05/02/17 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Saffron Walden

Distance - 6.2 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - AA 1001 Walks, Walk 639
Pubs - The Old English Gentleman and The Kings Arms


"Which plant is Saffron produced from?" is one of those classic pub quiz questions that always have you scratching your head and announcing to your team that you know this one.

As we have it on good authority from reliable sources that there is little of interest in Bishops Stortford, we stop off on route to Stansted Airport (and hopefully sunnier climes) to see if we can determine the answer.

Unusually from such a reliable source as the AA book, the walk isn't all that.  We get a glimpse of the impressive church but will leave investigations of SW until we return.  Once we are through the grounds of Audley Park and found a couple of caches, the walking gets a little agricultural.

SW Church - Up Close

Looking back to SW from Audley Park

Rest of the Walk is mainly this - perhaps full of crocus in a different season?

The walk has proved functional and infinitely better than looking at the inside of a Premier Inn room. It also drops us back into the town, where amongst other architectural gems are two Camra Good Beer Guide Pubs.

The holiday starts here.

The Old English Gentlemen, Gold Street, Theakstons XB

The OEG to its Friends

Gold Street provides a suitably impressive portal to the town and at the far is the OEG, one of two GBG entries in the town.

Its all perfectly functional - four real ales on and as per last week, I was tempted by a Woodforde Wherry but I couldn't resist another chance to have the best pint I found in Yorkshire last year.

I placed my Theaskstons XB on our little table and Mrs Mappiman inquired as to where the head might be.

I explained they like it like that in these parts.

The Kings Arms, Market Hill, Woodforde Wherry

A nice bimble through the ancient streets and we are delivered to GBG #2, the Kings Arms, making great use of their external bootscraper to get the most of Essex from beneath our feet.

Mrs Mappiman in a rush to get to the boot scraper.

Now this is exactly my sort of pub.  Bustling but with myriad rooms.  If one is busy, just try another.

I make my way to the bar, see the wares on offer and it had to be a Woodforde.  Previously not seen since Norfolk and now found it three times in a week.

Drinks are taken to a lovely quiet lounge with mini chesterfields, the Sunday papers and a roaring fire.

There's not really any need to leave the UK is there?

All is right in the world