Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine July 2015 - Walk 5
Geocaches - 5
Pub - The Salutation - Ham - Butcombe
I've been waiting for good weather to combine my pleasures. Although the promised wall to wall sunshine didn't quite materialise, the hard frost did wonders for the mud.
I am off to combine a visit to the Camra National Pub of the Year, 2014, with a decent looking 8 mile walk from Country Walking Magazine.
The Salutation at Ham, Gloucestershire, gathered a lot of praise on its prize winning feat. Vicariously, I read about how the landlord quit his job in London, followed his love of good beer and rescued the free-house in his childhood village. In a year, they went from being novices to running the best pub in the land.
Before Xmas, our local real ale free-house had a sign asking "would you like to run this pub?" Inspired by the Salutation, I asked Mrs Mappiman. She simply said I would just drink the profits.
A slight modification and we can start the route directly from our place of worship.
Salutations |
Basically, it's all pack that in and don't think of doing that |
Cotswolds Behind |
A rare recent sighting of the Sun |
The lanes take us to the Severn Estuary. In the shadows of a dismantled nuclear power station, it's every bit as bleak as it sounds. However, the embankment offers firm walking and there are exceptional views of what I can only describe as "Big Skies".
Unusually, loving the concrete |
Nuclear Power Station Ahead |
Refreshments Ahoy |
Berkeley Church |
Next to Berkeley Castle |
A short half a mile and a couple of geocaches and we are back at the Salutation to investigate further.
Entering through the front door, we have a choice of moving left or right. We go right, into the front room to be met by a most welcome log burner, some very friendly locals and a choice of 5 real ales for me and eight ciders for Sonia. She declines the various scrumpies and goes safe, as do I with a pint of Butcombe. Oh, and a home made pork pie.
Two part Lunch |
Happy with my day's work |
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