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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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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Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Legal Right of Access to our Coast

Last week the government confirmed that it would legislate to give a legal right of access to the English coastline. This was a very welcome announcement at the Labour Party Conference and followed strong lobbying by Natural England, the Ramblers Association and many others.

The public consultation period only ended on 11 September (see earlier post) so this was an unexpectedly quick decision from the government and no doubt the timing of the conference had a helping hand in this. Whatever the reason though, this is very welcome news for anyone that gets real pleasure from our varied and dramatic coastline.

Read more at The Government Backs Coastal Access

Today's coastal pub walk: Sailor's Return in East Chaldon, Dorset.

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The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007

The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007

I always keep my eyes open for award-winning pubs that could be candidates for a future pub walk and The Publican often features these.

This award-winning magazine is clearly targeted at publicans but often has articles of interest to the pub-going community. The latest item I noted was the launch of their 2007 search for Pub of the Year with a deadline for entries of 3rd August 2007.

The magazine is encouraging entries across the board from country freehouses to inner city gastro pubs and food focused pub companies large and small. The 14 categories include seafood to alfresco and you can see further details and last year's winner at The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007. I shall look forward to seeing the winners later in the year and will include them here.

Today's pub walk: Sailor's Return in East Chaldon, Dorset.

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Perfect Pub 2007 - The Turf Tavern, Oxford

The Abbot Ale Perfect Pub 2007 award, run by Greene King, has been won by The Turf Tavern in Oxford. This historic pub dates back to the 14^th century and is just outside the city walls.

What makes this special is that this is the only national pub award voted for by members of the public (excluding our very own competition to find the Nation’s Favourite Pub Walk of course where the public vote for the walk as well as the pub!)

The results are reported in today’s The Publican, which goes on to say that The Turf Tavern also won both the regional and national prizes for serving the best cask beer. So fancy a historic pub walk from The Turf Tavern? Hopefully someone will submit one to MyFavouritePubWalks.com soon.

Today's participating pub: The West Bay in West Bay, Dorset.
Prize offered: A meal for two including a bottle of champagne.

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