Sunday, December 19, 2010

Mummers on the Piste


Well, kind of...



As a local tradition, this Mummers Play marks the start of Christmas for many us and it was performed earlier today in a snowy rural lane in Otterbourne near Winchester. The last Sunday before Christmas each year, the cast act out the tale of King George, the Turkish Knight and Old Father Christmas in their costumes made from wallpaper streamers. The story remains the same but the words are adapted each year to add a topical flavour and some humour that encourages the crowd to heckle good-naturedly. Finished off with a mince pie, mulled wine and a folk rendition of "Tthe Holly and the Ivy".

It's quirky, English ecccentricity at its best and a family tradition that was resurrected 35 years ago after a gap of some 50 years. Let's hope it keeps going another 35 years!

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Sunday, December 05, 2010

Top 10 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Pub Walkers


One of the things I love about pub walks is that they combine so many different interests into a single hobby. Clearly we all enjoy a good walk and a good pub but for most of us there is so much more to it than that.

It's true the walk may simply be some exercise ahead of a calorific indulgence; more likely though it reflects a love of fresh air and the outdoors with a real interest in nature in all its forms and seasonal variations. Likewise, the desire to help preserve our precious pub tradition is often linked to a deep-seated passion for other aspects of our national heritage.

So, all that gives a good variety of things to choose from when buying Christmas presents for pub walkers; from real ale to Ramblers membership, natural history books to National Trust membership, good pub guides to GPS.

If you'd like to see my Top 10 list of gift ideas for pub walkers then here they are. If you have other ideas of your own then please add a comment and share - we'd all love to see them too :-)

1. National Trust Gift Membership

Did you know the National Trust owns or manages 38 pubs and inns? Of course they are better known for their commitment to the preservation of our coast, countryside and historic buildings, with their extensive tracts of land offering great walks and spectacular scenery. Right now, Gift Membership offers 25% off the normal price plus an extra free gift of a pair of National Trust binoculars, making it our favourite Christmas present!
For more details go to National Trust Gift Membership, click 'Join Online' and then select 'A gift for someone else'. Costs starts as low as £16.50 for someone up to age 25.

2. Good Pub Guide, Good Beer Guide or AA Pub Guide

Although the Good Pub Guide may be the most popular pub-goers bible, the Good Beer Guide does also give general comments on the pubs beyond the quality of the real ale on offer. Both are densely packed with information in text form so if you prefer something easier on the eye (albeit covering fewer pubs) then the AA Pub Guide has many colour photos and feels better quality for a book to browse. All are updated annually.
You can buy any of these from Amazon.co.uk via The Pub Walker's On-Line Store which highlights Amazon products of interest to pub walkers.

3. Walking Socks

OK, I know that socks as a present for a man are the butt of many jokes but how about a pair of really good quality walking socks for him or her? Cold feet feet can be a misery and this present could make a real difference to your walking companions in terms of both comfort and warmth.
To see a good selection try the Cotswold Outdoor site.

4. Compass!

If you do your pub walks with someone who does not have a compass than you should get them one, seriously. Apart from just being able to check it occasionally to ensure they are heading in the right direction and avoid retracing steps, it may open up a whole new world to them of exploring new routes (and pubs).
Click on Compasses at Amazon.co.uk for a wide range starting at less than £2.

5. Bottled Real Ale

Much as we must use our pubs, or lose them, there are evenings at home when a glass of bottled real ale really hits the spot. If a pub walking friend lives a distance away then you can even arrange to have a few bottles delivered to their door by such companies as Ales by Mail.

6. OS Maps

If your pub-walking partners always follow the same handful of routes to their favourite watering holes then why not open their eyes to all the other options with a large scale Ordnance Survey map of the area. I recommend the 1:25,000 OS Leisure / Exporer map series which will show them all the alternative footpaths and bridleways they could use. You can even get laminated ones that will survive unexpected showers and offer much greater durabilility.
Again its hard to beat Amazon.co.uk for price via The Pub Walker's On-Line Store.

7. CAMRA Membership

For the real ale enthusiast, membership of the Campaign for Real Ale makes a great present. The £20 cost includes £20 of money off vouchers at Wetherspoon pubs - they may not be traditional pubs but they do know how to serve real ale. Pay by DD and you get an extra 3 monhts free (15 months for the price of 12) as well as another £2 off the usual price. They have various gift offers too with membership such as the one that also includes the Good Beer Guide.
Click on CAMRA Membership or CAMRA Gift Membership for more details on their site.

8. Timpson's England

This is one of my all time favourite travel books and a must for anyone with a passion for this country and things unusual or eccentric. It can supplement a walk with fascinating information on "... creepy castles and curious churches, stones with a story and roadside surprises, trees full of history and pubs full of spirits..."
Click on Timpson's England: A Look Beyond the Obvious for more information.

9. Gamma Head Torch

I have to admit my walks often take somewhat longer than I expect, sometimes even arriving at pubs after food has stopped being served - at lunchtime that is! And with darkness descending early this time of year and cutting short our walking time, I think this powerful head torch is a great idea. Voted best value head torch in Trail magazine, the Gamma head torch also has numerous positive user reviews on-line. At £12.50 its definitely on my list.
To buy this, go to Alpkit Gamma head torch.

10. ??? What do you suggest?

No-one wants a Top 9 list so can you help make it a Top 10? If you have a suggestion for my final last minute gift idea for Pub Walkers then please add a comment below and share it with us all!

As many people know, our website www.MyFavouritePubWalks.com uses free pub walk links and downloads to promote the best of our pub heritage to a hungry and thirsty walking community. Some of the links above are affiliate links which pay a % commission which help to pay for the costs of running the site. So if you like any of the ideas and want to help us support our community pubs then please do click through using the links above. Either way, we hope you find the gift ideas of interest and a help if you are buying for someone who shares our passion for pub walks. Thank you.

To find some great pubs with walks from their doors, just click on favourite pub walks.


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Saturday, October 30, 2010

The end of the Good Pub Guide as we know it?


According to The Publican yesterday, pubs are set to be charged up to £200 for the privilege of appearing in the Good Pub Guide from next year.

Fiona Stapley, who has edited the book for 27 years, said the charges will be introduced for the 2012 edition. Fees will be either £99 or £199, depending on the size of the outlet.

Pretty shocking news for a guide that proclaims its independence. This must surely have the potential to undermine its integrity. If a significant number of pubs decline to pay up, will the guide become a slimmed down version of its former self? Or will it relax its standards in an attempt to maintain its current coverage?

Even if it maintains its standards for inclusion, discrimination on the basis of willingness to pay will introduce a perception of bias which can only hurt its sales as we all know from a customer relations perspective, perception is reality.

If the publishers need to increase revenue then in my view a better approach would be to offer pubs the option of upgrading the size of the entry for a price or even allowing them to pay for advertising on some colour pages, but let's leave the basic entry free and the integrity of the guide intact.

Sorry GPG, this is altogether a disappointing decision for both pubs and pub-goers and threatens your long-standing and well-deserved reputation as the pub-goers bible. Listen to your loyal customers and publicans and think again.


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Sunday, October 24, 2010

New Tesco Food Magazine Features MyFavouritePubWalks.com

www.MyFavouritePubWalks.com in New Tesco Food Magazine

If you have seen the newly launched Tesco Food magazine, then I do hope you noticed us on page 11. Their editor asked us to suggest three of our favourite walks to pubs and you can see the ones we chose in the extract below.


Pub walks in Tesco Food magazine
(click image to enlarge)

All those really get my gastric juices flowing and I hope they do the same for you. The detailed route directions can be found by clicking on the names of the pubs below:

PLOUGH AND HARROW, Monknash, Glamorgan
JOLLY FARMER, Cookham Dean, Berkshire
BELL INN, St Cross, Winchester, Hampshire

If you see us appearing in any other publications then please do tell us. We discovered by accident that we had been mentioned recently in the BII Business (the magazine of the British Institute of Innkeeping) and have now started gathering together the ones we know about which also includes the Ramblers' Walk magazine and The Publican trade magazine . If you are interested in seeing these then just click on Press and Media Coverage page.


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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spectacular Pub Walk Around Malhamdale

Spectacular Pub Walk Around Malhamdale

This is our favourite walk around Malhamdale. Starting off in Malham itself, the walk begins with a traditional Yorkshire backdrop of stone walls and gently rolling hills.



Easy going for a while but as you approach the sheer face of Malham Cove, you start to appreciate the scale of the climb ahead of you. It's manageable though, but probably best not to count all those steps as you go (was it 400?). Climbing up the left hand side of the cliff face, on reaching the top you have to turn around and take in the view from here!



We took a brief rest here before proceeding across the limestone pavement and down into the valley to Gordale Bridge. It is definitely worth the short linear detour from here to the impressive Gordale Scar gorge and waterfall. Somehow it seems irresistible for people to remove their boots and socks and dip their toes into the cooling water.



From Gordale Bridge, the return route takes you through very different scenery, leaving the open moorland behind as you discover the hidden Janet's Foss. This is a complete contrast to what you have seen before, under heavy deciduous woodland whose canopy seems to hold in the humidity created by the waterfall and pool.



On leaving the woodland behind and emerging once more into open country, the late afternoon light created a striking image of these cows with their black and white colouring creating a stong contrast against the rich green of the pasture and grey/blue of the sky.



From here we touched the Pennine Way for just a short stretch and with the light fading we continued on our way back to Malham.



Now here there is a choice of two pubs, neither at the budget end of the spectrum but fairly priced for the good quality food they both offer. This time we visited the creeper-covered Lister Arms which has plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the green and I thoroughly enjoyed my Steak and Thwaites Nutty Black Ale Pie.



Next time I shall try The Buck Inn which offers award-winning sausages and their 'Malham and Masham pie' and, better still, all their dishes come with vegetables included - not always the case with the Lister Arms!



To download the walking leaflet for this and other pub walks in the area, simply go to Malhamdale pub walks.


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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Atmospheric Walk around Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle - A Favourite Walk with The National Trust

You cannot miss Corfe Castle. It towers over the A351 from Wareham to Swanage and commands your attention. Personally it is one of my favourite National Trust properties and a day off work yesterday saw us enjoying an easy walk around one of the most evocative castles of England.


It was late in the afternoon and the sun was low in the sky. The light conditions somehow seemed to make the place very atmospheric from moment we entered the outer bailey and stared up at the imposing remains of the keep.



Passing through the south-west gateway, we turned to climb up to the towering keep itself and then passed a series of openings in the walls which framed the views over the hills beyond.



Out into the tower area of the ruins and the views open up some more again.



As the sun dipped lower in the sky, we turned away from the keep and started the short descent back through the baileys and out into the attractive village of Corfe itself. We did not have time to stop for longer that day but there is a good choice of pubs to try in the village and I'll shortly be adding details of these to myfavouritepubwalks.com.

I have been a member of the National Trust for over 20 years now and never tire of exploring places like this. If you are interested in joining too, take a look at the National Trust Special Offer which gives new members three months free plus a free pair of National Trust binoculars - perfect for the views from Corfe Castle!


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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Red Lion, Gilmorton, Leicestershire, is Looking for a Pub Walk


Another pub is reaching out to walkers and asking them to help in creating a new pub walk from their door. In return there is a £50 voucher on offer for spending in the pub which will be given to the best one submitted.

The Red Lion in the village of Gilmorton, Leicestershire has a regularly changing menu and at least 4 cask ales at all times. They use eggs from their own chickens, herbs from the garden and make their own bread and flavoured ice creams. They take using local produce to the next level by offering a barter system for home grown produce so much of their fruit and veg is grown in the village!


So why not explore the countryside around the Red Lion and then enter your pub walk for a chance to win the £50 voucher? For more details on how to enter go to Red Lion Pub Walks or take at the other pub walk competitions currently running.


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Friday, July 09, 2010

The Inspiration for MyFavouritePubWalks.com - Guest Post on WalkTalkTours Blog


I was recently invited to write a guest post on the WalkTalkTours Blog, talking about my passion for pub walks, what inspired me to create MyFavouritePubWalks.com and my vision for the site's future. To read it please click on guest post.

Not long ago I discovered WalkTalkTours on Twitter who, as their name suggests, have audio walking tours that you can download for your MP3 player. These include narrative on interesting and historical features which you can listen to as you follow their walking routes. Great idea!

I will be reviewing one of their audio tours in a later post but for now I invite you to read my guest post, and from there you can click through and take a look at their site for yourself.


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Wednesday, July 07, 2010

A Pub Walk from The Globe Inn by the Grand Union Canal


Well, wasn't last Sunday a fantastic day for a pub walk! When the heat is on, I’m always torn between a waterside walk where the mere presence of the water seems to cool the air; and a woodland walk where the shade brings more immediate and tangible relief.

We had found a walking route on-line that seemed to combine the best of both with woodland, wonderful views and then a return along the Grand Union Canal towpath. And to finish off there was The Globe Inn, featuring in the AA Pub Guide and situated right on the towpath itself, near Linslade, Bedfordshire.

The Globe is tucked away from the road but clearly has a loyal following of people using the towpath. It was busy but there was still plenty of seating, not only by the towpath, but also in the beer garden by the play area and inside too. And being right by the canal, most people sat outside to enjoy the constant activity and wildlife of the waterside.


One of us had the impressive House Deli-board which, as you can see, was beautifully presented.

We would have liked a little more variety on the salad front, rather than the preponderance of different green leaves, but in fairness we got what it said on the menu and it did not disappoint.



The other two in our party had the butternut squash, spinach, lentil and spicy coconut curry with lemon & parsley basmati and wild rice. It was not huge but it was a mild and delicious blend of flavours, as good as the menu description had suggested. And just as a bonus to refresh, the Greene King XX mild was on special offer at £2 per pint which tasted particularly good after the walk.

So the three of us came away with a few pence change from £30 (excluding tip) which was a very pleasant surprise with three of us eating!


I shall have to make a few changes to the walking route before sharing it at www.myfavouritepubwalks.com as there was rather too much road walking from the railway station and the wonderful views are now no more – the walk must have been written a good few years ago as the view was meant to be from a hilltop over young trees and yes, you guessed, the trees grrew!

In the meantime, if you would like any other suggestions, you can click on waterside pub walks for others that include some cooling water along the way.


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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Why I Love Walking in The New Forest


After a long week with too many hours spent in an office, it was glorious to set out for the New Forest last night. A beautiful, balmy evening with nature that refreshed my soul.


Low sun, clear sky, close to a full moon. Barely another soul seen and, even then, only from a distance.

The New Forest is on our doorstep but I never tire of the sense of wilderness that can still be experienced there when one steps away from the main paths.

We started out with a search for some orchids my wife had stumbled upon a couple of days before.

Close to the path, a friend had drawn her attention to them and we had been keen to
return and try to capture their delicate beauty in a photograph.

There were a few dozen of them and they clustered in a shallow dip amongst the ferns and grasses.

Just a few paces away from this small area there were none to be found at all which made the discovery all the more special.

We walked through deciduous woodland, conifer plantations and glades with the setting sun creating sharp contrasts of light and shade.

We looked out over open heathland and areas of lawn, and climbed to viewpoints, regularly catching fleeting views of deer along the way.

We stood and stared and just soaked up the natural, peaceful, surroundings.

The New Forest has a character all of its own, whether you think of the free-roaming horses, ponies, donkeys and pigs, or its unbeatable blend of landscapes and numerous habitat types.


It remains in many ways wild but surprisingly accessible to all. It is criss-crossed with cycle paths and popular riding country but we saw evidence of neither as we ventured away from the more touristy areas.

And this is its appeal - it can be whatever you want it to be and it can offer something to anyone who enjoys the outdoors.


I find the New Forest can always surprise and enthral and it offers a brief and welcome escape from life's pressures. It is my favourite walking area and I am privileged to live only a stone's throw away.

Not last night but, of course, sometimes we combine our walks with a pub stop and the New Forest has its fair share of those too.

If you would like any suggestions for a pub walk, you can find a few by clicking on New Forest pub walks, and we'd always like to hear of your favourites too.


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Sunday, May 30, 2010

Poet in a Pub?

Poet in a Pub?

I do love to hear of pubs finding novel ways to attract new customers. How about the idea of “Poet in the Pub” being tried in a number of Hampshire pubs?

According to the Hampshire Chronicle, The Three Horseshoes at Bighton near Alresford will host comedy ‘stand-up’ Elvis McGonagall on Wednesday June 2nd.

Customers are invited to write a short poem or limerick on the back of special Poet in the Pub beer mats and then Elvis will read these out before sharing a selection of his own unique poetry.

The theme is the village you live or drink in so it also helps to reinforce the message that the pub sits at the heart of the local community.

The idea comes from the Hampshire County Council’s rural arts scheme, known as Hog the Limelight, who usually bring their events to village halls. When they approached local landlords about using pubs instead they were met with an enthusiastic response.

The innovative pubs taking part are: (sorry you've already missed the first one!)

Wednesday 26 May 2010
The Cricketers Arms
Tangley, Andover SP11 OSH
tel 01264 730283

Wednesday 2 June 2010
Three Horseshoes
Bighton, Alresford SO24 9RE
tel 01962 732859

Wednesday 9 June 2010
Horse and Groom,
Woodgreen, Fordingbridge SP6 2AS
tel 01725 510739

You can either pick up a beer mat from one of the pubs or download a copy by clicking on Poet in a Pub beer mat.

Any pubs out there with other innovative ways of attracting new customers or bring back existing ones more frequently. Of course my favourite, easy and effective method is the one you'll find at www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/publicans.


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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Walkers – A Menace or Meal Ticket for Publicans?

Walkers – A Menace or Meal Ticket for Publicans?

Publicans seem to give walkers a very mixed reception. Some welcome them with open arms with a “Walkers’ Special” on the menu, whilst others curse them for clogging up their car parks over lunchtime and then disappearing for a few hours simply to call in for one quick drink on their return.

So how do you turn a menace into a meal ticket?

Some thoughts:

- There are 8 million regular walkers in England along, that’s 8 million people working up a hunger and a thirst each month, every month. (Source – Sport England survey)

- Walking is Britain’s most popular outdoor activity. Generally, people on higher incomes participate more in recreational walking than people on lower incomes. (Source – The Ramblers)

- 891 million day trips for leisure in Great Britain in 1998 included a ‘walk, hill walk or ramble’. This is 15% of the total of all leisure day trips. The figures are old but the popularity of walking is even higher today. (Source – The Ramblers)

- Increasing numbers of young people are giving up the stuffy atmosphere of the gym (saving a fortune on their memberships) and getting out into the countryside for their exercise instead. (Source – The Ramblers)

- Ever increasing numbers of older people join walking groups too and we all hear constantly about the power of the “grey pound”.

Need I say more? This is a huge market and many like nothing more than to finish their walk at a traditional pub. Certainly that is my experience from the many walkers I know.

So my advice is seize the opportunity and get a pub walk written down that leads those hungry and thirsty walkers straight to your door, rather than someone else’s. Have copies available in the bar to take away, send it to your local paper and get it on the internet! When people enjoy a walk and are welcomed at the pub, they do it again and again and what’s more they tell their friends.

If you think your car park is being abused by walkers, rather than turn them away with a rude notice, think about what you can do to get them through the door instead, even it its just making sure you have a copy of the menu and the specials board outside (many pubs still don’t).

Finally, why not even offer a free meal to the walker that produces the best walk from your pub? And again tell your local paper. You could be surprised at how this takes off!

For more information on attracting walkers to your pub, visit www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/publicans.


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