Publicans - 5 Ways to Get a Pub Walk for Your Pub

Publicans - 5 Ways to Get a Pub Walk for Your Pub

It's official. Walking is the most popular recreational activity with over 8 million of us walking at least once a month, according to a Sport England survey. That's 8 million people out there every month, looking for somewhere to walk and, if they are all like my walking friends, often somewhere to stop for refreshment. That's a huge opportunity for pubs that welcome walkers - 8 million people working up a thirst and an appetite. Every month.

So why not tap into that market by showing them an exciting walk featuring your own pub? Here are some ideas for how to get a pub walk and lead them to your door:

1. Run a competition, offering a prize to the customer producing the best walk from your pub. This is a perfect way to engage with your customers and get them talking about your pub. See Running a pub walk competition for more information.

2. Search on-line for walking leaflets - type in "(your town/village) walking leaflet" or "(your town/village) walks" and you'll probably be amazed at how many walking routes are available free on-line. Check them out to see if one passes your pub door. Try also your local library and Tourist Information which are both likely to have a selection too.

3. Contact your local Ramblers groups and walking clubs - they may already have a suitable walk which they would allow you to use as long as you give credit for its source.

4. Check pub walk books - if your pub is included, dont be afraid to advertise "as featured in My Area's Best Pub Walks book" in your pub to encourage customers to return another day to do the walk. Have a copy of the book available but do not give out photocopies of the pages as this would infringe copyright.

5. Write your own pub walk is the other obvious way if you enjoy walking yourself.

Any of these can help you get new customers and increase their spend. Whichever route you follow, its worth reading the marketing steps under Running a pub walk competition as some of these can be applied to the other methods too.

Finally, if you create or find a pub walk, do please share it with us at www.myfavouritepubwalks.com so we can help you spread the word.

The Pub Walker
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Latest Pub Walk... via River Whitewater and Greywell Moors to The Fox and Goose, Greywell, Hampshire.

Latest Pub Walk... via River Whitewater and Greywell Moors to The Fox and Goose, Greywell, Hampshire.

This circular pub walk from the Fox and Goose in Greywell is one of a series produced by the pub itself which is demonstrating a keen interest in catering for walkers.

Located a stones throw away from the Basingstoke Canal and River Whitewater, perfect if you enjoy riverside walks, this 16th century inn prides itself on its mostly traditional English fayre with the emphasis very much on home-made dishes.

As a Hampshire lad myself, this is a pub walk I am aiming to try out very soon so if you beat me to it, please add a comment to say what you thought..

To download full details of the route click on Fox and Goose pub walk.

The Pub Walker
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Pub Walk Video from The White Lion Inn, Patterdale, in The Lake District

Pub Walk Video from The White Lion Inn, Patterdale, in The Lake District.



Another great video from Walks around Britain, this time offering you a pub walk from Patterdale in the Lake District and a choice of refreshment stops. It includes some spectacular views over Ullswater and a running commentary of what you'll see along the route. Watch it and get a real sense of the breathtaking scenery you will experience on this pub walk.

The walks starts close to the Patterdale Hotel with also The White Lion Inn close by. For more details of the pubs on this walk go to Patterdale pub walks

The Pub Walker
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Snowdrop Valley Pub Walk at Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, until 21st February 2010

Snowdrop Valley Pub Walk at Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, until 21st February 2010

Snowdrops are a welcome sight for walkers in the depths of winter with their splashes of white on what can be an otherwise dull canvas. Although there is always plenty to see in our countryside, parks and gardens, somehow I find that snowdrops refresh the senses and remind me that all the seasons have their own unique pleasures.

A great way to see this is to try this Snowdrop Valley pub walk from the Rest and Be Thankful Inn at Wheddon Cross on the edge of Exmoor. From here you can enjoy a one and a half hour walk taking in this hidden valley at the very time that snowdrops are at their best.

So if you are in the Exmoor area, grab your walking boots and check out the details of the Snowdrop Valley pub walk.

The Pub Walker
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RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Results

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Many regular walkers also enjoy observing the wildlife all around them as part of what makes up their all round outdoor experience. Certainly that is the case for me and I’m sure I was among many thousands of other regular walkers taking part over the weekend in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

Having put out my mixed seeds and my diced past-their-best plums and pears, I sat back with a tray of tea for the allotted 1 hour. After a slow start, activity in the garden picked up and I was thrilled to see not only the usual visitors but also my first sighting of a firecrest and only the second of a nuthatch.

I’m sure these less common visitors to my garden have been here before so the real pleasure came from just taking the time out to relax and quietly observe what is undoubtedly going on around me all the time.

Next week back to the pub walks of course but with a renewed enthusiasm for taking in all that the natural world has to offer the keen observer.

For anyone interested, my full birdwatch results submitted to the RSPB were:

Jackdaw (3)
Great Tit (2)
Blue Tit (2)
Robin (2)
Magpie (2)
Wood Pigeon (2)
Firecrest (1)
Nuthcatch (1)
Blackbird (1)
Collared Dove (1)


The Pub Walker
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