Walk Inspiration - Time Out Country Walks Near London - Walk 40
Geocaches - 8
Pub 1 - The Jolly Woodman, Littleworth Common, Sharps Coaster
Pub 2 - The White Swan, Hedgerley, Little London Pryde
Pub 3 - The Ethorpe Hotel, Gerrards Cross, Black Sheep
The guide book suggests that this linear walk should start at Gerrards Cross and finish at Cookham. They are 100% correct.
Cookham has history stretching through Ancient Briton, Saxon and Roman times and is detailed in the Doomsday Book. Famous artists are buried in its 1140AD Church.
Gerrards Cross has a mega Tescos.
Still, its a four train epic between home and Cookham and I decided to get any travel problems out the way, early doors. I needn't have worried, with efficiency that could only be dreamed of, everything was on time - with the last two trains waiting on the platform for me to join them.
It's with a spring in my step that I am finding my first sidetracked geocache at 9:45am.
I walk through Cookham. It's very, very pretty. I count off the pubs. By the time I reach the Thames, I have used all of my right hand digits, noticed several nice restaurants and tea rooms and they even have a bonus village fete on Cookham Moor - complete with a huge Marquee labelled "Beer".
I've been to Gerrards Cross before. I know it cannot compete with this smorgasbord of delights.
Cookham - History and Bunting |
Pick of the Pubs - C17th Kings Arms |
Over the Thames |
This walk is mainly through woodland, following several Long Distance Paths, including Shakespeare's Way (on the bucket list) and initially Beeches Way. There's a castle on the top of Harvest Hill that some describe as the only thing worth looking at in Buckinghamshire. Even that's not authentic - a sham castle built in 1793 in memory of mad King George III and known as Lord Boston's Folly.
Beeches Way - Alongside the Thames |
Lord Boston's Folly |
Woodland provides good walking but little to photograph. Only a police operation can add an element of frisson to the walk. Just what are they investigating? My money - doggers.
Police Operation - Hopefully, Operation Strimmer |
Its Cask Marque accredited, although despite a thorough search, I fail to find its barcoded sign for app logging in. As the only punter, I must assume the staff must think they are providing service to a rambling nutter. Eventually I give up on looking around and sit on a Chesterfield and sup my Sharps Coaster in front of a well stocked and lit wood burner. In June.
Loved the signs outside. I followed the instructions to remove my muddy footwear. I noticed that they have a Jazz night on Mondays. I noticed that they are closed on Mondays.
Post pint research shows that I need to watch Carry On Dick again, where the exterior was used in the film and called the Cock Inn.
A beacon in a sea of trees |
Front Sign - Live Jazz on Mondays. Rear Sign - Closed Mondays. |
Sharps Coaster |
Back into the trees. I am now in Egypt Woods, part of Burnham Beeches. I love guide books - Egypt Woods is so called as it used to be a Gypsy encampment. The name Gypsy, derives from Egyptian. I live in a town that is subject to annual mass invasion of our public parks by Egyptians and I didn't know that.
Pleasant walking, but with the exception of the odd deer and geocache - little to comment on.
Egypt Wood |
That's what Hedgerley is - and they are very proud of it.
1994 - 1999 - The first of the Hedgerley Lean Years |
I de-boot for the 2nd time today, admiring a window full of award stickers.
White Swan, Hedgerley |
Its proper old school. Wooden everything and a small little serving hatch, with the beers detailed on little star shaped fluorescent cut outs. There's around 8 and I have only previously heard of the Rebellion IPA. I ask the bar man for a recommendation and after discussion on the type of thing I like, we have narrowed it down to the aforementioned IPA and a Little London Pryde. In the interests of experimentation and a new check in on Untapped, I take Pryde.
Oh dear. What a mistake.
I should have noticed that there were no pumps for these 8 starred ales. Instead, the barrels are behind the bar and its open tap and let gravity do the work. I hate my real ale like this. It reminds of the dull and lifeless stuff you get at beer festivals.
By the time I have taken the obligatory arty photo with dart board background, the head has disappeared. A taste and I am getting hints of vinegar. I really should have taken it back, but you know how it is when you are a barefooted stranger in town.
Things are not helped when the village Octogenarians come in with their pint and a half of delicious looking, and headed, Rebellion IPA. They say that knowledge comes with age.
Last we saw of that head |
Huge grounds, where the only person I meet is a dog walker.
Bulstode Park Grounds |
Then I fire up the Cask Marque app and see there is an entry around the corner. I do not let the fact that it has Hotel in the name put me off. Its a Chef and Brewer. There is nothing to write about. The beer was not vinegary. They didn't have a dart board. I couldn't find the bar code.
Ethorpe Hotel - Gerrards Cross |
Black Sheep - Palate Cleanser |
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