10/09/16 - The Grape Vaults, Leominster, Herefordshire

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine July 1999, Walk 11
Geocaches - 1
Distance - 8 Miles
Pub - The Grape Vaults, Ludlow Gold

The Leominster long stay car park has been half commandeered by gypsies, creating a shanty town of caravans and motorhomes.  As I feed the machine with the necessary dollar for 24 hours, they give me the look that says "This is not totally necessary, old chap".

At least there's someone to keep their eye on the car.

This is a walk that has nothing at all going for it.  If I had taken a non-walker out with me in a attempt to sell the dream of weekend walks, they would fail to be convinced.  It's rare that a walk leaves me in a worse mood than before I start.

Leominster is one of those Market towns that spring up around the Welsh Marches.  I've driven through it many times but never actually stopped.  Out of my extensive library of walks, there are only two that start here.  Suspicions should have been aroused.

We pick a route that heads West along the Pinsley Brook.  With the exception of increasingly tricky stiles, there is little to break the monotony of persistent drizzle and damp overgrowth.

Not Long Forgotten Military Vehicles 

Not Dead Trees

Not the promise of hill side bovine love action

We pick up roads at Cobnash, heading back to Town along the River Lugg.  The walk deteriorates further with disappearing paths, electric fences and to top it all a green dotted path on the map that simply leads you to the Lugg, with no bridge to cross.  Fortunately, there is the world's worst suspension bridge further downstream to make the crossing safely.

Pleased to see it, in all its wobbly glory.

More road walking and disappearing paths at Croward's Mill.

Only the pub can save the day.  Even then, Leominster teases.

Not what I expect from a "Prince of Wales".

Most of the town pubs have very low ratings on www.beerintheevening.com - hovering around the 4s and 5s.  There are two with a whopping 8 points.  These are both closed down.

The Grape Vaults would appear to be the highest remaining.  It's two buildings from the 1600's knocked together and the sort of place that when someone walks past your table, the floorboards creak that much that the top of your pint is knocked off.

Best of What's Left in Leominster

It was doing a decent trade on a wet Saturday lunch time, with a very personable landlady who worried me slightly by commenting on the fact that this was my first visit to the town with the missive, "Oh really, well now you'll never leave".

Choice of four real ales and I went more local than the Shropshire Lass with a Ludlow Gold.

Ludlow Gold on a pub representation

This, and the home cooked food, was enough to save the day.

Although it looks like I am walking alone tomorrow.