22/05/26 - Lewes, for Mount Caburn

Sussex Best

There was never going to be much debate on where to start our latest walking break.

Lewes - a town full of history, birthplace of revolutionaries, satirical bonfires and the home of the unique taste of Sussex.

A Beaut

This is the Harvey's Brewery - a classic Victorian brewery, which can trace its roots back to 1790. Harvey's Sussex Best happily sits in my top 5 beers, although much more work needs to be completed to calculate the final rankings.

A pint will be a reward for completing an out of town walk at the start of the 2026 mini heatwave. This country is nuts. Last week, I was forced - under the threat of violence - to turn the heating back on in the Midlands.

A matter of moments, and we leave the busy town behind to complete a classic "downs" walk - up and across the golf course, before reaching lush agricultural landscape, with plenty of chalkland clefts and ups and downs. The photos don't do justice to the remoteness or the beauty. Mount Caburn is the target, a grassy dome of a hill that hosted an iron age hillfort. 

The current Mrs M, Child #2 and borrowed doggies on the way to Mount Caburn

More chalk uplands

Easy peasy and back into town to determine which of the 8 Good Beer Guide Ticks should get the Mappiman Dollar. The John Harvey Tavern ticks all the boxes;

• Tap room for the brewery
• Opposite the brewery shop
• T-shirts too cyan to suit my complexion
• But I was tempted by an out of season Christmas Ale
• Sussex Best and all of its mates on cask
• Although the Best was gravity fed
• Dog Friendly
• Food available
• An offer on Friday fish and chips

We chose well

If only we had come on the bus - I could have told you about the other 7 available venues.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration - AA Walks Through History Walk 29

20/05/26 - Slow Way - Highley to Bewdley

For The Harbour at Arley

Highley - an unassuming mining town in Shropshire - becomes my most walked Slow Way location. I can add Bewdley to Kinver, Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer to the list of destinations that I have walked from or to.

Today's walk is so simple..... Immediately pick up the river, walk downstream on the Severn Way, stop when you arrive at Bewdley.

Today's vista - the river at Highley

Long Distance Walking on the Severn Way

Half-way along, handily placed for (liquid) lunch, is the Harbour Inn at Arley. 

The Harbour Inn

With the population of Arley on the other side of the footbridge, it's a survivor. Pleasing that is open regular hours (Midday - 11pm), the only surprise was that I was not alone for my visit. A couple of other walkers not quite making it worth their while opening. 

Three Wye Valley Cask on - with Butty Bach in fair condition.

Plenty of refreshment options in Bewdley - but not all keeping such traditional hours. Looks like it's evening only for Bathams at the Horn and Trumpet.

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration

18/05/26 - More on the South Staffordshire Railway Walk

The End of Easter

With this walk, I have more or less completed the South Staffordshire Railway. A previous outing conquered the northern half. A very similar walk today completes the southern half.

Starting at a car park where Himley Station used to live, it's obvious the all-terrain path has had some recent work. There are less pot-holes here than on the roads driven to get here.

Easy walking, easy routefinding

For future reference - the café and another car park are at Bratch Lane, where I leave the railway to pick up the Staffordshire-Worcestershire canal. Towpath walking to Awbridge - which may or may not have been designed by James Brindley. 

Awbridge

Whilst on a historical bent, this is my first walk testing out the Hiiker App. It has a function to show your position on a C19th OS map. Today's route passing through the grounds of both a hospital for infectious diseases and a Victorian Workhouse.

Another feature? - an overlay of "live pubs!"

A Trysull revisit - too early for The Bell, but the church is "doors open". Despite it's age - parts of it 1000 years old - there's not too much of interest. The relatively modern stained glass windows and a C13th font compete with human activity for things to investigate. It is the last day of Easter, moving into Pentecost and the altar vestments were being changed from white to red. The things you learn when the pubs are shut.

Dropping down to Trysull

All Saints, Trysull

Countryside providing access to the Canal at the Round Oak, exiting it Botterham Lane, for a return to the car park.

Walk Details

Distance - 7.5 miles

Geocaches - 4

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, March 2025, Walk 13

12/05/26 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Salisbury

Wiltshire's Beer City

There's no need to do any planning for Salisbury. Nearly every pub visited tonight had one of these leaflets;

Everything you need

I'm impressed with the City from the get-go. Varying my diet after a four-day trek across the county, I decide Thai food should be on the menu. Pub #1 is the Rai D'or. Good Beer Guide tick. CAMRA Historic Pub Interior. Thai restaurant.

The trail always provides

I admire what they have done here. As a pub, it retains many features - ancient fireplace, low ceilings, traditional tables. The restaurant side of the business runs with maximum efficiency and minimal fuss. Two cask ales on, reflecting low turnover but maintaining quality—and the Frome Brewery Usual Best Bitter is in perfect nick. 

I'm off to a flyer as I navigate the flyover - trying to cross the A36(T) which somehow got through town planning. The Winchester Gate is my quarry - The home of live music in Salisbury.

Out of towner

No live music tonight (though a couple of chaps with instrument cases come in who are either musicians or 1930s Chicago mobsters), but the piped music is at a volume that makes you think you’re at Knebworth. An interesting Fuzztone by Dark Revolution—a hazy NEIPA.

Rock on at the Winchester

In the near vicinity is The Wyndham Arms. I was told not to miss this Hop Back Brewery house by the Marlborough trio - saying it was every bit as good as Swindon's Glue Pot. A man's pub, for men, who either like eating crisps, reading newspapers or looking at their phones.

Crop Circle in perfect condition

My palate is crying out for something a bit different to cask. The Coach and Horses more than scratches that itch. A huge menu showcasing some wonderful keg options, alongside the four cask ales. Paulaner Salvator sampled on draught for this first time ever. Excellent choice, friendly and knowledgeable staff but it really needed some more customers to generate an atmosphere. 

Unsure about the windows

Just add punters

On the subject of variety - a shout-out to Sips micro pub. In the leaflet but not in the Good Beer Guide. There can't be many places where you can drink draught Delirium Barrel Aged Blonde. Probably for good reasons, as it would hasten by approach to full-time tramp.

My final GBG tick is probably the town's most famous, The Haunch of Venison. Three star CAMRA Heritage pub and incredibly atmospheric. 

If they advertise "Live Eels", surely they need to sell them

A little tricky identifying the beers that were on, as they are scatter around on the opposite bar to the where the customer stands. They were all Hop Back - but this is not a tied house. I did ask the reason, but the explanation made little sense.

The Delirium and Salvator were kicking in.

There's 32 pubs in that leaflet. Based on tonight's exploration, it's well worth a return visit.

For once, Wiltshire has surprised me - in the positive sense.