasure their existence.

So what can we do? Well my aim throughout this summer is to support at least one pub each week (after a walk of course), sample their menu and if I’m impressed I’ll then spread the word by letting people know on MyFavouritePubWalks.com, this blog and Twitter for all who may be interested.

If you love our pub heritage too and like to include refreshment stops on your walks, I encourage you to join me and do the same to help our best pubs through this recession… and enjoy the exercise at the same time of course!

Please do share details of any gems you find on the way by commenting on www.myfavouritepubwalks.com, http://thepubwalker.blogspot.com or http://twitter.com/pubwalker as we’d all love to hear your experiences. And if you need inspiration for a pub walk to try then you can find it by following any of those links too.

Finally, why not even submit a pub walk for everyone to download?

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Panoramic Views on this Pub Walk to the White Lion in Arreton, Newport, Isle of Wight

This Week's Pub Walk... with panoramic views to the White Lion in Arreton, Newport, Isle of Wight

Tihs circular walk has some fantastic panoramic views and includes a traditional country pub.

Although fairly easy, this pub walk does include a few stiles and a short steep uphill climb near the finish.

The White Lion is a traditional country pub with an extensive home-cooked menu, daily specials and Sunday roast. It also offers a large range of cask beers and is open all day.

Download full route details for the walk at Punch Bowl Inn Walk.

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Pub Walk to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Castle Inn owned by the National Trust in Chiddingstone, Kent

A longer circular walk from The Castle Inn which nestles in the pretty village of Chiddingstone (owned by the National Trust) which is one of the prettiest villages in Kent. This route takes in Penshurst Park with woodland and riverside stretches and some views. Although the route is up to 8 miles, there are shorter break points from about two and a half miles onwards.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 4.

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Another Competition - Find the Best Pub Walk to The Bear Inn at Stock, Essex

Another Competition - The best pub walk to The Bear Inn at Stock, Essex

As more pub landlords are looking to show that walkers are welcome, The Bear Inn is offering a £30 voucher for food or drink in return for the best walk to their door.

The Bear Inn is now under new ownership and Richard and Brenda extend a warm welcome having tirelessly refurbished the pub. They wish to bring back some of the values that made The Bear a thriving local meeting place whilst continuing to provide some great food which has in the last few years won The Bear awards including an AA rosette for 2005/2006 for outstanding cuisine and two Michelin knife and forks for 2006).

For full details of how to enter just click on Bear Inn - Pub Walk Competition.

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Best Pub Walk to The Bear at Home in North Moreton, Oxfordshire

This Week... The best pub walk to The Bear at Home in North Moreton, Oxfordshire

Here's your chance to win a 3 course meal for 2 at a 500 year old country pub in the beautiful south Oxfordshire village of North Moreton. The landlord is so keen to welcome walkers at his pub that he is offering this prize to the person sending us the best walk featuring his pub!

The Bear at Home serve real ales & home cooked food daily (no food Sunday evening) and makes both dogs and children welcome!

For full details of how to enter just click on Bear at Home - Pub Walk Competition.

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Riverside Pub Walk to The Weir Hotel, Walton on Thames

This Week ... A walk along the Thames towpath to The Weir, Walton on Thames, Surrey

This is a picturesque riverside walk along the Thames to Hampton Court Palace and back to the Weir Hotel. The route has many points of interest to enjoy along the way, as well as the usual birds and other wildlife that you expect along our waterways.

The Weir Hotel is a Victorian pub which has retained all of it's charm, with nooks and crannies for indoor dining but if the weather is good opt for the alfresco dining on the riverfront with stunning views over the weir and seating for 400.

So on our next hot Summer's day why not download and enjoy this Weir Riverside Pub Walk.

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All Pub Walks Now Free

This Week Onwards... No need to pay for any pub walks!

Some exciting news! I have decided that from today all the pub walks will be free to download from MyFavouritePubWalks.com! So that means you no longer have to submit a pub walk before you get free access to all the others. And with Fathers’ Day this weekend, you can give the old boy some exercise as well as some real ale without it costing a penny extra!

Of course, with all the pub walks now free, I am hoping visitor numbers to the site will increase, more people will hit those “tell a friend” buttons and word will spread that we can all help our best pubs to survive and thrive by sharing pub walks and leading hungry and thirsty customers straight to their doors - for the mutual benefit of walkers and publicans alike.

It looks like the weather may be kind to some of us this weekend so I hope you get out and about and, even better, find a nice pub to enjoy for Fathers’ Day. With all the pub walks now free, you can give the old man some exercise as well as some real ale!

Happy pub walking!

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Pub Walks to The Guardian and Observer Summer Pubs

This Week's Pub Walks... Summer Pubs featured in The Guardian and Observer

Free with this weekend's Guardian and Observer is a 2-part guide to Summer Pubs and here a a few Summer pub walks to download that will lead you straight to a selection of them.

The Summer Pubs guide gathers 200 of our best pubs that offer an outdoor experience to remember this summer whether its due to great beer gardens, exceptional views, siting on a ramblers route or simply awesome location.

Some of these pubs I have personally walked to already but there is a superb list of new ones here too that I cannot wait to try for myself. I am striving to get at least one pub walk for each of these pubs so if you'd like to help please click here to add a Summer pub walk.

In the meantime, you can download full route details of the ones I have so far at walks to Summer pubs here.

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Dorset Pub Walk to Another Three Horseshoes Inn at Powerstock

This Week's Pub Walk... to another Three Horseshoes, this time in Powerstock, Dorset

Circular pub walk through remote countryside, with charming local views followed by a deeper and even less spoilt valley beyond West Milton. This is from a different Three Horseshoes Inn which also appears in both The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide.

The Three Horseshoes Inn is a Victorian inn is set in the picturesque village of Powerstock which has a beautiful Norman church and is surrounded by excellent Dorset walking country. It prides itself on its use of fresh, local produce, some of which comes from its own vegetable garden.

Dogs are welcome in the guest rooms and the bar.

The walk takes you through a nameless valley which has a charm that lies largely in its natural state: hedgerows are retained, the rough grassland is too steep for ploughing and gorse thrives; there is a profusion of wild flowers in spring and early summer and Fallow deer are often seen in the winter.

Paths are not visible all the way, but route finding is reasonably easy.

West Milton church tower stands by itself at the edge of a field, looking over to Eggardon Hill, capped by one of England’s most impressively sited ancient hill-forts. The church was demolished in the 1840’s, its stone used for building Powerstock school (the building with Gothic windows passed by at the start of the walk), after which a new church was built in the village. Powerstock church has quaint 19th century murals and a highly ornamented Norman chancel arch.

For full route details go to Three Horseshoes at Powerstock Pub Walk.


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A Pub Walk to the excellent Three Horseshoes at Cockfield, Suffolk

This Week's Pub Walk... to the excellent Three Horseshoes at Cockfield, Suffolk

There is much to see on this walk, including a section along the trackbed of a dismantled railway line and the disused taxiway of a former World War II airfield, not to mention an excellent pub in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide.

Cockfield is a scattered village consisting of nine greens and hamlets, spread around the undulating countryside north of Lavenham. The walk starts from what must have been regarded as the original centre of the community, a cluster of old buildings around St. Peter's Church that now includes a new village hall and the local primary school.

The Three Horseshoes is a great find, a real character pub serving quality meals of excellent standard and great value. The menu also includes a wider selection of vegetarian meals that usually encountered in a pub. The beer garden has uninterrupted views over the surrounding countryside.

MyFavouritePubWalks.com visited this pub in May 2009 and highly recommends it. It is certainly deserving of its places in the pub guides.

Download full details at Three Horseshoes Pub Walk.


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Sponsored Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

This Week ... A Sponsored Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

The Keystone is organising a sponsored walk in support of Age Concern, leading people out of Guildford and into the beautiful Surrey countryside. It is set for Saturday 1st August 2009 and you can find out more details and download the sponsor form at Keystone Sponsored Pub Walk.

The walk follows two parallel ridges, the views from both are fantastic. There are a couple of short, steep sections. Mainly sandy tracks and woodland paths. One section of country lane.

They will head out past the castle, onto Pewley Down, through the woods and up to the Albury Downs at Newlands Corner.

After refreshments here, it’s down through the valley & up again to St. Martha’s Hill for some stunning views over Chilworth.

The North Downs Way will makes for a leisurely return stroll back through Chantries Woods to Shalford Park and along the River Wey to the finishing line at The Keystone.

This sounds an enjoyable and well thought out route and definitely one for the diary on 1st August.

If you want to try a walk from The Keystone before then, there is no need to wait as you could always download the existing Keystone Pub Walk today.

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Bluebell Pub Walk to the Kings Arms, Fernhurst, Surrey

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Kings Arms, Fernhurst, Surrey

The Bluebell Walk from The Kings Arms in Fernhurst has now been published and is reading for downloading at a moment's notice for anyone else who would like to try this. It is a circular walk with a stream and a meadow, a pub and a pinewood, buzzards and of course bluebells!

The Kings Arms is a friendly 17th Century pub full of character and a relaxed charm. It prides itself in providing locally sourced food, which is cooked fresh daily, and quality cask ales.

The download is available by clicking on Kings Arms Pub Walk.


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Circular Pub Walk to The Stags Head, Maidwell, Northamptonshire

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Stags Head, Maidwell, Northamptonshire

Enjoy views over surrounding villages before visiting this friendly pub serving a good range of real ales and a full range of food from snacks upwards.

Generally good walking in all conditions, with only a short upward gradient which is worth the views it gives you.

Download full details at Stags Head Pub Walk.


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Coastal Pub Walk to the Horseshoe Inn at Marcross, South Glamorgan, Wales

This Week's Pub Walk... along the South Glamorgan coast to the Horseshoe Inn at Marcross

This circular pub walk returns to one of my firm favourites in South Glamorgan and this time to a yet another great pub. The Horseshoe Inn is a traditional village pub with log burners and a stone floor. It also plenty of courses for under a tenner plus a range of real ales that helped it earn its place in The Good Beer Guide.

If you like sea views, dramatic coves, old ruins and real variety then this pub walk is a must.

When you reach the beach, take some extra time here to enjoy the impressive rock formations of the cliffs here which are being constantly eroded. The jagged cliffs contrast sharply with the flat rock terraces of the beach which have been worn smooth over the millennia and together these make a dramatic sight.

Full details can be downloaded at Horseshoe Inn Walk.

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Saturday 25th April - Join the Bluebell Walk to the Kings Arms, Fernhurst, Surrey

If you fancy a pub walk in the Surrey countryside this Saturday, why not join the Bluebell Walk being led by well-known rambler Richard Williamson which starts and finishes at The Kings Arms in Fernhurst.

Although this is a fund raising walk, as this is only a few days away now I have been asked to say all walkers are welcome even without sponsorship as they will be collecting on the day and giving £2 to the charity Canine Partners from each ploughman's sold. So you can count me in and the more the merrier!

The walk is part of the Canine Partners National Bluebell Walk Campaign. It starts from The Kings Arms car park at 10:30am on Saturday 25th April and a map will be provided on the day. Canine Partners enables people with disabilities to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life through the help of specially trained dogs.

For further information about the walk, please call the Kings Arms on 01428 652005. Visit the www.caninepartners.co.uk or call Malcolm Wells 01730 716011 for further information on the Bluebell Walk Campaign 2009 or Canine Partners.


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Pub Walk along the canal to the French Horn, Pewsey, Marlborough, Wiltshire

This Week's Pub Walk... canalside to the French Horn, Pewsey, Marlborough, Wiltshire

Glorious relaxing pub walk via canal side and water meadow with views up onto rolling downlands. The French Horn is right by the Kennet and Avon canal and features not only in The Good Pub Guide but also Mike Lucas' Waterside Pubs.

Click on French Horn Pub Walk to download full details.

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Berkshire Pub Walk from The Crown & Garter, Inkpen Common, Near Hungerford

This Week's Pub Walk... through varied countryside to The Crown & Garter, Inkpen Common, Hungerford, Berkshire

This circular route takes you along generally well kept paths and tracks through light woodland and farmland as well as along some short stretches of very quiet country lanes. This is a relatively remote area with little traffic.

The Crown and Garter has an impressive list of accolades including being recommended in a wide range of guides including The Good Pub Guide, The Good Beer Guide, Alistair Sawday's Pubs and Inns of England and Wales and also The Real Ale Guide.

You can download this now at Crown and Garter Pub Walk.

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Its National Cask Ale Week 6 - 13 April 2009

Oz Clarke helps to launch National Cask Ale Week



This is a week not just for real ale fans but also for anyone who wants to support our community pubs by sampling some great British beers. There are 6000 pubs taking part in this celebration of our nation's best beers and there are bound to be plenty of special offers and tastings to enjoy.

If you want to be part of an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records, why not visit your local participating pub on Saturday 11th April and be a part of the World's Biggest Toast. This is a great way to support your local at the same time as rallying behind Britain’s national drink.

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An Undulating Circular Pub Walk to the Griffin in Godshill, Ventnor, Isle of Wight

This Week's Pub Walk... an undulating circular walk to the Griffin in Godshill, Ventnor, Isle of Wight

Passing through woodland, downland and pasture, this undulating pub walk has many interesting historic features. Small diversions off the route will take you to Appuldurcombe House or Godshill village.

The Griffin is a large family dining pub which serves food all day and has a children's menu. It also offers a wide range of cash beers and has a large garden.

Download full route details for the walk at Griffin Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk past Ely Cathedral to The Minster Tavern, Ely, Cambridgeshire

This Week's Pub Walk ... past Ely Cathedral to The Minster Tavern, Ely, Cambridgeshire

Ely, the second smallest city in England, is one of my favourite place to visit. The Cathedral is spectacular and if you stop you can take a tour that leads you up and out onto the roof (!) where the view is awesome.

This is a detour worth taking when following my Ely Pub Walk. and it will bring you straight afterwards to the Minster Inn from where you can gaze back to view the cathedral in all its splendour.

Combining historical interest with a riverside path makes this pub walk rather special. Download full details by clicking on Minster Tavern Pub Walk.

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Mother's Day celebrations with the National Trust - www.NationalTrust.org.uk

Mother's Day celebrations with the National Trust - www.NationalTrust.org.uk

From delicious high teas in stunning locations to quirky events suitable for all the family, the National Trust has the perfect location for you to spoil mum this Mother’s Day, Sunday 22 March.

This is just the sort of treat that Mum's enjoy and a great excuse to finally get around to joining the National Trust just when so many of their properties are opening again for the Spring.

Click National Trust Offer for three months’ free membership plus free binoculars!

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Oz and James Drink to Britain - last 2 days on BBC iPlayer

Oz and James Drink to Britain - last 2 days on BBC iPlayer

If you missed the final episode of this entertaining series then you have just 2 more days left to catch this on BBC iPlayer. As they conclude their search for the drink "that speaks for modern Britain", the result is unexpected if not, perhaps, surprising.

In case you do not know the answer yet, I won't spoil the surprise! Watch it instead at Oz and James Drink to Britain but be quick. This series toured pubs and breweries, vineyards and cider farms and hopefully you'll agree with me that the Oz and James reached the only right conclusion.

Click on Oz and James Drink to Britain and I hope you enjoy the whole 30 minute episode like I did and are not tempted to spoil the surprise by skipping to the last few minutes ...

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Pub Walk to The Angel Inn, Corbridge, Northumberland

This Week's Pub Walk ... to The Angel Inn, Corbridge, Northumberland

A short pub walk around Corbridge village including many interesting and historical facts. The choice of pubs includes The Angel Inn.

The Angel Inn has a reputation for good food that is demonstrated by its inclusion in the discerning Michelin Guide to Eating out in Pubs which includes only 6 pubs in Northumberland. The Michelin Guide is impressed by its "good-sized menus, classical in style but with modern twists, on which Northumbrian produce is proudly served at good value prices". The Angel Inn also gets a mention in The Good Beer Guide and The Good Pub Guide Lucky Dip section.

Corbridge is an interesting village with many elements unchanged from mediaeval times. It is centred on its church and market place and has attractive views from its 17th century bridge. The walk includes many fascinating facts about the village.

To download full details of the route click on Angel Inn Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey - The Face of British Pie Week

British Pie Week's Pub Walk... to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

This circular pub walk leads you straight to Keystone, The Face of British Pie Week, giving you the perfect opportunity to order one of their award-winning Legendary Game Pies.

With The Keystone recommended in both The Good Beer Guide and the AA Pub Guide, this has to be a pub walk for the shortlist over the coming weeks.

The walk itself offers lovely views of the Cathedral to the north and across The Downs to the south, followed by woodland paths, past the Watts Gallery and back into Guildford along the River Wey. It partly follows The North Down’s Way and can be extended via Loseley Park.

To download full details of the route click on Keystone Pub Walk.

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The Keystone, Guildford, is ... The Face of British Pie Week

British Pie Week Title Awarded to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

Pubs are of course the natural home of the great British pie and it is therefore no surprise that the title of The Face of British Pie Week has been awarded to a pub.

Ashley Robins, Head Chef at The Keystone in Guildford, Surrey, walked away with the prize for his Legendary Game Pie. We must surely all have our favourite pies and game pie is certainly one of mine!

There is more to The Keystone than pies as they are featured in both The Good Beer Guide and the AA Pub Guide. Click on Legendary Game Pie to see a photo of their mouth-watering pie and read more about them.

British Pie Week ran from 2 - 8 March and was sponsored by Jus-Rol, the pastry-makers.

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Pub Walk to The Black Boy in Winchester, Hampsire

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Black Boy in Winchester, Hampsire

Explore the ancient capital of Wessex including not only the river and cathedral but 'King Arthur's Round Table' as well.

The Black Boy is a popular pub and worth a visit not just for good value home-cooked traditional food and real ales but also for its weird and wonderful collections (ladies, check out the toilet!). Off the traditional tourist trail, its a traditional pub with bags of charm, earning a place in The Good Pub Guide. The Black Boy has a particularly good reputation for its evening meals but at lunch times the menu is more limited.

To download full details of the route click on Black Boy Pub Walk.

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A Waterside Pub Walk to the Cottage Inn, Baltic Wharf, Bristol

This Week's Pub Walk... to the waterside Cottage Inn at Baltic Wharf, Bristol

One of our Top 10 Winners in the search for the Nation's Favourite Pub Walk, this has it all including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a visit to the Cabot Tower for panoramic views, a National Trust trail and a lovely waterside pub.

What's more, The Cottage Inn has plenty of character as a converted harbour master's office and has fine views of local landmarks.

Full details can be downloaded at Cottage Inn Walk.

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COMPETITION: Suggest a New Pub Name and Win £100!

COMPETITION: Suggest a New Name for this Southampton Pub and Win £100!

A "pub with no name" at 40-42 Bevois Valley Road, Southampton, is looking for a new name. It is inviting suggestions with the promise of a £100 cash prize for whoever suggests the name that is finally chosen.

Landlord Colin Pollard has placed an advert in the Southern Daily Echo and says,
"We would like the name to be unique as opposed to traditional and would like the image created by the name to suggest a fun venue with a unique quality".

Any ideas? Email your suggestions to colinpollard@rocketmail.com or, even better, place it in the suggestion box on the bar.

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Circular Pub Walk to the Griffin at Godshill, Ventnor, Isle of Wight

This Week's Pub Walk... a circular route to the Griffin at Godshill, Ventnor, Isle of Wight

An undulating circular pub walk with many interesting historic features and finishing at The Griffin, a large family dining pub. It serves food all day and has a children's menu plus a wide range of cask beers

Passing through woodland, downland and pasture, you can also take small diversions to Appuldurcombe House or Godshill village if the fancy takes you.

Full details can be downloaded at Griffin Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to the Plough and Harrow on the South Wales Coast Path, Glamorgan

This Week's Pub Walk... returning to the Plough and Harrow on the South Wales Coast Path, Glamorgan

This circular pub walk includes the Coastal Footpath to Marcross with some spectacular scenery and a choice of two great pubs. The Plough and Harrow is full of character and a true favourite of mine, appearing in not only The Good Pub Guide and the AA Pub Guide but also The Good Beer Guide who voted it the Best Pub in Wales 2003.

This walk has plenty of interest with varied terrain, seaward views, two dramatic coves, some old ruins and a nature reserve.

Full details can be downloaded at Plough and Harrow Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to the "Giant's Grave" from the White Hart Inn at Oare, Marlborough, Wiltshire

This Week's Pub Walk... to the "Giant's Grave" from the White Hart Inn at Oare, Marlborough, Wiltshire

The ‘Giant’s Grave’ can be seen from the White Hart Inn car park and this walk starts and finishes at this lovely wayside inn. If you are eating at the inn after your walk, ask the landlord if you can park there and he will surely oblige. The food is good here and they also serve real ales.

The ‘Giant’s Grave’ is a long barrow upon Martinsell Hill. Local folklore states that if you run around the long barrow seven times you will wake the giant from his slumbers!

Click on White Hart Inn Walk to download full details.

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Pub Walk to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

A circular route from Chiddingstone to Penshurst Place through woods and fields with views over the Eden Valley, returning to The Castle Inn for refreshment. The inn nestles in the pretty village of Chiddingstone (owned by the National Trust) which is one of the prettiest villages in Kent.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 2.

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