16/01/16 - Camra National Pub of the Year

Distance - 8.2 Miles
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

A quick Geocache in the village and we are out into Berkeley Deer Park, getting shouted at by the many signs.

Basically, it's all pack that in and don't think of doing that

The public footpath dissects the deer park and runs arrow straight along a ridge.  Fine views are offered to the Cotswold escarpment to the left and the Severn Estuary to the right.  And of course, the odd glimpse of the deer herds in the distance.

Cotswolds Behind

A rare recent sighting of the Sun

We meet the only other walkers on today's route.  I am fairly sure they are on the same guide, which they follow to the letter, whilst we take a detour to take in country lanes.  The sun is melting the mud and its no fun traipsing across farmer's fields.  We bump into them twice later, once from the comfort of Berkeley Coffee shop, out of bounds to their mud spattered bottom halves.

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

The route cuts inland at the Power Station.  Berkeley comes into view, offering a chance for refreshments and a warm up.  We simply need to follow the Little River Avon.

Refreshments Ahoy

Berkeley has an impressive history.  A Saxon town, it was once the largest parish in Gloucestershire.  It feels ancient, as we walk through the high street, looking for a suitable place to lunch and settling on a coffee shop.

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

There's a lot to be said for combining hobbies.  If you are going to do a real ale walk, make it a lengthy one from a prize winner on a crisp winter day.

Happy with my day's work